Living with chronic nerve pain
Peripheral neuropathy can cause persistent burning, tingling, numbness, shooting pain, or extreme sensitivity that interferes with sleep, walking, work, and everyday life. For some patients, these symptoms continue even after the underlying cause has been treated.
At Elite Spine & Pain Institute, Dr. Ben Shamloo, MD, FIPP, specializes in the evaluation and treatment of complex neuropathic pain. His approach focuses on identifying the cause and characteristics of your nerve pain and developing a treatment plan tailored to your individual condition.
What is peripheral neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy occurs when nerves outside the brain and spinal cord become damaged or dysfunctional. These nerves carry sensory information between the body and the central nervous system; when they are damaged or irritated, they can send abnormal pain and sensory signals.
It most commonly affects the feet and legs, but can also involve the hands, arms, and other areas. It may affect a single nerve, several nerves, or multiple areas at once.
What it feels like
Peripheral neuropathy can feel very different from typical muscle or joint pain. Common symptoms include:
Symptoms may be constant or intermittent and often become particularly disruptive at night. For some patients, chronic neuropathic pain significantly affects sleep, mobility, exercise, work, and overall quality of life.
Common causes
Peripheral neuropathy has many possible causes, and identifying the underlying cause can be an important part of determining the most appropriate treatment.
Neuropathy can also be associated with nutritional deficiencies, autoimmune conditions, infections, hereditary disorders, kidney disease, and certain medications. In some cases, the underlying cause cannot be identified.
When should you see a specialist?
Occasional tingling or numbness may have a temporary cause, but persistent or progressive symptoms deserve evaluation. Consider seeing a specialist if you experience:
When conventional treatment isn’t enough
Many patients begin with medications, topical treatments, physical therapy, or lifestyle modification. While these can be helpful, some patients continue to experience significant nerve pain despite treatment.
For appropriately selected patients with persistent neuropathic pain, peripheral nerve stimulation may provide another option.
Diagnosing peripheral neuropathy
Because neuropathy can have many different causes, an accurate diagnosis is an important part of developing an effective treatment plan.
Dr. Shamloo reviews your medical history, symptoms, previous treatments, and physical examination findings to understand the nature and distribution of your nerve pain. Depending on your symptoms, additional testing may be recommended to evaluate nerve function or investigate an underlying cause.
The goal is to determine which nerves are involved, what may be causing the problem, and how the condition is affecting you.
A personalized approach to neuropathic pain
There is no single treatment that works for every patient. Treatment depends on the underlying cause, the nerves involved, the severity and duration of symptoms, and your response to previous therapies.
Depending on your condition, treatment may include management of an underlying disease, medications, physical therapy, targeted nerve procedures, regenerative medicine, or advanced neuromodulation such as peripheral nerve stimulation.
The goal is not simply to manage your symptoms, but to understand your pain and identify the approach that makes the most sense for you.
Advanced neuropathy care in Los Angeles
Living with chronic nerve pain can be exhausting. Burning feet that keep you awake at night, numbness that makes walking uncomfortable, or sensitivity that makes ordinary touch painful can gradually affect nearly every part of your life.
If you are living with persistent peripheral neuropathy — especially if medications or other treatments have not provided adequate relief — a specialized evaluation may help you understand what options are available.
PNS is a minimally invasive form of neuromodulation that may be considered when medications, topical treatments, and physical therapy have not provided adequate relief. Dr. Shamloo has experience targeting the specific peripheral nerves associated with chronic pain.
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