Diabetic Neuropathy

Nerve pain affects diabetics & others.

Many Americans — perhaps over 3 million — experience neuropathic (nerve) pain. This type of pain results from a nervous system malfunction set off by nerve damage from diseases such as diabetes, or trauma or toxic doses of drugs.

For years, neuropathic pain has baffled scientists. Traditional pain treatments, including powerful medications such as morphine, rarely help. Descriptions of neuropathic pain by people who have it typically include words such as “burning,” “shooting,” “stabbing” or “electric-like.”

In 1988, researchers began to identify animal models that mimic the clinical signs of the ailment. For example, one rat model with nerve injuries has a super-sensitive reaction to a hair tapped on its hindpaw. Some people with neuropathic pain experience a similar reaction. For them, the tickle of a hair can translate into long-lasting, burning pain.

Shingles is a nerve root viral infection that causes nerve pain and a band of rash that spreads over one side of the body. It is caused by the reactivation of varicella zoster, the virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles is often accompanied by a tingling or burning sensation over an area of skin. Two to five days after the first symptoms appear, a painful rash occurs. If the pain from shingles does not go away, it is called postherpetic neuralgia. This condition can last weeks or even years after the rash disappears. The best time to treat shingles is within the first month after its initial onset. From two weeks to one month, approximately 90% of our patients get good results from treatment.

Once we discover the cause of your pain, our dual board-certified anesthesiologists and fellowship-trained pain management specialists offer you a variety of treatments to help reduce neuropathic pain. Our comprehensive care includes minimally invasive pain blocks, spinal cord stimulation, intrathecal pain pumps, plus physical therapy, psychological support, behavioral modification and medication management. If interventional care is sought early enough, neuropathic pain can be treated 100% effectively. If treatment is delayed, nerve damage can become irreversible.

Dedicated to helping you overcome pain.

Over the years, we have accurately diagnosed painful physical conditions in thousands of patients, then successfully controlled or eliminated their pain while improving their quality of life. We have helped people return to work, sports, activities, hobbies and lifestyles. Discover how we can help you, too.

Diabetic Neuropathy Treatment in Baton Rouge, LA

Visit our patient education library to learn more about Diabetic Neuropathy.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Comprehensive Pain Management in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at 225-368-2300 or use our online appointment request form.