Nerve Decompression and Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy can be a painful addition to those who suffer with diabetes. The exact cause is unknown. It leads to numbness and constant burning and tingling in the feet. The loss of sensation in your feet can lead to ulcers and wounds of the foot. This is very serious because that can lead to gangrene infections and amputations. Over the years many treatments have been offered. The common medications are gabapentin, lyrica and cymbalta. There has been a lot of research and studies showing the effectiveness of medical foods such as Metanx and others similar to it. They contain L-methylfolate (Metafolin): 3 mg, Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate: 35 mg, Methylcobalamin: 2 mg.

Over the past 10 years here at the Advanced foot and ankle Center of San Diego , Dr Wrotslavsky has been employing with great success those pharmaceutical treatments mentioned above. However there always comes along the difficult case where a patient is not responding to those treatments.  That is where we offer a procedure that was popularized by Lee Dellon called a decompression of the posterior tibial nerve. The theory is that there is a compression of the large nerve entering into the foot similar to that of a carpal tunnel syndrome in the hand. Many studies have shown that surgical decompression will resolve the pain associated from this compression. In my experience this has held true with my patients. the surgery is outpatient with no need to stay in the hospital. An incision is made over the area of the posterior tibial nerve and it is dissected down to where it splits under the heel bone into it’s two major branches. Many times if there is severe nerve damage we perform a nerve wrap using the Integra Neurawrap, which helps repair the damaged nerve. Most patients wake up with a resolution of the nerve pain.

Nerve surgery of the foot is very common and can be very successful in the correct patients . Diabetic peripheral neuropathy and its treatments continue to evolve and improve. So if you have been suffering with diabetic peripheral neuropathy come in for an expert evaluation with Dr Wrotslavsky and see if you are a candidate for a nerve release surgery.

Nerve Decompression and Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

neura wrap nerve protector Integra