Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment in Houston, TX
Burning, tingling, or numbness in your feet can be a sign of peripheral neuropathy, a condition in which the nerves that carry signals to and from your feet are damaged. Beyond discomfort, neuropathy can mask injuries and lead to serious complications, especially for people with diabetes. Dr. Ken Dennis helps Houston patients manage painful neuropathy and protect their feet for the long term.
What Is Peripheral Neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. In the feet, it can affect sensation, muscle strength, and even sweating and skin health. Symptoms usually begin in the toes and gradually move up the feet and legs.
Causes of Neuropathy in the Feet
- Diabetes, the most common cause
- Vitamin B12 and other nutritional deficiencies
- Alcohol use
- Kidney disease and thyroid disorders
- Chemotherapy and certain medications
- Nerve compression, injury, or infection
- Hereditary conditions
Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy
- Numbness or reduced ability to feel pain or temperature
- Tingling, “pins and needles,” or burning pain
- Sharp, electric-like pain, often worse at night
- Sensitivity to touch
- Muscle weakness and loss of balance
- Foot sores or wounds that go unnoticed
Why Neuropathy Requires a Podiatrist
When you can’t feel your feet well, a small blister, cut, or ingrown toenail can become an infection or ulcer before you notice. Regular podiatry exams, professional nail and callus care, and protective footwear are essential for preventing serious complications.
Neuropathy Treatment and Diabetic Foot Care
- Comprehensive diabetic foot exams and sensation testing
- Medications to manage nerve pain
- Professional nail, corn, and callus care
- Protective footwear and custom foot orthotics to reduce pressure points
- Treatment of wounds, infections, and fungal nails
- Education on daily foot checks and skin care
- Coordination with your primary care physician or endocrinologist
Protect Your Feet in Houston
If you have diabetes or notice numbness, burning, or tingling in your feet, don’t wait. Explore other foot conditions we treat, including Morton’s neuroma, or our podiatry services. Call Kenrick J. Dennis, DPM at (713) 465-8833.
Peripheral Neuropathy FAQs
What does peripheral neuropathy feel like?
Neuropathy often causes numbness, tingling, burning, or sharp electric-like pain in the feet, and symptoms are frequently worse at night.
Is neuropathy always caused by diabetes?
No. Diabetes is the most common cause, but vitamin deficiencies, alcohol use, kidney disease, medications, injury, and hereditary conditions can also cause neuropathy.
Can neuropathy be reversed?
Nerve damage often can’t be fully reversed, but treating the underlying cause and managing symptoms can slow progression and relieve pain.
How often should people with diabetes see a podiatrist?
Most people with diabetes should have a foot exam at least once a year, and more often if they have neuropathy, poor circulation, or a history of foot ulcers.
Why is neuropathy dangerous for the feet?
Loss of sensation can hide cuts, blisters, and pressure sores, allowing them to become infected or develop into ulcers before they’re noticed.
Can orthotics help with neuropathy?
Custom orthotics and protective footwear can reduce pressure points and help prevent skin breakdown in patients with neuropathy.