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The Challenges of Living with Diabetes and Resulting Neuropathy

Living with diabetes is challenging enough, let alone enduring cold, numbness and deep burning sensations in your feet from painful diabetic neuropathy, as Roy did for years. He needed prescription medications, hot pads and constant breaks to manage his pain until he found HFX for PDN*.

Before HFX, Roy couldn’t walk more than 30 minutes without having to sit. “Now it’s no problem. I can make it through an entire shopping trip.” He is also able to stand longer with less pain during normal household activities such as doing dishes and making dinner.Under the guidance of Dr. Thomas Stauss, Roy started an HFX for PDN trial in January 2019. He noticed an improvement right away.

“I gained normal sensations and feeling in my feet that I didn’t have before. The overall pain and numbness were reduced by at least 80%,” he said.Roy had the implant procedure the very next month. “HFX for PDN has made my life better. I can get around better and be more active,” he said. “I’m getting ready for a 10+ hour road trip that I wouldn’t have been able to do without it.”

Learn More at www.HFXforPDN.com
#NevroHFX #DiabeticNeuropathy

*HFX for PDN is a Senza SCS system that uses 10 kHz Therapy to treat pain from diabetic neuropathy.

As its name indicates, Repetitive Strain Injury is pain or damage that is caused by repeated motions/movements of a part of the body. It is also known as repetitive motion injury. RSI is a gradual development of damage to muscles, nerves and tendons from repetitive motions, forceful exertions, vibrations, and sustained or awkward positions. Anyone can get repetitive strain injury, but it is very common in some people that, include:

• Athletes
• Musicians
• Workers with physically demanding jobs
• People with sitting jobs

Repetitive Strain Injury Symptoms

An RSI can occur in many parts of the body. However, it affects mostly the shoulders, fingers, hands, forearms, elbows, wrists etc. Some of the common symptoms of RSI include;

• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Pain
• Tenderness
• Throbbing
• Weakness
• Tingling
• Sensitivity to cold/heat

Whereas repeated damage can also lead to certain conditions that include:

• Bursitis
• Nerve compression syndromes
• Stress fractures
• Ganglion cysts
• Herniated disks

Causes of Repetitive Strain Injuries

An RSI results from repetitive movements in any part of the body. These constant movements can cause damage to your muscles and tendons over time. The following are various routine activities that can cause repetitive stress injuries:

• Overuse of a particular muscle
• Maintaining the same posture for a long time
• Working in the cold
• Working with vibrating tools
• The constant and direct pressure on specific areas
• Fatigue
• Lifting heavy objects

Diagnosis

During the diagnosis of RSI, your doctor will ask some basic questions about your job nature and working conditions. He will do a physical examination by performing a range of motion tests to check for tenderness, swelling or any other possible appearance.

Depending on the cause of the injury, your physician may also recommend some imaging tests for better insights. It may include;

• MRI
• X-ray
• CT scan
• Ultrasound

Repetitive Strain Injury Treatment

Since the causes and symptoms of these types of injuries vary, so are the treatment options;

• Medication (anti-inflammatory painkillers, muscle relaxants)
• RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation)
• Steroid injections
• Splints (elastic support)
• Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (PENS)
• Physical therapy (exercises, manual therapy)
• Surgery

If you’ve experienced Repetitive Strain/Overuse injuries and experience any of these symptoms, please contact us to schedule an appointment for the correct diagnosis and most efficient treatment plan for quick recovery and prevention of future injuries and discomfort.

Acute Physical Trauma is defined as a singular traumatic event that is brief in duration and narrowly focused in nature. Common examples include; car accidents, work and home related accidents, recreational accidents, sports injuries, and unfortunately assault related injuries.

Acute Physical Trauma can result in; sprains and fractures of bones and vertebrae, strains and ruptures in muscles, tendons, and ligaments, damage to cartilage, vertebral discs, the spinal cord, nervous systems, and organs. Some damages to the nervous system can create long term chronic pain, numbness and tingling, sharp shooting pain, dull aches, and be permanent.

While the experience of acute physical trauma is not welcome, it is probable and almost an inevitable life experience. Thankfully, cutting edge science and technology has provided many treatments, procedures, non-invasive and innovative surgeries, along with alternatives to opioids, to prevent and treat short and long term chronic pain.

With understanding all of the variables surrounding an acute physical trauma, and collecting the appropriate data, such as imaging and other evaluations, a correct diagnosis and an appropriate and effective treatment plan can be developed and implemented.

Treatments may include, but not be limited to Multidisciplinary Pain Management Techniques such as:

• Interventional
• Pharmacological
• Physical Therapy
• Psychological Protocols

Along with specific treatments such as:

• Spinal Cord Stimulators (SCS) as a healthy alternative to opioids
• Injections and blocks to prevent nerve pain
• Vertiflex procedures for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (shortening of spaces in lumbar vertebrae)
• Radiofrequency Ablation to block nerve pain
• Kyphoplasty to restore the height of vertebral discs and space between vertebrae

If you’ve experienced an acute physical trauma, please contact our office right away so that we can give you the answers, options, and treatments you need to recover, minimize short term pain, and prevent or manage any long term chronic pain you may experience.