We trace the course of the disease in five different stages. At this stage, you'll start to notice it sooner. Usually, we trace the course of the disease in five distinct stages. In the third stage, the patient will experience the worst of their pain, which usually occurs every day. Many patients will have trouble performing tasks they could previously complete without hesitation, such as walking barefoot on the beach.
This stage has an enormous impact on the patient's daily life and is truly unbearable. This is the stage where many of our patients decide to undergo surgery and have our surgeons perform nerve decompression surgery. Peripheral neuropathy refers to any condition affecting nerves outside the brain or spinal cord. This can happen for a number of reasons, from trauma to infections and inherited conditions.
There are also many possible symptoms. Many causes, forms, or symptoms of this condition can be treated, but this can vary greatly from person to person. When the patient reaches the third stage, the pain is almost constant. In addition to the pain, the numbness has also progressed to the point where you don't feel injuries to your feet and legs.
If not treated in a timely manner, infections can occur. Pain and numbness, usually felt in the hands and feet, come and go sporadically. Because it's manageable, many people ignore these symptoms. However, because the main cause of neuropathy at this stage is excessive sugar consumption, it can be treated with dietary changes, such as eliminating simple carbohydrates, junk food, and sweets.
Pain and numbness become more constant in the second stage. It can be difficult to know when the condition has moved from the first stage to the second stage, but if symptoms are becoming more frequent, it's a good indication. Most people seek medical attention at this stage, which is good, because when the underlying cause of neuropathy is addressed at this stage, the condition can often be completely cured. If allowed to progress to the later stages, neuropathy can cause permanent nerve damage.
So what are the final stages of neuropathy? First stage: In this stage of peripheral neuropathy, symptoms of burning, tingling, and numbness can be very inconsistent and sporadic. The intensity of burning, tingling, and numbness in the feet or legs is intermittent. At this stage, it's important to analyze the possibility of being prediabetic, and nutritional modifications can have a significant impact. Second stage: The symptoms will now become more intense and frequent.
Patients are more concerned and are more likely to seek treatment. At this stage, nutritional considerations are still useful and the possibility of consulting a peripheral nerve specialist should be considered to discuss surgical or non-surgical options. The pain will intensify into a more intense and constant pain that will be harder to ignore. This is usually the stage where many seek treatment, as it can be intolerable to live with constant pain.
The sooner you seek treatment, the less permanent nerve damage will occur. When neuropathy first develops, you'll notice some numbness and pain. During this stage, symptoms come and go. The initial symptoms are subtle, but you can't confuse them.
During stage 2, pain and numbness become more persistent and regular. At this point, it becomes difficult to ignore the symptoms you are experiencing. This is when most patients recognize that there is a problem. In stage 3, you feel pain almost every day and it starts to interfere with daily life. Pain prevents you from participating in normal activities.
Over-the-counter pain relievers may not work for you right now. If a patient begins treatments to control pain at this stage, the chances of improving symptoms and even neuropathy itself are increased. Fourth stage: At this stage, the intensity of pain and burning may decrease, and the gait can now be affected by numbness and weakness. Addressing stages two and three could reduce the chance of avoiding amputation, loss of a limb and possible death in diabetics.
This stage is a good time to seek medical treatment and get to the root of the neuropathy before the nerves suffer more permanent damage. People who seek medical care at this stage and discover the cause are more likely to receive treatment and nerve damage is not progressing. Because it's so common, it's important to stay informed about the causes of peripheral neuropathy and all the stages that neuropathy is in. Therefore, surgical treatment should be considered in all five stages to save lives and limbs, especially when suffering from a diabetic condition.
An important thing to keep in mind is that, although stage 1 neuropathy is usually due to excessive sugar consumption, most people are not yet diagnosed with stage 1 diabetes and, in fact, a fasting blood sugar test can return normal results. Stage 2 is the last “safe” (relatively speaking) chance to reverse course before neuropathy becomes significantly more dangerous, expensive and difficult to treat. Neuropathy treatment works best in the early stages of the condition, so it's important to be able to identify the stages of neuropathy.
