While traditional medicine simply offers medications to relieve the pain of Neuropathy, a more holistic approach looks for the source of the pain and finds a way to treat it, thus alleviating the Neuropathy in the process of complete healing.

With this in mind, some patients may find a surgical procedure called nerve decompression helpful in reversing their Neuropathy.

It is well known that diabetic Neuropathy is often the result of vascular complications caused by an increase in glucose levels in the bloodstream.

After decades of study, scientists may have figured out why so many diabetic patients suffer from Neuropathy of the hands and feet.

In 1978, a scientist by the name of Jakobsen published a landmark study that showed the effect of hyperglycemia on the peripheral nerve.

According to his research, diabetic patients experienced a 50% increase in the size of sciatic nerves.

This was mainly due to edema. What surprised Jacobsen was the fact that despite this increase in size, the Myelin surrounding the nerve remained intact. So why all the pain?

After further review, it was discovered that this “nerve swelling” created a situation in which the nerves in small areas became entrapped or compressed, causing pain

While the nerve was being compressed, it was much less able to repair itself, only complicating the problem.

This may explain why so many diabetic patients suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome (31% compared to 2% in the general population).

The edema caused by high glucose levels, not just repetitive stress as seen in the general public, compresses the carpal tunnel nerve

Taking Jakobsen’s research, A. Lee Dellon offered his diabetic patients the opportunity to have their nerves decompressed. By 2013, reports showed that 91% of diabetic patients undergoing decompression surgery experience a significant decrease in their pain.

But that’s not all. Nearly 70% also reported a marked increase in their mobility.

Amputation rates have also decreased since decompression surgery has been made available in treating peripheral Neuropathy.

According to several studies, the benefits of Neuropathy surgery include:

• Decreased pain
• Increase in balance
• Decreased ulceration
• Limb preservation
• An increase in the quality of life for patient

While not the answer for every Neuropathy patient, decompression surgery has proven effective for many – especially those suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve compression, and some foot compressions.

Need guidance on how to control and manage your neuropathy? Check out my Neuropathy Revolution program 

The post Is there a surgery for neuropathy or nerve pain? first appeared on Mark Fellers' Neuropathy And Nerve Pain Blog.