Condition

Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment in Tallahassee, FL

Burning, tingling, or numbness in your feet or hands that medications haven’t adequately controlled is not something you simply have to live with. Interventional treatments — including spinal cord stimulation — can provide meaningful relief for carefully selected patients.

Overview

What Is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves — the vast network of nerves that carry signals between the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body. When these nerves are damaged, they begin sending abnormal or exaggerated pain signals, producing sensations that can range from mild tingling to severe, constant burning pain. The feet and lower legs are most commonly affected, though the hands and upper extremities can also be involved.

Peripheral neuropathy is not a single disease — it is a symptom of many possible underlying conditions. Understanding the cause is important for determining the most effective treatment approach, though in some cases the condition is idiopathic, meaning no identifiable cause is found even after thorough evaluation.

Causes

What Causes It

Diabetes is by far the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy. Chronically elevated blood sugar damages the peripheral nerves over time, particularly in the feet and lower legs — a condition known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is another significant cause, affecting many cancer survivors who experience lasting nerve damage from certain chemotherapy agents. Additional causes include autoimmune conditions, vitamin B12 deficiency, alcoholism, kidney disease, thyroid disorders, HIV, Lyme disease, and hereditary nerve conditions. Small fiber neuropathy — a subtype that affects only the smallest nerve fibers — can produce significant burning pain and autonomic symptoms and may not be detectable on standard nerve conduction studies, making it particularly challenging to diagnose without specialized testing.

Evaluation

How We Evaluate It

Evaluating peripheral neuropathy begins with a thorough history — the character and distribution of your symptoms, how long they have been present, any known underlying conditions, and what treatments have already been tried. A physical examination assesses sensation, reflexes, and strength in the affected areas. Electrodiagnostic testing — nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG) — can identify the type, distribution, and severity of nerve involvement. Laboratory studies help identify treatable underlying causes such as diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, or autoimmune conditions. In cases where small fiber neuropathy is suspected, additional specialized evaluation may be recommended. This comprehensive approach ensures that treatment recommendations are grounded in an accurate understanding of your specific nerve involvement.

Treatment

How We Treat Peripheral Neuropathy

For patients with localized nerve pain, peripheral nerve blocks can provide targeted relief and help clarify which nerves are most involved. For patients with diffuse burning or tingling pain in the feet and legs that has not responded adequately to medications, spinal cord stimulation is one of the most well-established interventional options — particularly for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, where it has strong insurance coverage support and a meaningful evidence base. Dorsal root ganglion stimulation offers more targeted neuromodulation for patients with focal distributions of nerve pain, and peripheral nerve stimulation may be appropriate for specific nerve distributions including the feet and ankles. For patients with severe, refractory neuropathic pain that has not responded to other interventions, intrathecal drug delivery can provide superior pain control with a significantly reduced systemic medication burden.

Our approach begins with identifying what is driving your neuropathy and what you have already tried. For many patients who have been managing their symptoms with medications alone, interventional options offer a meaningful step forward. A consultation is the right starting point to determine which approach best fits your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions

Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves — the nerves that carry signals between the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body. When these nerves are damaged, they can send abnormal pain signals, producing burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness most commonly in the feet and hands. It can affect one nerve, several nerves, or many nerves throughout the body depending on the underlying cause.
The most common symptoms are burning, stinging, or electric pain in the feet and lower legs — often described as walking on hot coals or having pins and needles that never go away. Numbness, tingling, and hypersensitivity to light touch are also common. Some patients experience weakness in the feet or hands. Symptoms are often worse at night and can significantly disrupt sleep and daily function.
Diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy — elevated blood sugar over time damages the peripheral nerves, particularly in the feet and lower legs. Other causes include chemotherapy, autoimmune conditions, vitamin deficiencies, alcoholism, infections such as HIV or shingles, hereditary conditions, and kidney or thyroid disease. In some cases no identifiable cause is found, which is called idiopathic neuropathy. Small fiber neuropathy is a specific subtype that affects the smallest nerve fibers and can be difficult to diagnose with standard testing.
Yes. While there is no cure for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, several interventional treatments can provide meaningful relief for patients who have not responded to medications. Spinal cord stimulation has a strong evidence base for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and is approved by major insurance carriers for this indication. Dorsal root ganglion stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation are additional neuromodulation options. Peripheral nerve blocks may also provide targeted relief for specific nerve distributions.
Spinal cord stimulation is one of the most well-studied interventional treatments for peripheral neuropathy, particularly diabetic peripheral neuropathy. It works by delivering gentle electrical signals that modify abnormal pain transmission before it reaches the brain. A trial period allows patients to evaluate their response before any permanent decision is made. For carefully selected patients who have not responded to medications and conservative care, it can produce meaningful and lasting improvement in pain and quality of life.
Sciatica is caused by compression or irritation of a specific nerve root in the spine, typically producing pain that radiates down one leg in a defined pattern. Peripheral neuropathy is caused by damage to the peripheral nerves themselves — often affecting both feet or hands symmetrically in a stocking-and-glove distribution. The two conditions can sometimes coexist, which is why a thorough evaluation including electrodiagnostic testing is important for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment selection.

Burning Feet or Tingling Hands? There Are Options.

Our clinical team will evaluate your neuropathy, identify the underlying cause, and determine whether interventional treatment is appropriate for your situation.

Request an Appointment (850) 559-2355