Neuropathy Treatment in Glendale, AZ
Peripheral neuropathy in the feet is a condition that deserves serious medical attention — not because it always leads to catastrophic outcomes, but because it silently increases risk. When the nerves in your feet are damaged, your body loses one of its most important protective mechanisms: pain. At Sole Foot & Ankle Specialists, our board-certified podiatrists specialize in the comprehensive evaluation and management of peripheral neuropathy, helping patients throughout Glendale, Phoenix, Peoria, and Sun City, AZ protect their foot health and maintain their quality of life.
What Is Peripheral Neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves — the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord that carry signals to and from the feet, legs, and other extremities. When these nerves are damaged, they may transmit abnormal signals (causing pain, burning, or tingling) or lose the ability to transmit signals at all (causing numbness and loss of sensation).
In the feet and lower extremities, neuropathy most commonly affects three types of nerve fibers:
- Sensory nerves: Responsible for sensation — temperature, touch, pain, and proprioception. Sensory neuropathy causes the classic symptoms of burning, tingling, numbness, or hypersensitivity
- Motor nerves: Responsible for muscle movement and strength. Motor neuropathy can cause weakness, foot drop, and toe deformities like hammertoes
- Autonomic nerves: Regulate involuntary functions including sweat gland activity and skin blood flow. Autonomic neuropathy causes dry, cracked skin that becomes susceptible to infection and ulceration
Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy in the Feet
Neuropathy symptoms can vary widely depending on which nerve types are affected and the severity of damage. Common signs include:
- Numbness, tingling, or a “pins and needles” sensation in the feet or toes
- Burning, sharp, or electric-like pain — often worse at night
- Extreme sensitivity to light touch (allodynia) — even the weight of a bed sheet may feel painful
- Loss of protective sensation — inability to feel heat, cold, or pain from injuries
- Muscle weakness in the feet or difficulty lifting the foot when walking (foot drop)
- Loss of balance or coordination, particularly in the dark
- Dry, cracked, or excessively fragile skin on the feet
- Slow-healing wounds or infections that develop without the patient’s awareness
Common Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy
Neuropathy has many potential causes, with diabetes being the most prevalent:
- Diabetic neuropathy: The leading cause — affects up to 50% of people with diabetes. High blood sugar damages nerve fibers over time. See our Diabetic Foot page for comprehensive information.
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD): Reduced blood flow from PAD starves nerves of oxygen and nutrients, contributing to nerve damage
- Vitamin deficiencies: Deficiencies in B12, B1 (thiamine), B6, and folate can impair nerve function
- Alcohol abuse: Chronic excessive alcohol consumption is toxic to peripheral nerve fibers
- Chemotherapy: Certain cancer medications cause chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)
- Autoimmune conditions: Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren’s syndrome can cause neuropathic nerve damage
- Hereditary neuropathy: Conditions like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease are genetically inherited
- Hypothyroidism, kidney disease, and other systemic illnesses that affect metabolic nerve function
Diagnosing Peripheral Neuropathy
Our podiatrists use a multi-faceted approach to evaluate neuropathy severity and guide treatment:
- Monofilament testing to assess protective sensation (light touch perception)
- Vibration perception threshold (VPT) testing
- Ankle-brachial index (ABI) to screen for peripheral arterial disease
- Neurological examination for reflexes, strength, and gait assessment
- Referral for nerve conduction studies (NCS) or electromyography (EMG) when indicated
- Coordination with your primary physician or neurologist for systemic workup
Neuropathy Treatment Options in Glendale, AZ
While peripheral neuropathy caused by nerve damage is generally not reversible, its progression can often be slowed and its symptoms managed effectively. Our comprehensive treatment approach includes:
- Blood sugar optimization: For diabetic neuropathy, tight glucose control remains the most powerful strategy for slowing nerve damage progression — achieved through coordination with your endocrinologist or primary care physician
- Custom orthotics: Prescription orthotic inserts and diabetic footwear protect insensate feet from pressure injuries and redistribute mechanical stress
- Medication management: Neuropathic pain medications (such as gabapentin, pregabalin, duloxetine, or topical agents) to reduce burning and pain symptoms — prescribed in coordination with your physician
- Wound prevention and monitoring: Regular foot exams and patient education to catch skin breakdowns before they become ulcers
- Physical therapy: Balance training and proprioceptive rehabilitation to reduce fall risk associated with sensory neuropathy
- Lifestyle modifications: Smoking cessation, dietary changes, and alcohol reduction to address modifiable contributing factors
- Vascular evaluation and referral: For neuropathy associated with PAD, coordination with vascular specialists to improve circulation
Frequently Asked Questions About Peripheral Neuropathy
Can peripheral neuropathy be reversed?
Whether neuropathy can be reversed depends on the cause and severity. Neuropathy from correctable causes — such as vitamin B12 deficiency, hypothyroidism, or certain medications — may improve significantly with proper treatment. Diabetic and alcoholic neuropathy can be slowed but rarely reversed once nerve damage has occurred. The focus of management is preventing further nerve damage, managing pain, and protecting the feet from injury related to sensory loss.
Is neuropathy dangerous even if it doesn’t hurt?
Yes — painless neuropathy (complete sensory loss) is arguably the most dangerous form. When you cannot feel pain, minor injuries such as blisters, cuts, or pressure sores can go undetected and worsen into serious infections or ulcers. Without early detection through regular foot exams, these injuries can progress to limb-threatening complications, particularly in patients with diabetes or poor circulation.
How does diabetes cause neuropathy?
Chronically elevated blood sugar damages the blood vessels that supply the peripheral nerves with oxygen and nutrients, and also directly harms the nerve fibers through a complex series of metabolic changes. Over time, this results in progressive nerve fiber loss and dysfunction. The longer someone has had diabetes and the less controlled their blood sugar, the greater their risk of developing significant neuropathy.
What can I do at home to protect my feet if I have neuropathy?
Daily foot inspection is the most important habit — examine every part of your feet, including the bottom and between the toes, for cuts, blisters, redness, or skin changes. Always wear well-fitting, protective footwear — never go barefoot. Keep feet clean and well-moisturized to prevent dry, cracked skin. Test bath water temperature with your elbow (not your foot) to avoid burns. Contact our office promptly if you notice any wound or skin change that doesn’t begin to heal within 24 to 48 hours.
Can physical therapy help with neuropathy?
Yes. Physical therapy can improve balance, strengthen the muscles that compensate for sensory loss, and enhance proprioception through targeted training. These interventions significantly reduce fall risk, which is a major concern for patients with peripheral neuropathy. Gait training and footwear assessment are also valuable components of a neuropathy rehabilitation program.
What is the connection between neuropathy and foot ulcers?
Sensory neuropathy removes the pain signal that normally warns you of a developing injury. Without this warning, pressure sores, blisters, or minor cuts can progress undetected into open ulcers — especially under callus-covered areas of the foot. Poor circulation from PAD further impairs healing. Regular podiatric monitoring, protective footwear, and custom orthotics are essential safeguards against ulcer development in neuropathic patients.
Should I see a neurologist or a podiatrist for foot neuropathy?
Both play important roles. A neurologist performs nerve conduction studies and manages the systemic aspects of neuropathy, including medication management. A podiatrist provides the essential foot-specific care that protects insensate feet from complications — including regular exams, wound care, custom orthotics, and diabetic footwear. For most patients with diabetic or metabolic neuropathy, coordinated care between a podiatrist and their primary physician produces the best outcomes.