What Kind of Doctors Treat Nerve Pain?

The treatment for nerve discomfort begins with your primary care doctor. However, ultimately it requires the expertise of a neurologist. Commonly called nerve doctors, these professionals specialize in diagnosing and treating ailments of the brain, nerve pain, spinal cord, and muscles. 

Neurological diseases commonly consist of epilepsy, movement disorders, headaches, and the like. Neurologists typically see patients for memory loss, imbalance, numbness, and chronic headaches. The professionals first identify the root causes of symptoms in patients and afterward create a treatment plan. They carry out neurological exams using instruments such as reflex hammers and lights to evaluate the nervous system. 

Apart from this, neurologists also examine the movement, balance, and coordination of the patient. These professionals are abreast with recent research and options for treating an array of common and complex neurological disorders. 

Reasons to See a Neurologist

Your nervous system comprises the brain, spinal column, and nerves in your whole body. Your primary doctor will always refer you to a neurologist in Austin if you face symptoms signaling an issue with your system. 

Here are some substantial reasons to visit a neurologist.

• Headaches – Headaches are quite common. They expand from the top of the head and reach all the way down to the shoulders and neck. Many factors can cause headaches, like a sinus infection or a toothache after a dentist appointment. However, there are also many severe headaches, such as migraines. They occur with symptoms like vomiting and blurry vision. If you feel headaches frequently and struggle to control them, you must see a neurologist. 

• Chronic pain – Chronic pain implies recurring pain due to a medical problem. This kind of pain doesn’t last for a few days or even weeks. It goes on and on for months or even years. You should become cautious when your pain refuses to subside even after you’ve recovered from the condition. A board-certified neurologist will help you find ways to manage and control it. 

• Tingling sensation – The nerves in your body can warn you of an underlying condition. A temporary tingling sensation often occurs when you are in a specific position for a long time. It’s not a cause to worry. These temporary sensations are called paresthesia. But if you experience this feeling on an ongoing basis, it’s time to visit a neurologist. Persistent tingling sensations point to conditions like Multiple Sclerosis. Apart from that, if this sensation comes suddenly or at a particular side of your back, you should waste no time seeing a neurologist. 

• Problems in moving your body – Problems in movement can arise due to serious and not-so-serious causes. You may have some balance issues if you’ve not eaten enough or have underslept. But they go away once you address them with the right actions. However, if you experience a spinning feeling (vertigo), are unable to maintain proper balance (disequilibrium), or feel like you are about to fall, it’s best to consult a neurologist. If these feelings are accompanied by vision or hearing loss and nausea, it is even a greater reason to talk to a neurologist immediately. 

• Memory issues – You may occasionally forget to keep your keys in place or start searching for your glasses even when they are at the top of your head. However, that isn’t any reason to feel alarmed. But when memory problems interrupt your work or your capacity to function properly at home, it’s time to see a neurologist. Issues like a problem with speaking, personality changes, confusion, and repeated memory lapses warrant a visit to a neurologist.

• Muscle weakness or decreased muscle strength – By muscle weakness, it doesn’t mean feeling tired after working out or walking for long. It means that you are unable to do simple activities like picking up a cup of tea or keeping an item in place. Feeling muscle weakness without any cause is a major sign of an underlying neurological condition. You can be suffering from muscular dystrophy, chronic fatigue syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, or polymyositis, which is an inflammation of muscles. These conditions can only be diagnosed and treated by a certified neurologist.

Some Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Nerve Pain

Neurosurgical experts often get patients complaining of burning, stinging, or ice-cold sensations in various areas of their bodies. Some say that their nerve pain tends to worsen at night. Neurosurgeons understand your concern and your burning desire to know about the root cause of the discomfort. 

That’s why they recommend you find out about your condition in detail by exploring the answers to the following question with your doctor. 

• Is diabetes causing my nerve pain?

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent reasons for nerve pain. Almost 50% of diabetics have nerve pain. Not only them, but prediabetic people also have a greater risk of this type of pain. When your blood sugar levels are constantly high, it damages the nerves by reducing their capacity to send signals. If you are obese or prediabetic, we highly recommend you modify your lifestyle and make it healthier. 

• Do I require an EMG test?

An electromyogram (EMG) is an electrical test that detects damage to the peripheral nerves. These nerves are present outside of your spinal cord and brain. An EMG test will help you find if your pain is associated with damage to a particular nerve or to all. The test can take up to an hour. It helps doctors with diagnosing the root cause of the pain. 

• Can physical therapy relieve the pain?

Yes, adhering to an exercise regimen prescribed by your doctor can relieve nerve pain to a significant extent. You can engage in activities like brisk walking, swimming, or biking every day. If you suffer from a compressed or pinched nerve in your spinal column, you can find relief by targeted exercises prescribed by a physical trainer. But ensure that you perform the movements under the eyes of a qualified physical therapist.

• Are there any alternative therapies to relieve nerve pain?

Today, there’s no shortage of options to deal with chronic nerve pain. When you seek the assistance of a certified neurologist, you can find different approaches per your specific type of nerve pain. But it all begins by first having a discussion with your doctor. They will create a treatment plan that will allow you to manage your pain in a way that helps you stay functional throughout the day.

• Can nerve pain be managed through lifestyle modifications?

A healthy lifestyle in which you get adequate sleep, eat a nutritious diet, and exercise for at least 30 minutes a day can certainly prove useful in reducing pain. It is especially important for those experiencing nerve pain because of diabetes. Apart from that, it’s always a good idea to reduce the number of alcoholic beverages you habitually consume. Quitting smoking is another effective lifestyle modification that those experiencing nerve pain should make. 

Neurosurgery for Pain Relief at APC in Austin, TX

Nerve pain can be as sudden as an electric shock! But you don’t need to bear with it for long. Advanced Pain Care strives to help you achieve lasting comfort and relief. The center’s neurosurgery experts have years of training which allows them to impart the ideal treatment to patients as per their problems. 

Neurosurgeons treat nerve pain through a multidisciplinary approach. They implant highly effective spinal cord stimulators, peripheral nerve stimulators, and minimally invasive spinal decompressions. 

They are also skilled at performing surgeries if the situation calls for it. Your treatment plan can include multiple specialties like physical therapy, rehabilitation, and rheumatology. The pain specialists at Advanced Pain Care work with neurologists, physiatrists, physical therapists, and pain management physicians to diagnose and create a result-oriented treatment plan for the neurological conditions of their patients. They have effectively treated common spinal disorders such as low back pain, herniated disc, neck pain, and spinal stenosis. 

You can schedule an appointment online or consult the experts at any Advanced Pain Care center near you. The centers are open in the Austin Area (512-244-4272), Waco/Killeen (254-741-6641), and Amarillo (806-350-7918). They accept insurance from all major in-network carriers, behavioral health networks, and workers compensation certified networks. 

It’s time to get lasting relief from nerve pain by connecting with an Advanced Pain Care center near you.