Dennis Gusman, D.P.M.

"Oh, my aching feet!" If you have uttered that phrase, remember: pain, numbness or other forms of discomfort are your body's way of telling you something is wrong. Listen to your body; you may be experiencing symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, a form of nerve damage.

Peripheral Neuropathy and Your Feet
Peripheral nerves in feet and ankles are conduits that carry messages to and from your brain about temperature, pain and other sensations. These nerves let you know that your feet are hot or cold, or that you have stepped on a sharp object.

In people with peripheral neuropathy, nerve endings become diseased or damaged and send incorrect messages to the brain. As a result, people with this condition may experience a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, including burning, tingling, numbness, and pins and needles. They also may be unable to feel pain, so they may injure themselves without knowing it.

"Diabetes is a common identifiable cause of peripheral neuropathy," says Dennis Gusman, D.P.M., a foot and ankle surgeon at Auburn Regional Medical Center (ARMC) and the Auburn Ankle and Foot Clinic. "Toxic, immunologic and hereditary processes can also cause damage to peripheral nerves. Many patients develop peripheral neuropathy for unknown reasons."

Do Not Delay Treatment
If you have symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, do not ignore your discomfort and hope your symptoms will go away. Seek treatment -- without it, nerve damage may be permanent.

"It's important for patients to discuss their symptoms with their doctors," Dr. Gusman says. "We use new, specialized testing to determine if the sensory nerves are working properly. We also measure nerve dysfunction over time and assess treatment effectiveness."

Conservative treatments may help relieve symptoms. Your doctor may recommend that you:

• Control your blood glucose levels.
• Get a baseline foot exam to assess your risk for foot problems.
• See your physician regularly for foot care.
• Use pads, arch supports and orthotics to redistribute pressure away from irritated nerves and restore your natural arch.
• Take medications or receive steroid injections to help ease your pain.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Persistent Foot Problems
If your symptoms persist or they affect your daily activities, your doctor may suggest that you undergo a minimally invasive procedure to decompress the tibial nerve, which runs from the back of the lower leg to the ankle. During this procedure, a small incision is made in the ankle. Then, the laciniate ligament, which often crowds the tibial nerve, is severed to relieve nerve pressure.

"This procedure is a safe and effective way of relieving pressure on the nerve, improving patients' symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease," Dr. Gusman says.

To make an appointment with Dr. Gusman, please call the Auburn Ankle and Foot Clinic at 253-735-1478.

For more information about peripheral neuropathy, please visit www.auburnregional.com and click on Health Information in the left column. Under Library on the left side of the next page, click on Diseases & Conditions, the letter P and Peripheral Neuropathy, Treating or Peripheral Neuropathy, What Is.

202 North Division St., Auburn, WA 98001 (253) 833-7711, FAX: (253) 939-2376