What is Diabetic Neuropathy?

Diabetic Neuropathy is a loss of nerve function that is seen in patients with Diabetes. This condition gradually progresses over time at an unpredictable rate. The nerves most often affected early on are the sensory nerves. The patient loses the ability to differentiate sharp and dull, sense vibratory impulses, sense heat and eventually become unable to tell what positions the joints are in. This is a painful condition usually causing tingling, burning and numbness in the hands and feet. The pain starts in the fingers and toes and gradually works it's way up the extremity. Some patients relate coldness in the toes even when they are warm, or hot feeling in the toes when they feel cool to the touch. Some patients relate that it feels like they are walking on broken glass while others say it feels like they are walking on cardboard. The symptoms vary considerably from patient to patient, but most patients localize the majority of their pain to the toes and up to the area behind the toes.

At azcryo, we have been performing Cryoanalgesia(cryo) of the affected nerves for the treatment of the pain associated with Diabetic Neuropathy for over two years. The series of precedures is performed in the office under local anesthesia using ultrasonic guidance of the cryoprobe.