A diabetic foot ulcer is a break or hole in the skin that requires immediate medical attention. It can develop beneath the foot or over bony prominences, such as a bunion or hammertoe. If the hole gets much deeper, it might reach the bone. The infection can go all the way to the bone if the ulcer becomes infected. This can result in weeks or months of treatment, as well as hospitalization, surgery, and perhaps amputation.
Poor circulation, decreased feeling or numbness, and a reduced healing ability are all complications of diabetes. If undiagnosed and ignored, these three conditions can have disastrous consequences. Insufficient blood supply to the foot, referred to as peripheral artery disease (PAD), deprives the tissues of necessary oxygen. Peripheral neuropathy, or numbing of the nerves in the feet, diminishes the protective sense and lessens the probability that a person with diabetes may experience pain as a result of an injury. Reduced healing capability can exacerbate a minor injury by allowing it to get infected and putting the limb at danger.
Burning and stinging sensation in the feet are common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is not always caused by diabetes and does not affect everyone with diabetes. Some of my patients in Houston have been told by doctors that their numbness from peripheral neuropathy is a sign that they will get diabetes. This is not true.
Peripheral neuropathy can cause either numbness or pain. Regardless of whether is the primary symptom, neither is pleasant. The numb sensation may begin with the feeling that the socks are bunched up, despite the fact that they are not. This can lead to a full-fledged numbness in the foot, which can spread up the leg. Often, the protecting sensation is lost, leaving the foot vulnerable to infection from a simple splinter or a foot ulcer. These individuals are also at danger of falling due to their numb feet, which create substantial balance concerns.
People suffering with peripheral neuropathy in Houston are constantly on the search for ways to alleviate their symptoms. There are several treatments available, some of which are more effective than others. If you are experiencing pain from peripheral neuropathy, Biofreeze can help. Biofreeze is a topical analgesic that penetrates the skin quickly and provides temporary relief from pain.
A variety of reasons can induce peripheral neuropathy, which presents as pain or numbness in the feet. Diabetes is the most prevalent cause of peripheral neuropathy. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy develops when blood sugar levels remain high, causing nerve and tiny blood vessel damage. This limits the quantity of blood that reaches the nerves, which provides oxygen and nutrients.