peripheral neuropathy diabetic connection? - a critical analysis
DESCRIPTION
Peripheral nerve damage is blamed solely as a result of diabetes. This presentation takes a hard look at the evidence, asks and answers the hard questions to show that diabetes should be the last consideration after all other causes are eliminated. Learn more at www.GraMedica.com.TRANSCRIPT
Diabetic Peripheral NeuropathyA Critical Look Separating Fact from Fiction
Michael E. Graham, DPM, FACFAS, FAENS
What is a Peripheral Nerve?
A peripheral nerve is a extension from the central nervous system (CNS-brain and spinal cord) whose function is to carry electrical impulses either towards the CNS (sensory information) or away from the CNS (motor function).
What exactly is “neuropathy?”
(nerve cell)
Neuropathy is defined asthe progressive loss
of nerve fiber function.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is therefore loss of nerve fiber function in the peripheral nerves (nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord.)
Normal Nerve Abnormal Nerve
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy has been defined as:
“The presence of symptoms and/or signs of peripheral nerve dysfunction in people with
diabetes after the exclusion of other causes.”
Boulton, AJ, et. al, Diabetic Neuropathy. Med Clin North America, Jul 1998:82(4): 909-929.
Unfortunately, no one pays much attention to the last and most
important part of that definition:
“after the exclusion of other causes.”
Fact:
Peripheral neuropathies are reported to be the most common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM).
It is believed that up to 50% of both Type I and Type II diabetics have some
degree of peripheral neuropathy.
Type I diabetics are potentially affected with this nerve condition after decades of chronic uncontrolled blood sugar levels, while
Type II diabetics can have signs/symptoms of neuropathy after only a few years of diagnosis.
Strange Fact
(Seems like it would be the other way around?)
Type I diabetics don’t usually develop signs/symptoms of peripheral
neuropathy until they are in their 40s/50s.
The average age of diagnosis of Type I DM is 14 years old.
Type II diabetics aren’t usually diagnosed until they are middle age or
older (50 years +)
Unfortunately, that number is getting younger due to an increase in type II pediatric diabetes.
Signs and/or symptoms of peripheral neuropathy usually begin in the toes or the
ball of the foot.
The loss of sensation on the bottom of the foot is NOT a good thing.
It leads to all sorts of problems.
And it’s more complicated than just the loss of feeling.
There is also painful neuropathy.
Neuropathy severely affects the quality of one’s life.
Besides living with severe pain
There are secondary effects including • Foot ulcers-– Typical cost to heal a foot ulcer is $8,000– Typical cost to heal an infected ulcer is $17,000
• Falls• Fractures
But the worst thing is:
WARNING:The next side is graphic.
Amputation
It is estimated that someone loses a leg every 18 minutes as an ultimate complication from
neuropathy.
Average cost for a below-knee amputation (BKA) is $45,000There are 80,000 BKA performed/year
Usually the opposite limb develops an ulcer within 18 months58% go on to have a BKA of the residual limb within 3-5 years.
Anything and everything needs to be done to combat this
progressive nerve disorder.
The unfortunate fact is that once a patient presents to a doctor with nerve symptoms the first thought the doctor has
is:
DIABETIC NEUROPATHY!
At that point the case is closed.
“Sorry, we can’t do much for you.”
It will only get worse.
Sure, you can try to keep your blood sugar under control.
You can take vitamin supplements and wear cushioned shoes.
Keep coming back for check-ups so that we can monitor how bad it is
getting.
If you develop painful neuropathy we will offer you pills to mask the
pain.
Have you ever taken a look at the possible side-effects of those pills?
You might be surprised.
What is it about diabetes that leads to the destruction of nerves in the feet and hands?
The fact is - we really don’t know.
There is quite a bit of confusion as to why and there are several theories.
Only thing is that none of them have really been proven.
DM peripheral neuropathy is blamed on:
• Long-term high blood sugar levels• High cholesterol• High blood pressure• Smoking• Increased height (taller than normal?)• High exposure to ethanol• Genetic factors
Diabetes isn’t the only disease that affects the peripheral nerves.
There are several other forms of neuropathy including:
• Alcohol consumption• Chemotherapeutic medicine• COMPRESSION of the nerve• Familiar (parent/grandparent) • Idiopathic (can’t figure out why, can’t blame it on anything
else)
Besides the co-finding that you also have a family history of neuropathy, you have been diagnosed as being “pre-diabetic”,
Type I or II diabetic, had chemotherapy, drank beer for too many years, or we don’t know why you have it…
… are there different findings as far as the signs or symptoms of neuropathy?
In other words, there is
not one symptom or finding
that links the cause of nerve damage to diabetes, genetics,
alcoholism, known or unknown reasons.
We don’t say “oh you have diabetic neuropathy because you
have pain or loss of feeling in your big toe” or “if you have pain or loss of feeling in your little toe
it is related specifically to chemotherapy”.
Peripheral nerve facts
• Nerves outside of the spine are capable of repairing themselves when damaged.
• Nerves are able to withstand up to a 6% strain without being affected.
• Nerves can be slightly flattened without long-term damage.
What about nerves that are constantly being over-stretched while at the same time being flattened and compressed?
And this happens- day after day,
week after week, month after month,
year after year.
Another fact:An overwhelming majority of
individuals suffering with peripheral neuropathy are over 40 years of age.
The majority of those cases are in patients over 50 years of age.
Let’s shift our focus to dysfunction of nerves on the bottom of the foot.
Walking is the second most common conscious
function of our body.
Average person takes
6,000 steps a day42,000 steps a week168,000 steps a month2,016,000 steps a year40,320,000 steps in 20 yrs80,640,000 steps in 40 yrs120,960,000 steps in 60 yrs
Remember earlier we learned that most diabetics (either Type I or Type II) don’t develop peripheral neuropathy signs/symptoms until they are 40 years
old or older.
Anyone 40 years old has on average taken over 80,000,000 steps.
Did you know there is one main nerve collecting all of the sensations
from the bottom of the foot?
Tibialis posterior nerve
All of the nerves from the bottom of the foot travel
toward the spine from behind the inner ankle bone.
Tibialis posterior nerve
The exact area where the nerves from the bottom of the foot travel to the ankle area
is a very potentially
dangerous area.
There are 2 tissue tunnels where the nerves transition
from a horizontal to vertical orientation.
There is a reason why I am pointing this out- keep going.
Hindfoot alignment is very important for many things but especially when it comes to these 2
tunnels.
There is a strong correlation between foot neuropathy and
faulty foot mechanics.
When the ankle bone (talus) dislocates (partially) on the heel bone
(calcaneus) there is a dramatic and very bad effect on the nerves within
those two tunnels.
Normal Abnormal
The partial dislocation of the ankle bone on the heel bone has been scientifically shown to:
cause pathologic over-stretching of the nerve(s)&
abnormally increase the pressures within the tunnels
The Effect of HyProCure Sinus Tarsi Stent on Tarsal Tunnel and Porta Pedis Pressures.Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Volume 50, (1) Pages 44-49, January 2011
Effect of Extra-Osseous TaloTarsal Stabilization on Posterior Tibial Nerve Strain in Hyperpronating Feet: A Cadaveric EvaluationJournal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Volume 50, (6), Pages 672-675, November 2011
A misaligned hindfoot leads to constant compression and
overstretching of the nerves while standing.
And a misaligned hindfoot leads to intermittent damage
with every step taken.
Walking is supposed to be so good for you. That is, unless you have
misaligned feet! There are hidden dangers of walking!
Many people with peripheral neuropathy will tell you that the
symptoms aren’t so bad or even non-existent when they first get out of bed in
the morning …
…but the longer they are on their feet then the symptoms get worse.
WHY?
Because when they were laying down and off their feet the nerve was not being
overstretched nor compressed. Upon weightbearing the nerves were being
crushed and over-stretched.
Other individuals with painful neuropathy at night have often gotten out of bed and
started walking round and round until finally the pain in their feet went away.
The reason why the pain was worse after they had been off their feet was that the nerves were “waking up” and walking around made them go “back to
sleep”.
Generally speaking, the medical establishment has always been
against any surgical option.
The problem with typical nerve surgery is that nothing is done to realign the foot.
Arch supports may be beneficial, but for many patients these devices just end up pushing on the nerves and make their symptoms worse.
A somewhat new and more importantly, scientifically proven internal option now exists.
HyProCure®
Extra-osseous, extra-articular, talotarsal fixation device.
HyProCure®
is a titanium stent that is inserted into a naturally occurring space (sinus tarsi) in between the ankle & heel
bones. This minimally invasive soft tissue procedure instantly maintains the natural opening of the sinus tarsi while restoring the normal motion and alignment of the
hindfoot bones.
Did you know…
HyProCure®
has been used safely and effectively in thousands of pediatric and adult patients since 2004.
Stabilization of Joint Forces of the Subtalar Complex via the HyProCure Sinus Tarsi StentJournal of American Podiatric Medical Association, Volume 101 No. 5, Pages 390-399, Sept/Oct 2011
Extra-Osseous Talotarsal Stabilization using HyProCure in Adults: A 5 Year Retrospective Follow-upJournal of Foot and Ankle Surgery – Vol. 51 (1), p. 23-29, 2012
HyProCure®
is the only extra-osseous talotarsal stabilization device that works with the normal biomechanics, unlike other devices that work against the normal function and often leading to failure of the device.
+ =
HyProCure®
is the only medical treatment that has been scientifically proven to decrease the pressures within the tarsal tunnel and porta pedis while at the same
time decreasing the strain on the nerve.The Effect of HyProCure Sinus Tarsi Stent on Tarsal Tunnel and Porta Pedis Pressures.Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Volume 50, (1) Pages 44-49, January 2011
Effect of Extra-Osseous TaloTarsal Stabilization on Posterior Tibial Nerve Strain in Hyperpronating Feet: A Cadaveric EvaluationJournal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Volume 50, (6), Pages 672-675, November 2011
Every effort must be considered to eliminate any factor that could lead to the destruction of peripheral nerves.
We have followed their advice of:early detection
frequent physician visitsstrict diabetic control
but the disease still remains and often gets worse.
The need for early surgical intervention is important.
While standing, walking, or running the nerves to the
bottom of the foot are being destroyed.
Eventually, a critical threshold is reached where the nerve is unable
to heal itself.
While we can’t ignore that fact that high blood sugar, excessive alcohol
consumption, and the other potential causes must be controlled or eliminated, we also cannot ignore the simple facts of
the trauma inflicted on the nerve as a result of the faulty foot alignment.
The risk benefit analysis of the HyProCure® option shows that
the benefits are far greater than any potential risks.
To learn more about neuropathy, misaligned feet, HyProCure® and to find a specialist near
you…
Please visit:
www.HyProCure.com