|
Nerve Testing and Surgery |
|
|
|
There are more than 30 million people with diabetes mellitus in the U.S. alone. Experts estimate that nearly half of them suffer from peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes. To date there are over 240 surgeons trained worldwide in Dr. A.L. Dellon's techniques for surgical intervention for painful peripheral neuropathy. Currently there are only three trained in the State of Colorado, Dr. Still is one of them. There have been many clinical studies by many different authors and most report approximately 80% good to excellent results with surgery.
It is important to note that more studies need to be done and (as stated on the home page) only a selct group of patients that have both a diabetic neuropathy and a compression neuropathy seem to benefit from this type of surgery. Dr. Still has had the most succces with patients with a compression neuropathy or idiopathic neuropathy that may have been due to compression and not diabetes.
It is important to remind the reader that this surgery is only for patients that have tried other, non surgical options which didn't produce sufficiently better results. Not all patients will be surgical candidates. One of the methods used to see if a patient is a candidate for relief of painful neuropathy symptoms with surgery is through specialized nerve testing. This is done with a machine called the "Pressure Specified Sensory Device" (PSSD) developed by The Institute for Peripheral Nerve Surgery in Baltimore, MD. Nerve conduction velocity and electromyography, usually performed by a neurologist, can be helpful. These types of testing, along with clinical exams and sometimes musculoskeletal ultrasounds are the most effective ways to diagnose appropriate surgical candidates.
The testing and surgical procedures are most often paid by insurance carriers. The exception is Medicare, who does not pay for the testing. Dr. Still encourages patients to come in for an appointment and discuss peripheral neuropathy. For some, there is hope!
|
