Neuropathy Treatment in Opelousas, LA
Burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness in the feet or hands can point to nerve damage. At Interventional Pain Specialists, we evaluate neuropathic symptoms and build a treatment plan around the nerves affected, the likely cause, and how symptoms are affecting your daily life.
Led by Albert Gros, Jr., MD — board-certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Medicine — our Opelousas team offers targeted pain-management options for appropriately selected patients with chronic neuropathic pain.
Neuropathy Care at Our Opelousas Clinic
Interventional Pain Specialists – Opelousas
Address: 3983 I-49 S. Service Road, Opelousas, LA
Phone: (337) 284-3200
The Opelousas clinic provides access to our pain-management team for patients experiencing burning, tingling, numbness, sensitivity, and other painful nerve symptoms. Contact the office to confirm appointment availability and where a recommended procedure is performed.
How Is Neuropathy Treated?
Treatment depends on the underlying cause, the nerves involved, and how symptoms affect daily life. Care may include:
- Treating the underlying medical condition
- Medication management for nerve pain
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Balance and strength exercises
- Foot care and injury prevention
- Targeted peripheral nerve blocks for selected patients
Some neuropathies improve once the cause is identified and treated; others require ongoing management. When needed, we coordinate care with primary care, neurology, endocrinology, or podiatry.
What Is Peripheral Neuropathy?
The peripheral nervous system carries signals between the brain, spinal cord, and the rest of the body, controlling sensation, movement, balance, and certain automatic functions.
Peripheral neuropathy develops when one or more of these nerves become damaged and stop transmitting signals normally affecting a single nerve, several nerves, or many nerves throughout the body. Symptoms vary depending on whether the affected nerves control sensation, movement, or automatic functions.
Common Symptoms of Neuropathy
Neuropathy does not feel the same for every patient. Common symptoms include:
Sensory symptoms
- Burning, shooting, or electric pain
- Tingling, numbness, or pins and needles
- Increased sensitivity or pain from light touch
- Reduced ability to feel heat or cold
- Difficulty detecting cuts, blisters, or injuries
- Symptoms that become worse at night
Motor symptoms
- Muscle weakness or reduced grip strength
- Cramping or difficulty lifting the foot
- Problems climbing stairs
- Loss of coordination
- Difficulty walking
Balance and mobility symptoms
- Unsteadiness
- Increased risk of falling
- Difficulty sensing the position of the feet
- Changes in walking pattern
- Reduced confidence while standing or walking
Peripheral neuropathy affecting the feet or hands can cause burning, tingling, pain, numbness, weakness, balance loss, and difficulty walking.
Neuropathy, Nerve Pain, and Sciatica Are Different
These terms are related but describe different conditions or symptoms.
Neuropathy
Neuropathy refers to damage or dysfunction affecting one or more nerves. It may cause pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, altered sensation, or balance problems.
Nerve Pain
Nerve pain describes painful symptoms associated with nerve irritation, injury, or dysfunction. It may feel burning, shooting, tingling, or electric. Localized nerve pain can occur without widespread peripheral neuropathy.
Sciatica
Sciatica generally results from irritation or compression of a nerve root in the lower spine. Pain commonly travels from the lower back or buttock into one leg.
What Causes Neuropathy?
Neuropathy can result from a medical condition, medication, injury, nutritional deficiency, immune disorder, toxin exposure, or inherited condition — and in some cases, no specific cause is found.
Diabetes
The most common cause; high blood glucose can damage nerves over time, often in the feet and legs.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Low vitamin B12 and other deficiencies can affect nerve function.
Medications & Toxin Exposure
Certain chemotherapy drugs, long-term heavy alcohol use, and chemical exposure may contribute to nerve damage.
Autoimmune & Metabolic Conditions
Kidney, liver, or thyroid disease, infections, and autoimmune disorders may affect peripheral nerves.
Nerve Compression or Injury
Repetitive pressure, surgery, scar tissue, or trauma can damage a nerve along its path.
Inherited or Unknown Causes
Some neuropathies are hereditary or idiopathic; treatment then focuses on managing symptoms and preventing complications.
Different Types of Neuropathy
Understanding the pattern of nerve involvement helps guide testing and treatment.
Polyneuropathy
Polyneuropathy affects many nerves and commonly begins in the longest nerves first. Symptoms often start in both feet and gradually move upward. The hands may become involved later.
Mononeuropathy
Mononeuropathy affects one individual nerve. It may result from compression, injury, scar tissue, inflammation, or another localized problem.
Sensory Neuropathy
Sensory neuropathy primarily affects feeling and may cause burning, tingling, numbness, painful sensitivity, reduced temperature awareness, and difficulty detecting injury.
Motor Neuropathy
Motor neuropathy affects nerves that control muscles and may cause weakness, cramping, reduced coordination, muscle wasting, and difficulty walking or using the hands.
Autonomic Neuropathy
Autonomic neuropathy affects nerves that control automatic body functions, including digestion, blood pressure, heart rate, bladder function, sweating, and temperature regulation. These symptoms often require medical or neurological evaluation.
Small-Fiber Neuropathy
Small-fiber neuropathy affects nerves involved in pain and temperature sensation. It may cause severe burning, tingling, or sensitivity even when standard nerve tests appear normal, requiring specialized evaluation.
When Should You See a Neuropathy Specialist?
Consider an evaluation if your symptoms:
- Persist for several weeks or continue to worsen
- Cause burning, tingling, or electrical pain
- Affect the hands or feet, or interfere with balance
- Cause numbness that makes injuries hard to detect
- Develop after chemotherapy, surgery, or an injury
- Remain unexplained or don’t improve with initial care
How Neuropathy Is Evaluated
Our evaluation helps determine whether symptoms are related to peripheral neuropathy, which nerves may be involved, what may be contributing to the symptoms, and whether pain-management treatment may be appropriate.
Medical History and Symptoms
We discuss when symptoms began, where they occur, how they have changed, and whether they affect one or both sides. We also review conditions such as diabetes, previous cancer treatment, medications, alcohol use, nutritional factors, kidney, liver, thyroid, or autoimmune conditions, along with prior injuries, surgeries, and family history.
Physical and Neurological Examination
The examination may assess sensation, reflexes, muscle strength, coordination, balance, walking pattern, and areas of pain or numbness. We also consider how symptoms affect sleep, mobility, work, and daily activities.
Blood Tests
Blood tests may help identify medical conditions that can contribute to neuropathy, including diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disorders, kidney or liver problems, inflammation, immune conditions, and other metabolic issues.
Nerve-Conduction Studies and EMG
Nerve-conduction studies and electromyography (EMG) evaluate nerve and muscle function. They may help determine whether nerve damage is present and whether symptoms involve peripheral nerves, spinal nerve roots, or muscles.
Imaging
MRI, CT scans, or other imaging may be recommended when symptoms suggest nerve compression, injury, entrapment, or another structural problem. Imaging is not necessary for every neuropathy evaluation.
Diagnostic Peripheral Nerve Blocks
When symptoms appear related to a specific nerve, a targeted nerve block may help identify whether that nerve is contributing to the pain. Temporary relief after numbing the nerve can provide diagnostic information and may also provide short-term symptom relief for appropriately selected patients.
Neuropathy Procedures We Offer in Opelousas
Interventional Pain Specialists offers minimally invasive, image-guided procedures that may be considered for appropriately selected patients with neuropathic pain. The right option depends on your diagnosis and clinical evaluation.
Peripheral Nerve Blocks
Deliver medication around a specific nerve outside the brain and spinal cord to help identify and temporarily relieve localized nerve pain.
Selective Nerve Root Blocks
Target a specific spinal nerve root to help diagnose or relieve radiating pain caused by nerve compression or irritation.
Epidural Steroid Injections
Deliver anti-inflammatory medication around irritated spinal nerves for selected patients with nerve-related pain.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Uses controlled heat to interrupt pain signals from selected nerves, offering longer-lasting relief for chronic cases.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Uses a small implanted device to modify pain signals for carefully selected patients with persistent neuropathic pain.
Iovera
Uses targeted cold therapy to temporarily stop selected nerves from sending pain signals, without relying on opioids.
The Role of Pain Management in Neuropathy Care
Neuropathy may require care from more than one type of medical provider. An interventional pain specialist can help evaluate painful neuropathic symptoms, manage chronic nerve pain, perform selected diagnostic or therapeutic nerve blocks, and consider advanced pain treatments when appropriate.
Depending on the cause and symptoms, care may also involve primary care, neurology, endocrinology, podiatry, or another specialist. The goal is coordinated care that addresses the underlying condition while managing pain and supporting daily function.
Diabetic Neuropathy and Foot Care
Diabetic neuropathy can reduce the ability to feel cuts, blisters, or pressure allowing a minor injury to worsen before it’s noticed. If you have diabetes and reduced foot sensation:
- Check your feet daily for cuts, blisters, redness, or swelling
- Wear properly fitting shoes and avoid walking barefoot
- Get regular professional foot exams
- Seek prompt care for wounds that don’t improve
Why Choose Us for Neuropathy Pain Management in Opelousas?
Experienced Interventional Pain Care
Albert Gros, Jr., MD, is double board-certified with more than two decades of experience in anesthesiology and interventional pain management.
Evaluation Before Intervention
Neuropathy symptoms can overlap with spinal nerve compression and other conditions. We evaluate the symptom pattern before recommending treatment.
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Nerve Blocks
Peripheral nerve blocks may help identify whether a specific nerve is contributing to pain while providing temporary relief.
Personalized Treatment Planning
Recommendations are based on your suspected cause, nerves affected, medical history, and functional goals.
Focus on Daily Function
Treatment planning considers how neuropathy affects sleep, walking, balance, and everyday activities.
Convenient Opelousas Location
Patients can receive an evaluation at 3983 I-49 S. Service Road, Opelousas, LA.
Meet Albert Gros, Jr., MD
Anesthesiology and Pain Management Specialist
Dr. Gros leads care at Interventional Pain Specialists. He earned his medical degree from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans and completed his anesthesiology residency at Ochsner Clinic Foundation. His experience includes nerve blocks, epidural steroid injections, spinal cord stimulation, and other interventional treatments for spine, joint, and nerve-related pain.
What to Bring to Your Neuropathy Appointment
Bring information that may help the team understand your symptoms and previous treatment:
- Photo identification and insurance card
- Current medication list
- Relevant medical records
- MRI, CT, or X-ray reports and imaging, if available
- Details of previous injections or surgery
- Referral or authorization documents, if required
- Questions you’d like to discuss
Insurance Information
We accept most insurance providers, including:
Insurance coverage, referrals, prior authorization, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses vary by plan. Contact the Opelousas office and your insurance provider before treatment to confirm your benefits and any referral or authorization requirements.
Opelousas office: (337) 284-3200
When Neuropathy Symptoms Require Urgent Medical Attention
A routine pain-management appointment is not appropriate for sudden or rapidly progressing neurological symptoms. Seek immediate medical attention for:
- Sudden weakness or paralysis
- Numbness with facial drooping or slurred speech
- Sudden vision changes or confusion
- Weakness progressing upward through the legs
- New difficulty breathing or swallowing
- New loss of bladder or bowel control
- Numbness around the groin or saddle area
- A foot wound with spreading redness, swelling, or fever
What Our Patients Say
Professional Associations And Memberships
Schedule a Neuropathy Evaluation in Opelousas
Burning, numbness, tingling, weakness, and reduced sensation can interfere with sleep, walking, balance, and everyday activities. Contact us to discuss your symptoms and determine whether pain-management care may be appropriate.
Interventional Pain Specialists – Opelousas
3983 I-49 S. Service Road
Opelousas, LA
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of doctor treats neuropathy?
The appropriate provider depends on the cause and symptoms. Care may involve a primary care physician, neurologist, endocrinologist, podiatrist, or pain-management specialist. A pain specialist may help evaluate and manage painful neuropathic symptoms and offer targeted procedures for appropriately selected patients.
Can neuropathy be cured?
Some forms may improve when the underlying cause is identified and treated. Other forms involve lasting nerve damage and require ongoing symptom management, rehabilitation, and injury prevention. The outlook depends on the cause, type, severity, and duration of the nerve damage.
What does neuropathy feel like?
Neuropathy may cause burning, tingling, electric pain, numbness, painful sensitivity, weakness, cramping, balance problems, or reduced ability to sense temperature or injury.
Can diabetes cause burning feet?
Yes. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy commonly affects the feet and legs and may cause burning, tingling, shooting pain, numbness, or reduced sensation.
Do you offer nerve blocks for neuropathy in Opelousas?
We evaluate selected patients with painful, localized nerve symptoms and may consider peripheral nerve blocks when appropriate. Contact the Opelousas office to discuss your symptoms and confirm whether a recommended procedure is performed at that location.
Can spinal cord stimulation help neuropathy pain?
Spinal cord stimulation may be considered for carefully selected patients with persistent neuropathic pain that has not improved adequately with less invasive treatment. An evaluation and temporary trial are generally required before permanent implantation.
Do I need a referral?
Referral and prior-authorization requirements vary by insurance plan. Contact the Opelousas clinic or your insurance provider to determine whether a referral or prior authorization is required.
How do I schedule a neuropathy appointment in Opelousas?
Call (337) 284-3200 or submit an appointment request through our website to schedule an evaluation.