Neuropathy Treatment
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Neuropathy pain (burning, tingling or electric pain, most often in the feet and hands) comes from damaged or irritated nerves. When medication alone leaves you hurting or leaves you with side effects, Dr. Bhakta offers targeted treatments aimed at the pain itself.
Neuropathy at a Glance
Common Symptoms
Burning, tingling, numbness, electric shocks, pain from light touch, pain worse at night
Common Causes
Diabetes, chemotherapy, shingles, vitamin deficiency, nerve compression, prior injury or surgery
Treatments at PDTC
When to See a Specialist
Nerve pain beyond a few weeks, poor sleep, medication side effects, or pain that limits walking or work
Understanding Neuropathy
Neuropathy means damage to or dysfunction of the nerves that carry signals between your brain, spinal cord and the rest of your body. When those signals misfire, you feel it as burning, tingling, stabbing or electric pain, often in the feet and hands first. Nerves that sense touch can also become over-sensitive, so that a bedsheet or a pair of socks hurts.
Neuropathy has many causes. Diabetes is the most common, but nerve damage can also follow chemotherapy, shingles, vitamin B12 deficiency, thyroid problems, heavy alcohol use, kidney disease, a prior injury or surgery, or a pinched nerve. In a large share of cases, no single cause is found. Nerve damage can be widespread (affecting both feet, for example) or limited to one nerve, and that difference matters because it shapes which treatments are likely to help.
Neuropathy is not always painful, but when it is, the pain is often worse at night and does not respond to ordinary pain relievers. Persistent nerve pain can wear down sleep, mood and mobility, which is why treating the pain itself, and not only the underlying disease, is worth a specialist's attention.
Patients come to our Tulsa office from Broken Arrow, Jenks, Bixby, Owasso, Sand Springs and Claremore. We work with most major insurance plans; see insurance information or call (918) 369-5511 to check your coverage.
Neuropathy Symptoms & Warning Signs
Symptoms usually begin gradually and are often symmetrical. Knowing what is typical, and what needs prompt attention, helps you decide when to get care.
Typical Symptoms
- Burning, tingling or “pins and needles” in the feet, legs, hands or arms
- Numbness that spreads in a sock-and-glove pattern
- Sharp, stabbing or electric-shock pain
- Pain from light touch, such as bedsheets or clothing
- Pain that is worse at night and interrupts sleep
- Weakness, clumsiness or loss of balance
When to Get Prompt Care
- A foot sore, blister or wound that is slow to heal, especially with diabetes
- Numbness or weakness that is spreading quickly over days
- Sudden weakness on one side, facial droop or trouble speaking (call 911)
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Redness, warmth, swelling or fever in a numb foot
- Severe pain after an injury
Some of these signs need same-day medical attention. If you have any of them, contact your primary care doctor, urgent care or an emergency department first; pain treatment can follow once serious causes are ruled out.
How Neuropathy Pain Is Evaluated at PDTC
Neuropathy pain is not one condition. Dr. Bhakta's evaluation is built to identify what is driving your pain and which nerves are involved, so treatment fits the pattern instead of guessing.
Detailed History & Hands-On Exam
Where the pain is, what it feels like, when it started, what makes it better or worse, and what you have already tried. The exam checks sensation, reflexes, strength, balance and skin of the feet and hands, and looks for nerve compression points.
Review of Your Prior Tests
Recent blood work (such as blood sugar, B12 and thyroid), nerve conduction studies and EMG, and spine or limb imaging are reviewed. If something important is missing, we say so and help coordinate it with your primary care doctor, endocrinologist or neurologist.
A Plan Matched to the Pain Pattern
Pain that follows a single nerve often calls for a different approach than pain in both feet. Dr. Bhakta explains your options in plain terms, starting with the least invasive choice likely to help, and what each is expected to do.
Bring a list of your current medications and any recent test results. It saves time and helps the plan start with what you already know.
How Dr. Bhakta Treats Neuropathy Pain
Treatment depends on the cause, where the pain is, and how you have responded to medication so far.
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
For pain that follows a particular nerve, a small electrode placed near the nerve interrupts pain signals without the whole-body effects of medication.
Learn about PNS →Botox for Nerve Pain
For certain focal nerve and muscle-related pain, small injections can calm overactive pain signaling for weeks to months.
Learn about Botox →Medication, Daily Habits and the Rest of Your Plan
Procedures are one part of neuropathy care. Current American Academy of Neurology guidance for painful diabetic neuropathy supports several medicine classes, including certain antidepressants, anti-seizure medicines and topical treatments and advises trying a different class if the first does not help or causes side effects. Dr. Bhakta reviews what you take now, how well it works and what it costs you in side effects, and coordinates changes with the doctor who prescribes them.
Day-to-day habits matter too. Steady blood sugar, a daily foot check, well-fitting shoes, regular gentle activity, limiting alcohol and treating any vitamin deficiency all protect nerves and make other treatments work better.
Learn More from Trusted Medical Sources
Peripheral Neuropathy
Cleveland Clinic
Oral and Topical Treatment of Painful Diabetic Polyneuropathy: AAN Guideline Update
American Academy of Neurology, Neurology 2022
These links are provided for educational purposes. They do not constitute medical advice. Always consult Dr. Bhakta for personalized treatment recommendations.
Neuropathy FAQs
Bhadresh L. Bhakta, M.D.
Board-Certified Interventional Pain Specialist
Fellowship trained in Pain Medicine at Vanderbilt University. Board Certified for decades in Anesthesiology: Pain Medicine (PM) by the American Board of Anesthesiology. Formerly served as Associate Professor at OU School of Medicine. Serving Tulsa since 2000.
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