What Is Neuropathy and Chronic Back Pain?

If you are experiencing neuropathy and chronic back pain, the specialists at San Antonio Pain Consultants understand the significant impact these conditions can have on your quality of life. Neuropathy often presents as numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in your extremities, particularly your hands, feet, or lower legs. You may notice heightened sensitivity to touch or, conversely, a decreased ability to sense temperature changes or pain. Additionally, muscle weakness or loss of coordination can occur, leading to difficulties performing routine tasks or maintaining balance.

Chronic back pain, especially when nerve-related issues are involved, can manifest as persistent aching or sharp pain in your lower back, buttocks, or legs. Many of our patients describe radiating pain that travels down one or both legs, often characterized by shooting or electric-like sensations. This discomfort frequently intensifies with prolonged standing, sitting, or engaging in activities that place pressure on your spine. Stiffness or difficulty moving after periods of rest or inactivity is also common.

In more severe instances, neuropathy combined with chronic back pain can result in changes to bladder or bowel function, potentially indicating spinal nerve involvement. Such symptoms require immediate medical attention. If you are experiencing persistent or worsening neuropathy or chronic back pain, contact us promptly, we are committed to helping you achieve lasting relief, improved function, and a better quality of life.

San Antonio Pain Consultants specializes in diagnosing and treating chronic pain conditions, including neuropathy-related back pain. Neuropathy occurs when nerves are damaged or impaired, leading to chronic pain, numbness, and discomfort, particularly affecting the back region. At San Antonio Pain Consultants, our dedicated pain specialists understand the many underlying factors contributing to neuropathy-related chronic back pain and create personalized treatment plans to help patients regain their quality of life.

• Spinal disc degeneration: Wear and tear compresses spinal nerves, causing neuropathic pain.

• Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal pressures nerve roots, leading to chronic pain.

• Diabetes mellitus: High blood sugar damages nerves and blood vessels, contributing to neuropathy.

• Traumatic spinal injuries: Accidents or falls can injure spinal nerves, causing ongoing pain.

• Infections: Conditions like shingles and Lyme disease can affect spinal nerves and cause discomfort.

• Autoimmune diseases: Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus cause inflammation and nerve damage.

• Lifestyle factors: Alcohol use, nutritional deficiencies (e.g., vitamin B12), and toxin exposure worsen nerve health.

• Medical treatments: Chemotherapy and radiation may harm nerves, leading to neuropathic back pain.

Our specialists focus on early identification and effective management to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.

At San Antonio Pain Consultants, diagnosing neuropathy in patients experiencing chronic back pain involves a comprehensive, patient-centered approach that emphasizes accurate diagnosis and personalized care. Our specialists begin with an in-depth consultation, thoroughly reviewing the patient’s medical history, current symptoms, and any activities or factors that may influence their pain. During the physical examination, our providers carefully assess reflexes, muscle strength, coordination, and sensitivity to sensations such as pain, temperature, and vibration to pinpoint potential nerve-related issues.

To ensure an accurate diagnosis, our team may utilize advanced diagnostic techniques, including nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography (EMG), which measure electrical activity and nerve function to identify any evidence of nerve dysfunction or damage. In addition, sophisticated imaging technologies such as MRI or CT scans may be recommended to closely examine spinal structures, helping to identify conditions such as disc herniations, spinal stenosis, or other abnormalities causing nerve compression and neuropathic pain.

Our team may also order targeted blood tests to screen for underlying systemic conditions that commonly contribute to neuropathy, such as diabetes, autoimmune conditions, vitamin deficiencies, or metabolic disorders. When clinically indicated, nerve biopsies or skin biopsies might be performed to directly evaluate nerve tissue and confirm the diagnosis.

Neuropathy, caused by nerve damage, commonly affects the hands and feet but can also cause ongoing back pain if nerves near or around the spine are involved. Conditions like radiculopathy—where spinal nerve roots are compressed or irritated can produce chronic back pain with symptoms such as numbness, weakness, or sharp, shooting pain radiating into the limbs.

Peripheral neuropathy from diabetes, autoimmune disorders, or nutritional deficiencies may indirectly cause back pain by affecting posture, gait, and muscle balance, leading to added strain on back muscles and tissues.

At San Antonio Pain Consultants, we thoroughly evaluate your condition using medical history, physical exams, nerve studies, and imaging to pinpoint the cause of your back pain. This helps us create personalized treatment plans to relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life.

If you suspect neuropathy is behind your back pain, contact San Antonio Pain Consultants for expert diagnosis and care.  For more details, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are located at 3903 Wiseman Blvd, Ste 117, San Antonio, TX 78251. We serve patients from San Antonio TX, Helotes TX, Alamo Ranch TX, Leon Valley TX, Shavano Park TX, Balcones Heights TX, Fair Oaks TX, Fair Oaks Ranch TX, Castroville TX, and surrounding areas.