Peripheral Neuropathy: Why Your Hands and Feet Go Numb

Numbness that starts in the toes and creeps up the feet. Hands that feel like they’re wearing invisible gloves. A burning sensation that’s worse at night. These are classic signs of peripheral neuropathy — a condition that affects millions of people and one that’s often manageable once the underlying cause is identified.

What Is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition caused by damage or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves—the network responsible for carrying signals between your brain, spinal cord, and the rest of your body. When these nerves are injured, the signals they transmit become disrupted, often leading to symptoms such as numbness, tingling, burning sensations, or weakness rather than typical pain. For individuals experiencing chronic nerve pain that does not respond to conservative treatments, Peripheral Nerve Field Stimulation in NJ may offer an advanced, minimally invasive option to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Common Causes

•       Diabetes, the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy in the U.S., where prolonged high blood sugar damages small nerve fibers over time
•       Nerve compression or entrapment, such as in carpal tunnel or tarsal tunnel syndrome
•       Autoimmune conditions that cause the body to attack its own nerve tissue
•       Vitamin deficiencies, particularly B12
•       Certain medications, chemotherapy, or heavy alcohol use
•       Physical trauma or repetitive stress injuries

Recognizing the Symptoms

Peripheral neuropathy usually starts in the hands and feet and can include numbness or reduced sensation, tingling or a “pins and needles” feeling, burning or sharp, stabbing pain, increased sensitivity to touch, and muscle weakness in more advanced cases. Symptoms often appear symmetrically on both sides of the body and tend to worsen gradually if the underlying cause isn’t addressed.

Why Diagnosis Matters

Because so many different conditions can cause peripheral neuropathy, treating the symptoms alone rarely solves the problem long-term. A proper workup — including a physical and neurological exam, blood work, and sometimes nerve conduction studies — helps identify whether the root cause is metabolic, mechanical (a compressed nerve), autoimmune, or something else. That distinction shapes everything about the treatment plan that follows.

How Peripheral Neuropathy Is Treated

•       Managing the underlying condition, such as improving blood sugar control in diabetic neuropathy
•       Nerve blocks to interrupt pain signals and provide relief
•       Radiofrequency ablation for longer-lasting relief from specific nerve pathways
•       Spinal cord stimulation or peripheral nerve field stimulation for chronic cases that haven’t responded to other treatments
•       Physical therapy to maintain strength, balance, and function

Because peripheral neuropathy tends to progress if left unaddressed, earlier treatment generally means better long-term outcomes and less nerve damage overall.

An Interventional Approach to Nerve Pain

TeamMD’s pain management specialists take a whole-picture approach to peripheral neuropathy — identifying contributing factors and combining medical management with interventional options like nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, and neuromodulation when appropriate. The aim isn’t just to mask the numbness and burning, but to address what’s driving it.

Don’t Let Numbness and Tingling Go Unanswered

If your hands or feet are numb, tingling, or burning, TeamMD’s pain management specialists across New Jersey and Pennsylvania can help determine the cause and the most effective treatment.

Call (908) 827-6086 or book an appointment online with the TeamMD team today.