Neuropathy Clinic
Neuropathy Clinic
Days & Timing:
2nd & 4th Fridays
02 00 pm to 04 00 pm.
PS: The clinic will remain closed on OPD holidays of the Institute.
Venue: Neurology Out Patient Department (F2-OPD)
Faculty:
- Dr. Madhu N.
What is Neuropathy?
Neuropathy or peripheral neuropathy is a condition that arises from damage to a single or multiple peripheral nerves. A variety of different disease conditions give rise to neuropathy and they range from common disorders such as diabetes mellitus, infections like leprosy, Guillain Barre syndrome and repetitive stress injury to uncommon disorders like connective tissue disease, hereditary neuropathies and tumours.
A patient with neuropathy may experience uncomfortable sensations like tingling, burning, pins-and-needles, stabbing, or shooting pain. There may be reduced or loss of sensation in affected regions which lead to painless injuries, burns and non-healing ulcers. In addition, a patient may experience loss of strength in hands and feet leading to difficulty in holding objects such as pen with hand, opening bottles, turning key in a lock, gripping footwear and foot drop. The disability may be mild and barely discernible to severe resulting in loss of ambulation. Loss of coordination and sensation of imbalance may also occur on closing the eyes. Uncommonly, a patient may experience giddiness on standing suddenly, visceral dysfunctions like constipation, urinary disturbances, and erectile dysfunction.
Aims and objectives of the clinic:
- To provide comprehensive services for clinical assessment, objective documentation, electro-diagnostic testing and laboratory evaluation of underlying cause and treatment of patients with neuropathy.
- To provide focussed neuro-rehabilitation programme for patients with neuropathy.
- To educate patients and care-givers regarding the nature of illness as well as do’s and don’ts.
- To disseminate information regarding prevention of neuropathy in metabolic conditions like diabetes and prevention of complications arising from neuropathy eg leprosy.
- Genetic evaluation and counselling for patients with suspected or established hereditary neuropathies.
- To create a database of patients with various neuropathic disorders.
- To enrol patients for advanced and cutting edge research in the field of neuropathies including drug trials
Who can attend the ‘Neuropathy Clinic’?
Patients with clinically suspected or referral diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy will be seen on a first-come-first-serve basis. Patients referred from other centres for the evaluation of neuropathy will also be seen. All patients are required to have a prior registration as per Institute guidelines. Patients who have been seen in the ‘Neuropathy Clinic’ will continue to be followed-up at regular intervals at the clinic as mandated by the diagnosis. Patients who are detected to have a neurological or systemic disorder without peripheral neuropathy during the course of evaluation will be transferred / referred back to the general Neurology OPD.