Foot protection key with peripheral neuropathy
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/peripheral-neuropathy/MY01361
- With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
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Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Nancy Klobassa Davidson and Peggy Moreland
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., B.S.N, C.D.E
Nancy Klobassa Davidson is a registered nurse who has worked in diabetes education for 17 years. She is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) and is currently in graduate school working on a Master of Science in nursing (M.S.N.) and health care education.Nancy works with adults who have type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes. Nancy is coordinator of the Diabetes Unit's intensive insulin therapy program within the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Nancy has worked extensively with insulin pump therapy and continuous interstitial glucose sensing.
Peggy Moreland, R.N., M.S.N.
Peggy Moreland is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.Peggy graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Care Education from the University of Phoenix and is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association. A certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.), Peggy enjoys working with patients to set and achieve diabetes self-management goals.
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June 30, 2010
Foot protection key with peripheral neuropathy
By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Peripheral neuropathy is the most common form of diabetic neuropathy. It damages nerves in the feet, legs, arms, and hands.
Symptoms include:
- Numbness or reduced ability to feel pain, altered sensations, and changes in temperature, especially in the feet
- A tingling, burning or prickling sensation that begins in your toes or the balls of your feet and gradually spreads upward
- Sharp, jabbing or electric shock-like pain that’s worse at night
- Extreme sensitivity to the lightest touch
- Loss of balance and coordination
- Muscle weakness and difficulty walking
- Serious foot problems, such as ulcers, infections, deformities, and bone/joint pain
- Loss all feeling in the affected limb/limbs (for example if you get a small rock in your shoe, you might not feel it and continue walking on it, causing further injury to your foot)
You have to look out for yourself, and at times do things that aren't always socially acceptable. A patient told me he went to a house party and was asked to take his shoes off at the door; he complied and proceeded to step on a toothpick and injure his foot. This led to the development of a foot ulcer and a long process of medical appointments and wound care management. It's important to protect your feet from injury, especially if you have little or no sensation in them. This means wearing good shoes or slippers, even indoors.
In the Southwest, patients should shake out their shoes before they put them on just in case a scorpion crawled in.
Foot protection is the key issue with peripheral neuropathy. Please share your stories regarding peripheral neuropathy.
Regards,
Nancy
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