In this interview, Mike Triem speaks with Dr. Dean Anderson of Front Range Medical about the signs, causes, and treatment options for peripheral neuropathy. Dr. Anderson explains that symptoms such as numbness, tingling, burning pain, balance issues, and sharp electrical sensations are often signs of nerve damage that can worsen over time if left untreated. He discusses how many patients are commonly prescribed medications that only manage symptoms rather than addressing the underlying nerve damage itself.
Dr. Anderson shares how Front Range Medical uses advanced electromedicine therapies, circulation-focused treatments, and comprehensive evaluations to help patients improve nerve function, balance, sleep,
00:08:08 Customizing Treatments to Individual Needs
00:08:55 Long-Term Effects and Urgency for Treatment
SPEAKER 01 :
I’m here with Dr. Dean Anderson with Front Range Medical. Dr. Dean, people who are experiencing numbness, tingling, sharp pain, or symptoms where their feet just don’t feel right, hands, other areas of their body, what could that be?
SPEAKER 02 :
Peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the peripheral nerves. And so when we have neuropathy, typical symptoms are an altered feeling like numbness, tingling, something’s in our shoe when it’s not. And then as it progresses, Mike, it becomes more burning, sharpshooting, electrical pain. But these are definitely signs of peripheral neuropathy.
SPEAKER 01 :
So when we start to experience those, what’s the typical thing that people think? Do they push it off and say, they don’t even think of neuropathy. They just think that, nah.
SPEAKER 02 :
It depends on the person, right? A lot of patients are more and more familiar with it these days. But a lot of patients, yeah, they don’t know what’s going on. They’re wondering. And they oftentimes just wait until it gets to a point where it’s starting to affect their life. And then they’re left with no choice but trying to address it. And so they’ll start to seek treatment at that point.
SPEAKER 01 :
So we have a special offer for the first 10 callers. We’ll talk about that more as we get into this. But for those first 10, you can bring them in for a free consultation. Tell us about what that looks like to see where they’re at.
SPEAKER 02 :
Absolutely. Well, the first thing I’d like to say is When patients are dealing with this condition, the typical routine is they may see their primary care doctor. They’re usually put on a medication like gabapentin and Lyrica. Medication is just kind of managing the symptoms. So over time as it progresses, symptoms increase. And those are a lot of patients we see. They’ve been dealing with this a while. They’re at a point where they’re really concerned about progression. We do a treatment in our office that’s electrical. It’s the most advanced form of electromedicine, and it provides something called nerve reeducation. So we’re actually addressing the issue of nerve damage. There’s ancillary therapies in addition we’re doing to help increase circulation to these nerves, because especially with like a diabetic neuropathy and autoimmune or inflammatory neuropathy, we have to increase blood flow to those nerves. The next aspect of this, Mike, is making sure we understand what’s caused it. Again, blood sugar issues, autoimmune problems, inflammatory issues, and we address those underlying issues along the way. So it’s really this comprehensive approach that allows for patients who are dealing with this to be able to reverse this condition and get their lives back and be able to sleep at night, be able to feel comfortable taking walks. get their balance back, be able to run around with their grandkids. So it’s this comprehensive approach that’s allowing people to get to the other side of it.
SPEAKER 01 :
Boy, it sounds like it makes such a difference in their lives.
SPEAKER 02 :
Yeah. I mean, for a lot of patients, again, they’re frustrated. Sometimes they’ve been told nothing can be done for them. And it’s really great to be able to help those patients when they come in and they think they’re already at the end of the road, but they can turn it around.
SPEAKER 01 :
That’s huge for them. Yeah. Tell us about, we see all the ads on television, and they promise these things and talk about medications for neuropathy. What do those medications do?
SPEAKER 02 :
Yeah. So the most, typically when patients are diagnosed, they’re put on, again, gabapentin or Lyrica. Those medications are actually for, they’re anti-seizure medications, but they’re kind of prescribed off-label for neuropathy or nerve pain. And they can be beneficial, right? And there’s a time and place for everything. So patients can see some reduction in symptoms with those medications, but they’re So over time, because it’s not addressing the nerve damage or what’s caused it, the condition gets worse. So you have to increase dosages. Patients start to have side effects. So then we just kind of get in this cycle of just managing symptoms. And that’s a lot of times where patients get fed up.
SPEAKER 01 :
We’re speaking with Dr. Dean Anderson. Dr. Dean’s number is 720-307-8832. 720-307-8832. And we’re offering a special consultation for free. It’s a $245 value, so it’s significant. For our listeners, be one of the first 10 to call 720-307-8832. Make sure to make that call as soon as you hear that number. Now, Dr. Dean… Sometimes it’s a loved one, you know, somebody that we’re close to or a spouse that is experiencing these symptoms and they just they don’t want to go. They’re scared of the treatment or they don’t know what to expect. What would you say to that person?
SPEAKER 02 :
First thing I’d say, they have nothing to lose. I mean, when patients come in for this consultation, again, it’s complimentary. It’s a chance for us to figure out if we can help them. So we have to go through some necessary steps, one being the history, making sure we understand the progression of their neuropathy. what’s caused their neuropathy, and then most importantly, our evaluation process. Because that evaluation process is a nerve exam to be able to understand severity because there are patients, Mike, unfortunately, who may be too progressed. So if we have patients who are over 80% sensory loss, those patients we can’t help. So we have to make sure that the individual is a good candidate for treatment. So coming in for this consultation is an opportunity for patients to see if they can be a candidate for treatment and it’s no risk for them.
SPEAKER 01 :
That’s part of the urgency is they can continue to progress. And those medications we talked about that we see advertised, it sounds like they cover up, but they don’t stop the progression. Right. Correct.
SPEAKER 02 :
Yeah. Again, they can be beneficial. Some patients have, you know, decrease in pain with them. Other patients don’t and they just, you know, feel tired or groggy. But traditionally in a standard of care, that’s all that’s done for patients with neuropathy is just the medication gabapentin and Lyrica.
SPEAKER 01 :
Our listeners, once they come and have the consultation, if it’s a good decision, a good fit for them to be treated, once they’re treated, what are some of the things that you hear from patients after treatment in terms of things they can do, new experiences, lack of pain?
SPEAKER 02 :
Yeah, one of the biggest things for us, man, and one of my concerns with patients in the beginning is balance. I mean, we have so many patients who are fall risks because of neuropathy. So one of the… One of the things we’ll usually hear about a month to two months into what we do is improvement in balance. Patients who are on canes, not having to use canes anymore, patients feeling comfortable taking walks in the evening by themselves, being able to go to the store and not have to use the cart for stability. So balance is one of the things that’s always so encouraging as patients improve. The other thing that we see improve that is just so rewarding is patients being able to sleep. Nerve pain is usually worse at night. So with that, it’s difficult to sleep. So when patients start to sleep, and that usually happens early on in treatment, pain is reduced a lot quicker than like numbness. But anyhow, when patients are able to sleep, they’re able to get a good night rest, I mean, it’s life-changing because it changes their mood, their attitude. They can function. They have more energy. And those are things we commonly see.
SPEAKER 01 :
I’ve heard people talk about lying in bed and experiencing numbness, tingling especially, because some of the pain, that’s stuff they tend to notice more, I think, when they’re sleeping and how that affects their sleep.
SPEAKER 02 :
Yeah, absolutely. Nerve pain is typically worse at night, so that’s very common. The other thing is just patients being able to enjoy their grandkids or my patients who didn’t feel comfortable traveling, not being able to navigate the airport, finally being able to enjoy the travel that they want to be able to do. So those things are very rewarding to hear.
SPEAKER 01 :
That’s big for independents, and I think for a lot of listeners, if they’re experiencing these things, they need the treatment just to be able to live independently, do the things they want to do, be with their grandkids or their children. Tell us kind of what’s the thumbnail. If somebody comes in and it’s a good fit, what does that look like in terms of treatment typically, or is there a typical?
SPEAKER 02 :
It’s very, because through this nerve progression process, everybody falls at a different place, right? So patients who are less progressed, that treatment looks very different than somebody who’s extremely progressed, you know, as far as the treatments we do, how long it takes. I will say this. Patients typically see improvements within a couple weeks, so that’s always very encouraging. But it’s always based on severity, and that’s going to be individually based with how long the patient has it, how much it’s progressed, what’s caused it, so many factors.
SPEAKER 01 :
So the reason for the consultation, getting somebody in. Again, that’s not a hook. We’re not trying to trick anybody. All we want to do is have the opportunity for you to get out of pain, to not have this affect your life. And if you don’t see Dr. Dean and his team, chances are you’re just going to cover it up or you’re going to have minimal relief. So the number, I want to give that again. I’ll give it at the end as well. 720-307-8832. 720-307-8832. So Dr. Dean, last question. Somebody who’s been living with this or saying, you know, it’s not that bad. I can live with it. I can deal with it. I think that’s a lot of people. We want to be tough, especially guys, you know. What would you say to that person and why they need to come see you and your team?
SPEAKER 02 :
It’s pretty simple. I mean, neuropathy is a progressive condition, so it typically gets worse over time. So if patients are doing okay now, but they’re not doing anything about it, we don’t know what it’s going to be like in three to five years, but chances are it’s going to be worse.
SPEAKER 01 :
So bottom line is, it’s not going to get better on its own. Correct. Okay. Well, we value the people who listen to our radio stations. It’s important to us that your health is quality, that you can live life well, do the things you want to do. Make this appointment. We’re offering for the first 10 listeners to hear this interview, and again, to provide some urgency and to make sure that you get in there immediately. Call 720-307-8832, 720-307-8832. You don’t have to live with this, and your loved one doesn’t either. So if it’s for someone else, a spouse or a family member, just get the call made. Call Dr. Dean and his team, 720-307-8832. Dr. Dean, thanks for the time with us. Yeah, Mike, thanks for having me.
