Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves — the nerves that carry signals between the spinal cord, brain, and the rest of the body. It can affect sensory, motor, or autonomic nerves, leading to pain, weakness, or altered sensation, most commonly in the hands and feet.
Typical symptoms include:
Peripheral neuropathy can arise from diabetes (diabetic neuropathy), vitamin deficiencies, alcohol use, autoimmune disease, chemotherapy, infection, or nerve compression. In some cases, no clear cause is found (idiopathic neuropathy). Because it may progress or reflect an underlying condition, early specialist assessment is essential.
At Wessex Pain Clinic, diagnosis starts with a comprehensive clinical assessment, including your medical history, medications, and lifestyle factors. Our consultants perform a neurological examination to assess sensation, strength, reflexes, and balance.
We may recommend blood tests to check for diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune markers, or thyroid problems.
Accurate diagnosis enables us to target treatment effectively and prevent further nerve damage.
Our physiotherapy and rehabilitation team focuses on maintaining strength, flexibility, and balance to reduce fall risk and improve mobility. Hydrotherapy provides gentle, low-impact exercise in a supported environment.
We also work closely with pain psychology specialists, helping patients manage chronic symptoms, sleep disturbance, and anxiety through pacing, relaxation, and cognitive behavioural techniques.
When appropriate, we liaise with neurologists, diabetologists, and rehabilitation physicians to ensure all aspects of care — medical, physical, and emotional — are fully integrated.
At Wessex Pain Clinic, we work as a team and meet regularly to discuss complex, treatment resistant or unusual cases. As such you will often receive the expertise of several pain consultants. We believe that we are one of very few pain clinics to offer this.
We may prescribe:
Medication plans are reviewed regularly to balance benefit and tolerability.
In cases where pain is severe or resistant to medication, we may recommend nerve blocks or infusions to calm overactive nerve pathways.
For chronic, disabling neuropathic pain, spinal cord stimulation (neuromodulation) can be considered — an advanced technique that alters pain signalling to the brain and offers long-term relief in selected patients.
Our friendly team is on hand to support you every step of the way. Please get in touch at any time.
