Baltimore Peripheral Nerve Surgeon Eric H. Williams MD Provides Surgical Solutions for Patients With Lower Extremity Nerve Pain
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As a peripheral nerve surgeon, Eric H. Williams MD, works to cure the causes for pain patients present with when it is possible, not just “manage” pain with medications. While pain medications can be a viable option for managing chronic neuropathic pain, this doesn’t mean you should assume your pain can only be managed with drug therapy, especially if you do not want to rely on those medications for relief. Oftentimes, there are other possible treatments that may provide a long-term solution. If nerve pain is keeping you from working, spending time with loved ones, or engaging in your favorite hobbies, Dr. Williams may be able to help you get relief.
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Why Is it So Hard to Find an Answer to What’s Causing Your Pain?
In general, the overall medical community simply does not have adequate training in the treatment of lower extremity neuropathic pain. Consider the following:
- Most orthopedic surgeons are concerned with bones and joints.
- Podiatrists are often focused on structural problems of the feet (along with biomechanics).
- Typically, most plastic and reconstructive surgeons who are trained to treat nerves focus on the upper extremities, as hand surgery is part of every plastic surgeon’s training.
- Most neurosurgeons tend to concentrate their practice on the spine and brain; very few seem to venture beyond an occasional carpal tunnel procedure
- Pain management teams seek to “manage” pain in the patients that they have been sent as a “last resort” to help them. They obviously use the tools that they have which include medications, stimulators, and physical therapy, and these tools are important.
We are very glad there are so many talented doctors who perform all of the aforementioned procedures. They all contribute to an age of unprecedented specialization in medicine and surgery and provide positive outcomes for their patients.
Unfortunately, this specialization has a downside for patients with peripheral nerve problems in the lower extremities. These issues are underappreciated, undertaught, and undertreated in many parts of the country. It is not uncommon for patients visiting our office to have seen multiple doctors without obtaining a clear diagnosis or being offered effective treatment options.
How Is Nerve Damage Diagnosed?
Physical examination is very important to document and examine the function of the nerve in question, and compare it to the other nerves.
Testing for a Tinel's sign (“funny bone feeling”) involves tapping over the path of a nerve to elicit a tingling, electrical, or radiating sensation in the distribution of that nerve. A positive Tinel's sign indicates some degree of nerve irritation, compression, inflammation, or injury. You can test for a positive Tinel sign from the comfort of your home, but it’s important to remember that is just one diagnostic tool and not a substitute for an in-person visit.
Diagnostic nerve blocks or therapeutic nerve blocks are one of the most common tools we use in our office to pinpoint whether a specific nerve is responsible for your pain.
EMG nerve conduction studies and imaging studies such as ultrasound and MRI are also very helpful. Sensory testing can be beneficial to determine the severity of injury to cutaneous sensory nerves.
You Don't Have to Live With Pain Any Longer
Your journey to a pain-free future may include a visit to see Dr. Eric H. Williams with The Dellon Institute for Peripheral Nerve Surgery. If you would like more information or want to request your appointment with Dr. Eric H. Williams, simply call our office at (410) 709-3868 or fill out a contact form here.
