833-377-7325

Diabetic Neuropathy
Peak Spine & Sports Medicine treats painful diabetic neuropathy and overlapping nerve pain with opioid-free care in Marlton and Collingswood, NJ. Call (833) 377-7325 to schedule a consultation today.

Diabetic Neuropathy in Marlton and Collingswood, NJ

Diabetic neuropathy may cause pain, numbness, sensitivity, or weakness in the feet, legs, hands, or other areas. Patients often experience burning, tingling, stabbing pain, electric sensations, balance issues, or reduced sensation, making daily activities such as walking, sleeping, exercising, or working more challenging.

At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, we assist patients with diabetic neuropathy in determining if non-opioid interventional pain care can reduce symptoms and improve function. Ongoing diabetes management with a primary care physician, endocrinologist, podiatrist, or wound care team is often necessary. Our role is to assess pain patterns, identify overlapping pain sources, and recommend targeted treatments to help patients manage daily activities with less pain and greater confidence.

Our approach centers on opioid-free, interventional pain care with a strong focus on education, outcomes, and restored quality of life. Patients are cared for by Dr. Milind Patel, Dr. Jill Kalariya, Brian Brown, PA, and our interventional pain management team through a concierge, white-glove model designed to make care feel clear, organized, and personal.

To schedule a diabetic neuropathy consultation in Marlton or Collingswood, NJ, call Peak Spine & Sports Medicine at (833) 377-7325 or request an appointment online today. Telehealth consults are available for convenience when appropriate. We proudly serve patients in Marlton, Haddonfield, Collingswood, Cherry Hill, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Philadelphia, and surrounding communities.

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What Is Diabetic Neuropathy?

Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage related to diabetes.

Over time, high blood sugar and related metabolic changes can injure nerves throughout the body. Diabetic neuropathy most often affects the feet and legs first, but it may also involve the hands, arms, digestive system, blood vessels, or other body systems depending on the type of neuropathy.

For many patients, diabetic neuropathy causes pain and sensory changes. The feet may burn at night. The toes may tingle or feel numb. Walking may feel less stable. Some patients feel sharp, stabbing, or electric pain. Others lose enough sensation that they may not notice a blister, cut, sore, or pressure point on the foot.

Diabetic neuropathy may involve:

  • Burning foot pain
  • Tingling in the feet or toes
  • Numbness or reduced sensation
  • Stabbing or electric pain
  • Pain that worsens at night
  • Sensitivity to touch
  • Leg or foot weakness
  • Balance problems
  • Difficulty walking safely
  • Foot wounds or ulcers in some patients
  • Hand symptoms in some patients
  • Autonomic symptoms in selected cases

Diabetic neuropathy is not only a pain problem. Loss of feeling can increase the risk of unnoticed foot injuries, wounds, infection, and mobility problems. Pain care should be coordinated with good diabetes management, foot care, and appropriate medical follow-up.

Diabetic neuropathy can feel different from patient to patient.

Some patients describe burning pain in the feet that becomes worse at night. Others feel numbness, tingling, pins and needles, stabbing pain, electric shocks, tightness, hypersensitivity, or a feeling that they are walking on cushions, pebbles, or uneven ground.

Symptoms may include:

  • Burning pain in the feet
  • Tingling in the toes, feet, or legs
  • Numbness or reduced feeling
  • Sharp, stabbing, or electric pain
  • Pain that worsens at night
  • Pain from light touch or bedsheets
  • Cold, hot, or abnormal sensations
  • Foot sensitivity
  • Leg or foot weakness
  • Balance problems
  • Cramping or aching
  • Difficulty walking safely
  • Reduced ability to exercise, work, travel, or complete daily routines
  • Foot sores, blisters, cuts, or wounds that are hard to feel
  • Difficulty sleeping because of nerve pain

Some patients have mostly numbness. Others have severe pain. Some have both, which can feel especially frustrating because the same foot may feel numb and painful simultaneously.

Diabetic neuropathy develops when diabetes affects the nerves.

Blood sugar levels, circulation, inflammation, metabolic changes, and nerve health can all play a role. The risk may increase when diabetes has been present for many years or when blood sugar has been difficult to control over time.

Diabetic neuropathy may be influenced by:

  • Longstanding diabetes
  • High blood sugar over time
  • Blood vessel changes that affect nerve supply
  • Inflammation
  • Kidney disease
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Smoking history
  • Alcohol use
  • Vitamin deficiencies in some patients
  • Obesity or reduced activity
  • Other nerve conditions

Diabetic neuropathy can also overlap with other pain sources. A patient may have diabetic nerve pain along with spinal stenosis, lumbar radiculopathy, sciatica, arthritis, plantar fasciitis, joint pain, complex regional pain syndrome, or failed back surgery syndrome. The treatment plan should be based on the full pain picture rather than assuming every symptom comes from diabetes alone.

Diabetic neuropathy can affect different parts of the nervous system.

  • Proximal neuropathy may cause pain or weakness in the hip, thigh, buttock, or leg. It can affect walking, standing, and rising from a chair.
  • Focal neuropathy affects a specific nerve or nerve group. This may cause sudden weakness, pain, numbness, or symptoms in a localized area.
  • Autonomic neuropathy affects nerves that control automatic body functions, such as digestion, blood pressure, bladder function, sweating, or heart rate. Patients with these symptoms may need evaluation and management from the appropriate medical specialist.
  • Peripheral neuropathy is the most common type. It usually affects the feet and legs first and may later involve the hands. Patients may feel burning, tingling, numbness, pain, weakness, or balance problems.

At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, the focus is on evaluating painful neuropathy, especially when symptoms affect function, sleep, walking, or quality of life. Patients with diabetes-related medical concerns, wounds, blood sugar management issues, or autonomic symptoms may also need coordinated care with other providers.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy commonly affects the feet and lower legs.

Symptoms often begin in the toes or soles of the feet and may move upward over time. Many patients describe a “stocking” pattern, meaning symptoms affect both feet in a similar distribution. As neuropathy progresses, it may affect balance, walking confidence, sleep, and daily comfort.

Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy may cause:

  • Burning feet
  • Tingling toes
  • Numbness in both feet
  • Painful sensitivity
  • Electric or stabbing pain
  • Nighttime foot pain
  • Leg or foot weakness
  • Unsteady walking
  • Difficulty feeling the floor
  • Foot wounds that are difficult to detect

Reduced sensation can make foot injuries difficult to detect. Patients with diabetic neuropathy should monitor for new wounds, ulcers, redness, warmth, drainage, swelling, fever, or sudden changes, and seek prompt evaluation if these occur.

Diabetic neuropathy and sciatica can both cause leg or foot symptoms, but they are not the same condition.

Diabetic neuropathy often affects both feet or both lower legs in a more symmetric pattern. Symptoms may include burning, tingling, numbness, sensitivity, or pain that is worse at night.

Sciatica usually occurs when a nerve root in the lower back is irritated. Pain may travel from the lower back into one buttock, hip, leg, calf, or foot. Symptoms often follow a more specific nerve pathway and may worsen with sitting, bending, coughing, sneezing, or certain spine positions.

A patient can have both diabetic neuropathy and sciatica. This is why a careful evaluation matters. If symptoms are being driven partly by lumbar radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, or a herniated disc, spine-focused treatment may be appropriate. If symptoms are mainly from diabetic peripheral neuropathy, the plan may focus more on neuropathy care, foot safety, and selected pain treatments.

Peripheral neuropathy means damage or dysfunction of nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Diabetic neuropathy is one type of peripheral neuropathy.

Diabetes is a common cause of peripheral neuropathy, but it is not the only cause. Peripheral neuropathy may also be related to vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disease, kidney disease, chemotherapy, alcohol use, autoimmune conditions, infections, inherited conditions, or nerve compression.

For patients with diabetes, it can be easy to assume all burning, tingling, or numbness comes from diabetic neuropathy. Sometimes that is true. Other times, additional testing or medical evaluation may be needed to rule out other contributors.

At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, the team considers whether symptoms fit diabetic neuropathy, another nerve condition, a spine condition, or a combination of problems.

Diagnosis begins with a careful review of symptoms, diabetes history, medical history, and physical exam findings.

The Peak Spine & Sports Medicine team may ask where symptoms occur, whether symptoms are painful or numb, whether they affect one side or both sides, what makes symptoms worse, what improves them, how symptoms affect walking or sleep, and what treatments have already been tried.

The evaluation may include:

  • Pain history
  • Diabetes history
  • Medication history
  • Review of prior testing
  • Foot and leg symptom review
  • Strength testing
  • Sensation testing
  • Reflex evaluation
  • Balance and walking assessment
  • Screening for spine-related pain patterns
  • Discussion of sleep, work, travel, exercise, and daily limitations

Imaging may be considered when symptoms suggest a spine condition, such as spinal stenosis, herniated disc, or radiculopathy. Nerve testing may be recommended or reviewed when appropriate. Lab work may be coordinated through the patient’s primary care physician, endocrinologist, neurologist, or other treating provider when additional medical causes need to be evaluated.

The purpose is to understand whether pain is coming from diabetic neuropathy alone or whether another treatable pain generator is also involved.

Why Choose Peak Spine & Sports Medicine for Diabetic Neuropathy?

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine was built around a simple standard: this should be the kind of pain management practice we would want our own family members to visit.

Initial consultations are designed to be thorough, personal, and highly focused. The team takes time to understand where symptoms occur, how they affect daily life, what has already been tried, and which activities the patient wants to return to.

For one patient, the priority may be sleeping through the night without burning foot pain. For another, it may be walking more safely, traveling with less discomfort, standing at work, exercising, golfing, reducing medication burden, or feeling more confident during daily movement.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine offers:

  • Concierge, white-glove pain management care
  • A non-opioid approach to pain care
  • Ivy League-trained professionals
  • Double board-certified pain management physicians
  • Cutting-edge interventional techniques and technology
  • Advanced chronic nerve pain evaluation
  • Evaluation for painful diabetic neuropathy
  • Evaluation for overlapping spine, joint, and nerve pain
  • Spinal Cord Stimulation evaluation for selected painful diabetic neuropathy patterns
  • Peripheral Nerve Stimulation evaluation when a localized nerve target is identified
  • Nerve Block evaluation when focal nerve pain is involved
  • Telehealth consults when appropriate
  • A helpful staff that works to reduce the burden on patients
  • Insurance access for eligible PPO/POS patients with out-of-network benefits

Care is led by Dr. Milind Patel and Dr. Jill Kalariya, double board-certified pain management physicians who perform advanced interventional procedures in the outpatient surgery center. Brian Brown, PA supports patients through conservative care, diagnostic workups, imaging coordination, therapy recommendations, and follow-up planning, helping each patient navigate care with clarity.

Diabetic neuropathy care requires careful listening and realistic planning. At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, the team evaluates the full pain pattern, diabetes history, nerve symptoms, walking tolerance, balance concerns, sleep disruption, prior treatments, overlapping diagnoses, and patient goals before recommending therapy referral, medication coordination without opioids when appropriate, nerve blocks, neuromodulation evaluation, or another treatment option.

Our practice is selective with insurance to prioritize quality over volume. We focus on patient care rather than insurance requirements, allowing more time for listening, explanation, and coordinated care.

Visit our Why Choose Us page to learn more.

How Is Diabetic Neuropathy Treated?

Treatment for diabetic neuropathy usually involves a coordinated plan.

Patients should continue working with their diabetes care team to manage blood sugar, cardiovascular risk factors, foot care, and medical issues that can affect nerve health. Pain management focuses on reducing symptoms, improving function, protecting mobility, and identifying whether any overlapping pain condition can be treated more directly.

Treatment options may include:

  • Diabetes management with the patient’s medical team
  • Daily foot care and foot safety
  • Physical therapy referral when balance, gait, or strength is affected
  • Activity modification
  • Fall prevention strategies
  • Medication coordination without opioids when appropriate
  • Nerve Blocks when focal nerve pain is involved
  • Peripheral Nerve Stimulation when a localized nerve target is identified
  • Spinal Cord Stimulation for selected painful diabetic neuropathy patterns
  • Referral to podiatry, endocrinology, neurology, wound care, vascular care, or primary care when appropriate
  • Treatment of overlapping spine conditions when present

The right plan depends on symptoms, medical history, diabetes control, foot health, nerve pattern, prior treatment response, and patient goals.

Diabetes Management and Foot Care

Diabetic neuropathy care should include attention to the underlying diabetes and the feet.

Pain treatments may help with symptoms, but they do not replace diabetes management. Patients should continue working with their primary care physician, endocrinologist, and other treating providers to manage blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, kidney health, and overall diabetes-related risk.

Foot care is especially important when sensation is reduced. Patients may not feel a blister, cut, sore, burn, or pressure injury until it becomes more serious.

Patients with diabetic neuropathy should be attentive to:

  • New foot wounds
  • Blisters or cuts
  • Redness or warmth
  • Swelling
  • Drainage
  • Skin breakdown
  • New deformity
  • Sudden increase in pain
  • Signs of infection
  • Changes in walking or balance

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine can help evaluate pain and function, but urgent foot wounds, ulcers, infections, circulation concerns, or diabetes complications may require prompt care from the appropriate medical specialist.

Physical Therapy, Balance, and Fall Prevention

Diabetic neuropathy can affect balance and walking confidence.

When the feet do not feel the ground normally, patients may become less steady. They may avoid walking, stairs, exercise, or other activities because they worry about falling or worsening pain. Over time, reduced activity can lead to weakness, stiffness, poor conditioning, and more difficulty moving safely.

Physical therapy may help patients improve balance, strength, gait mechanics, mobility, and confidence with movement. A therapist may also help with footwear guidance, assistive device recommendations, fall prevention strategies, and safe activity progression.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine does not provide physical therapy in-house, but the team may refer patients to outside providers when balance, gait, strength, mobility, or functional restoration is part of the plan.

Medication Coordination Without Opioids

Medication may be part of diabetic neuropathy care, but Peak Spine & Sports Medicine does not use opioids as a shortcut for chronic pain.

Some patients may already be taking non-opioid medications for nerve pain through their primary care physician, endocrinologist, neurologist, or another provider. Others may need a medication review to determine whether side effects, interactions, or limited benefit are affecting their quality of life.

The Peak Spine & Sports Medicine team can help patients think through the pain management side of their plan while coordinating appropriately with the rest of their medical care. For patients who have not found enough relief with conservative care and non-opioid medication strategies, interventional options may be discussed when appropriate.

Nerve Blocks for Focal Neuropathy Pain

Nerve blocks may be considered when a patient has a specific focal nerve pain pattern.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy often affects both feet in a more widespread pattern, so nerve blocks are not usually used as a broad treatment for every neuropathy symptom. They may be helpful when the evaluation suggests a specific nerve or nerve group is contributing to part of the pain picture.

A nerve block places medication near a targeted nerve or group of nerves. The response may provide temporary relief and useful diagnostic information.

Nerve blocks may be considered when symptoms suggest:

  • Focal peripheral nerve pain
  • Occipital neuralgia or headache-related nerve pain
  • Localized foot or ankle nerve pain
  • Pain after injury or surgery
  • Pain that follows a specific nerve pathway
  • A separate nerve entrapment or irritation pattern

The treatment plan depends on whether the pain is focal, diffuse, spine-related, or part of a broader diabetic neuropathy pattern.

Spinal Cord Stimulation for Painful Diabetic Neuropathy

Spinal Cord Stimulation may be considered for selected patients with painful diabetic neuropathy that has not improved enough with conservative care, diabetes management, and non-opioid medication strategies.

Spinal Cord Stimulation uses a small implant device to send controlled electrical impulses near the spinal cord. These signals can change how pain signals are processed before they reach the brain.

For painful diabetic neuropathy, Spinal Cord Stimulation is generally considered when symptoms are chronic, difficult to manage, and significantly affecting sleep, walking, activity, or quality of life. It is not the first step for every patient with diabetic neuropathy.

Spinal Cord Stimulation usually begins with a temporary trial. During the trial, the patient and physician evaluate whether stimulation meaningfully reduces pain and improves function before considering a permanent implant.

At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, Spinal Cord Stimulation evaluation is based on the diagnosis, pain pattern, diabetes history, foot health, prior treatments, medical readiness, functional goals, and whether an implantable therapy makes sense.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Localized Nerve Pain

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation may be considered when pain appears to involve a specific peripheral nerve or localized region outside the spine.

This treatment places a small stimulation lead near a targeted peripheral nerve. The purpose is to change pain signaling from that nerve region and reduce pain in the affected area.

For selected patients with diabetic neuropathy or overlapping nerve pain, Peripheral Nerve Stimulation may be discussed when symptoms are more localized, and the target nerve can be identified. It is not a general treatment for every diabetic neuropathy pattern.

Treatment for Overlapping Spine, Joint, or Foot Pain

Diabetic neuropathy can exist alongside other pain conditions.

A patient with burning feet may also have lumbar spinal stenosis, sciatica, arthritis, plantar fasciitis, ankle pain, knee pain, hip pain, or prior spine surgery. Treating the wrong condition can lead to frustration, while identifying an overlapping pain source may open the door to a more useful plan.

Depending on the evaluation, related treatments may include:

The treatment plan should separate diabetic neuropathy from other pain generators as much as possible so each part of the pain picture is addressed appropriately.

When Should Diabetic Neuropathy Be Evaluated Promptly?

Patients with diabetic neuropathy should seek prompt medical care when symptoms suggest infection, worsening nerve function, circulation problems, or another urgent issue.

Prompt evaluation may be needed for:

  • A new foot ulcer
  • A wound that is not healing
  • Redness, warmth, swelling, or drainage
  • Fever with foot or leg symptoms
  • Sudden severe foot pain
  • New black or blue discoloration
  • Sudden weakness
  • New loss of balance
  • Rapidly worsening numbness
  • New bowel or bladder changes
  • Saddle numbness
  • Severe back pain with leg weakness
  • New symptoms that feel different from the usual neuropathy pattern
  • Pain after a fall or injury

Pain management can help with chronic symptoms, but foot wounds, infection, circulation problems, and sudden neurologic changes need timely medical attention.

The cost of diabetic neuropathy treatment depends on the evaluation, diagnostic needs, treatment plan, procedures recommended, facility, insurance benefits, and medical necessity requirements.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine primarily works with patients who have PPO or POS insurance plans with out-of-network benefits. The practice is out-of-network for most insurance plans, allowing the team to maintain a smaller, more personalized model with longer visits, tailored treatment plans, more education, and less pressure to rush patients through care.

Many patients are surprised to learn that out-of-network care with PPO/POS plan benefits are typically much more accessible than they expected. The Peak Spine & Sports Medicine team can help review benefits, explain the process, and determine whether the practice is a good fit.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine does not participate with EPO, HMO, Medicare, or Medicaid plans. This allows our office to see both new and existing patients quickly.

Patients visit Peak Spine & Sports Medicine in Marlton and Collingswood from Cherry Hill, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Philadelphia, and surrounding areas because they want high-level interventional pain care without an opioid-first approach.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine does not use opioids as a shortcut for pain care.

Diabetic neuropathy often involves chronic nerve irritation, burning pain, numbness, sleep disruption, balance changes, and overlapping pain conditions. Long-term opioid reliance can make care more complicated without addressing the specific nerve pathways, functional limits, and medical factors that may be driving symptoms.

Our practice focuses on education, interventional procedures when appropriate, and careful evaluation of focal pain generators. For the right patient, diabetic neuropathy care may include therapy coordination, non-opioid medication coordination, nerve blocks, neuromodulation evaluation, and treatment of overlapping spine, joint, or extremity pain.

The purpose is to help patients move better, sleep better, reduce severe pain patterns when possible, and return to daily life with more clarity and support.

Schedule a Diabetic Neuropathy Consultation in Marlton or Collingswood, NJ

For diabetic neuropathy care in Marlton and Collingswood, NJ, contact Peak Spine & Sports Medicine at (833) 377-7325 or schedule a consultation online today. Our team will help determine whether the pain pattern, goals, and insurance benefits make our concierge interventional pain model the right fit.

We proudly serve patients in Marlton, Haddonfield, Collingswood, Cherry Hill, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Philadelphia, and surrounding communities.

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Diabetic Neuropathy Marlton, NJ – FAQs

Many patients notice nerve pain more at night because there are fewer distractions, the feet are resting against bedding, circulation and temperature changes may be more noticeable, and irritated nerves may become more sensitive during rest.

Yes. Diabetic neuropathy can reduce sensation in the feet and toes. This can make it harder to feel cuts, blisters, pressure spots, heat, cold, or injuries.

Diabetic neuropathy is one type of peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy means nerve damage outside the brain and spinal cord. Diabetes is a common cause, but neuropathy can also come from other medical issues.

No. Diabetic neuropathy often affects both feet or legs in a more symmetric pattern. Sciatica usually comes from irritation of a nerve root in the lower back and may travel along a more specific pathway into one leg. Some patients have both.

Diagnosis usually includes a symptom review, diabetes history, medical history, physical exam, sensation testing, reflex testing, strength testing, and review of prior testing. Additional evaluation may be needed to rule out other nerve, spine, or medical conditions.

Spinal Cord Stimulation may be considered for selected patients with chronic painful diabetic neuropathy that has not improved enough with conservative care and non-opioid medication strategies. A temporary trial is usually performed before permanent implantation is discussed.

A spinal cord stimulator trial is a temporary test period that allows the patient and physician to see whether stimulation reduces pain and improves function before considering a permanent implant.

Nerve blocks may help when there is a specific focal nerve pain pattern. They are not usually used as a broad treatment for widespread diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting both feet.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation may be considered when pain is localized to a specific nerve region and the target nerve can be identified. It is not a general treatment for every diabetic neuropathy pattern.

Diabetic neuropathy is often chronic. Symptoms may improve with better diabetes management, foot care, non-opioid treatment, therapy, and selected pain interventions, but damaged nerves may not fully return to normal.

Prompt medical care may be needed for a new foot ulcer, a wound that is not healing, redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, fever, sudden severe foot pain, new discoloration, sudden weakness, major balance change, or symptoms after injury.

Some patients benefit from physical therapy for balance, gait, strength, mobility, and fall prevention. Peak Spine & Sports Medicine does not provide in-house physical therapy, but the team may refer patients to outside providers when appropriate.

In many cases, yes. Telehealth consults may be available to review symptoms, discuss prior diagnoses and treatments, and determine whether an in-person exam or procedure consultation is appropriate.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine accepts insurance and primarily works with PPO and POS plans that have out-of-network benefits. The practice does not participate with EPO, HMO, Medicare, or Medicaid plans. The team can help determine whether benefits may apply.