Neuropathy Treatment in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is neuropathy treatment?
Peripheral neuropathy means damage to the long nerves that carry sensation and movement signals between the spinal cord and the limbs. Because the longest nerves are affected first, symptoms usually begin in the toes and soles, creep up towards the ankles, and later reach the fingertips — a pattern doctors call "glove and stocking".
Treatment has three parts that run side by side. The first is identifying what is harming the nerves and correcting it where possible. The second is easing uncomfortable symptoms such as burning, electric-shock pains or pins and needles. The third is protecting numb feet, which feel injuries less and so need extra daily care. At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, this plan is led by a neurologist and shared with the doctors who manage any underlying condition.
Who needs it
Neuropathy treatment suits adults with numbness, tingling, burning feet, a feeling of walking on cotton wool or pebbles, cramps, night-time foot pain, or unsteadiness in the dark. Many people first notice symptoms in bed, when there is little else to distract from them.
Diabetes is the leading cause, and with diabetes so widespread in the UAE, nerve checks are part of routine diabetes care. Other causes include low vitamin B12 (more likely in people taking some long-term diabetes or stomach-acid medicines, and in those following a strict vegetarian diet), an underactive thyroid, regular heavy alcohol use, kidney disease, some chemotherapy and other medicines, and, less often, inherited or inflammatory nerve conditions. Sometimes two causes combine, and correcting even one of them can help.
What happens
Your neurologist starts with a detailed history: where the symptoms began, how quickly they have spread, your medicines, diet, alcohol intake and family history. The examination tests feeling to light touch, pinprick, vibration and joint position, along with reflexes, muscle strength and balance with the eyes closed.
Blood tests look for common, treatable causes, including blood sugar control, vitamin B12, thyroid function and kidney function. A nerve conduction study and EMG measures how fast and how strongly signals travel along the nerves, showing whether the damage mainly affects the nerve fibre or its insulating coating, and whether it is even or patchy. That pattern steers the search for a cause. Imaging of the spine through MRI is arranged when a trapped nerve root could explain the symptoms.
Treatment then follows the cause. Better blood sugar control, vitamin replacement, thyroid treatment, reducing alcohol, or reviewing a medicine with the prescribing doctor are all common steps. For nerve pain, your neurologist may suggest medicines that calm overactive pain signals, chosen according to your other conditions and started at a low level before being adjusted. Ordinary painkillers tend to help nerve pain only a little, so the approach differs from treating other pain. Where balance or walking is affected, physiotherapy may be arranged through referral.
Preparing for it
Bring a full list of your medicines and supplements, recent blood results, including any HbA1c readings, and letters from your diabetes doctor. Note when your symptoms started, where they are worst, and whether they are spreading.
Wear shoes and socks that are easy to remove, since your feet will be examined. If a nerve conduction study is planned the same day, avoid body lotion on your hands and feet that morning.
Afterwards
Nerve recovery is gradual, because nerves regrow slowly, so progress is measured over months. Your neurologist reviews how well the pain plan is working and adjusts it, and repeats tests only when they would change the plan.
Daily foot care is a key part of treatment. Check your feet each evening for cuts, blisters or colour changes, using a mirror if needed. Wear well-fitting shoes indoors and outdoors, including at home and on the beach, and test bath water with your elbow. Summer sand, pool decks and car floors in the UAE can burn numb feet without warning. Foot care for people with diabetes is covered in more detail on the diabetes management page. If Ramadan fasting is planned, ask how to time your nerve pain medicines around suhoor and iftar.
Contact the clinic if symptoms spread noticeably, if pain disturbs your sleep despite treatment, or if you notice a foot wound, redness or swelling. If weakness spreads quickly from the feet upwards over hours or days, or you have any difficulty breathing or swallowing, call emergency services or go to the emergency department straight away.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE health insurance plans cover neurology consultations, blood tests and nerve conduction studies for neuropathy, and some ask for pre-approval before nerve testing or spinal imaging. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
Can peripheral neuropathy be cured?
Peripheral neuropathy can sometimes improve substantially when the cause is found early and corrected, for example low vitamin B12 or a medicine side effect. When nerves have been damaged for many years, treatment focuses on stopping further damage, easing pain and protecting the feet.
What are the risks and limitations of neuropathy treatment?
Nerve pain medicines can cause drowsiness, dizziness, weight gain or unsteadiness, especially at first, so they are started low and adjusted with care. Treatment may ease symptoms without removing them completely, and nerves recover slowly, so some numbness can remain even when the cause is controlled. Report any side effects to your neurologist rather than stopping medicines suddenly.
Is diabetes the only cause of burning feet?
Diabetes is the most common cause of burning feet, but vitamin B12 deficiency, thyroid problems, alcohol, kidney disease and some medicines can cause the same symptoms. This is why blood tests and a neurological examination are done even when you already have diabetes.
Do I need a nerve conduction test for neuropathy?
A nerve conduction test is helpful in many cases because it confirms nerve damage and shows its pattern, which points towards the cause. Your neurologist decides whether you need one after taking your history and examining you.
Why does neuropathy pain get worse at night?
Neuropathy pain often feels worse at night because there are fewer distractions and the nerves send signals without competing input from daily activity. Your neurologist can time nerve pain medicines to help with sleep.
Can I drive with peripheral neuropathy?
Many people with peripheral neuropathy continue to drive, but numbness that affects your feeling of the pedals needs careful assessment. Discuss it with your neurologist and follow UAE licensing authority guidance.
When is numbness or weakness an emergency?
Numbness or weakness is an emergency if it spreads quickly from the feet upwards over hours or days, or comes with difficulty breathing or swallowing, as this can be a rare, fast-moving nerve condition. Call emergency services or go to the emergency department straight away.
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