Diabetes can over time potentially cause harm to your nerves especially if you do not control your blood sugar effectively.  High blood sugar levels over many years can cause nerve damage.  This damage is called Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy and it can be painful. 

Peripheral Neuropathy usually affects the feet and legs.  Diabetic neuropathy can cause numbness or tingling in your fingers, toes, hands, and feet. Another symptom is a burning, sharp, or aching pain (diabetic nerve pain). The pain may be mild at first, but it can get worse over time and spread up your legs or arms.

Many people with Diabetes experience nerve pain over time and can make it nearly impossible to walk, stand, or even rest or sit comfortably.  This pain can affect your ability to sleep, decrease your quality of life, and can also cause depression.

Other forms of nerve pain can be from trauma received over the years.



There's a new HOPE for those who suffer from Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy or (DPN).  Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) therapy from Medtronic, long used to safely and effectively treat chronic pain, is approved for the use with patients suffering from moderate to severe neuropathy.

What is Medtronic Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) and how can it help?

SCS is an non-opioid, FDA-approved way to manage chronic pain that may be caused by DPN. Spinal cord stimulation works by disrupting the pain signals traveling between the spinal cord and the brain.  Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) pain is a debilitating and progressive neurological disorder that significantly impacts quality of life and functional ability for patients with diabetes. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for moderate to severe diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) pain.  Patients may be treated with medications, but they are often only partially effective and can result in serious side effects. 

Spinal Cord Stimulation delivers cutting edge technology and new treatment options for Diabetic Foot Pain.  SCS therapy also provides a personalized pain relief as you can customize help to manage your pain.  You can tailor stimulation to manage pain on your unique style.

Family First Family Medical Practice offers hope to reduce your level of pain and get you back to living.

Dr. Peter Zhang, MD Fellowship Trained in Sports Medicine and Simarjeet Manocha, PA Diabetic Clinician are leading the way to improving patients with a specific focus on treating our patients with cutting edge technology or treatment options.

They both practice at our Lancaster office at 42135 10th St West, STE 201, Lancaster, CA 93534. 

To learn more about Dr. Peter Zhang click on the following link  www.familyfirstmedgroup.com/dr-peter-zhang

To learn more about Simarjeet Manocha, PA click on the following hwww.familyfirstmedgroup.com/simarjeet-manocha

Call us at 661-341-3800 to schedule a consultation!

Clinical Handouts

Handout 1: Medtronic Facts Sheet on DPN

Handout 2 Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) for Moderate to Severe DPN Pain

Handout 3: Take a step forward in how you treat chronic diabetic pain

Clinical References

Success rates in a population of patients treated with SCS in two studies and followed for five years.

Sloan G, Alam, U, Selva rajah D, Tesfaye S. The Treatment of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy. Current Diabetes Reviews. July 2021.

Medtronic Pain Therapy Clinical Summary M221494A016 Rev B. United States; 2022. 

De Vos CC, Meier K, Zaalberg PB, et al. Spinal cord stimulation in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy: A multicenter randomized clinical trial. Pain. 2014;155(11):2426–2431. doi:10.1016/j.pain.2014.08.031.

 Slangen R, Schaper NC, Faber CG, et al. Spinal cord stimulation and pain relief in painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A prospective two-center randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Care. 2014;37(11):3016–3024. doi:10.2337/dc14-0684.

Van Beek M, Geurts JW, Slangen R, et al. Severity of neuropathy is associated with long-term spinal cord stimulation outcome in painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: Five-year follow-up of a prospective two-center clinical trial. Diabetes Care. 2018;41(1):32–38. doi:10.2337/dc17-0983.