American Diabetes Association –
The ADA recommends a sensory evaluation to be done on diabetic feet once a year.
http://www.diabetes.org

Ankylosis –
This is the immobility and consolidation of a joint due to disease, surgical procedure, and/or injury.  Bony ankylosis (true ankylosis) is the union of the bones of a joint after bone cells proliferate – multiple abnormally.  This proliferation can also be fibrous also called false ankylosis or spurious ankylosis.

Anoxia –
A condition that develops within a nerve that suffers from unresolved pressure.

Axoplasmic transport –
This is the normal repair of nerves by the body.   Diabetic nerves become unable to adequately repair cell membrane damage due to compression.

Brachial Plexus Injury –
The Brachial Plexus is a complex system of the last four cervical (in the neck) spinal nerves and most of the branch of the first thoracic (mid-truck of the body) spinal nerves that make up the shoulder.  This type of injury happens most often to newborns that have a difficult passage through the birth canal. www.drnathbrachialplexus.com

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome –
This condition is caused by compression of the median nerve that passes through the ‘carpal’ tunnel of the wrist bones.

CECS – Chronic Exertion Compartment Syndrome -
Exercise of heavy exertion creates elevated pressure within a closed space of an extremity muscular compartment causing pain and/or disability by impairing the neuromuscular function involved in the compartment.

Common Peroneal Nerve Entrapment –
This is compression of Fibular Nerve (nerve of the upper calf in the leg) that occurs at the head of the fibula bone as the nerve passes into the fascia (the fibrous membrane covering and supporting the muscle of the upper calf). This condition is located just below the knee.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome –
This is compression of the Ulnar Nerve at the elbow.  It can also be compression of the small tunnel at the wrist.
Elbow compression = weakness of grip and loss of coordination of the forearm
Wrist compression = pain, tingling and numbness in the little finger and the outside palm running up to the little finger.

DASH – A questionnaire to determine disability in the arms, shoulders and hands. PDF Article

Debridement –
This is the removal of foreign or infected tissue by mechanical or surgical means. All infected tissue is removed until only healthy tissue remains.

Decompressive Fasciotomy –
This is a surgical incision of the fascia (a sheet or band of fibrous tissue deep below the skin) to relieve pressure caused by compartment syndrome.

Deep Peroneal Nerve Entrapment –
This is compression of the Fibular Nerve as it emerges from the ankle beneath the band holding the tendon in place (the retinaculum) and as it passes through the extensor tendon above the ankle.  This condition causes pain, tingling and numbness of the top portion of the foot.

Diabetic nerves –
These are nerves that have higher water content then normal nerves.  This high water content causes swelling which decreases blood flow causing pain, numbness and hot/cold sensations.

Diabetic neuropathy –
This is a condition that causes tingling and numbness of the extremities especially in the lower extremities.  Statistics report that 50% to 60% of diabetics have this condition and some studies report 80% of diabetics will have this condition as the condition progresses.

Direct intra-compartmental pressure measurements –
This is a way to measure pressure in a swollen limb and it is used as a diagnostic tool.
PDF Article

Electro diagnostic Testing –
This is an older technology than the new type of testing known as NMT.  This testing technique involves stimulating nerves with electrical current to measure how well that current is conducting along the nerve being tested.  This test is not painless and can be very uncomfortable for the patient.  This test is not sensitive to early nerve damage.

LECS (Lower Extremity Compartment Syndrome) –
This syndrome is a condition in which increased tissue pressure in a confined space causes decreased blood flow, the results is sever pain and can lead if not treated to necrosis.

McBride Method –
This method helps healthcare professionals assess impairment of lower extremities independent of the symptoms described by the patient.
PDF Link

Necrosis –
This condition results from changes in a group of cells that leads to the death of the cells.  The pathological cause is the progressive destructive action of enzymes. This can involve muscles or organs or both.

Nerve decompression –
This is a type of surgery that restores sensation to hands and feet.

Neuropathy –
This condition is the lack of normal sensation that often affects an extremity – hands, feet, lower legs and lower arms below the elbow. Patients with neuropathy can develop ulceration, infection, loss of toes and in its advanced stages amputation of a limb.

Neurosensory Motor Testing (NMT) –
This is a diagnostic testing tool that measures the degree of neuropathy in a limb.  The advantages of this testing tool are that it is painless and can detect early nerve damage.  This tool is used in preventative and restorative medicine.

Paresthesia –
This is an abnormal touch sensation like a feeling of burning or prickling that is not stimulate by actual touch.

Peripheral Nerve Injury –
The peripheral nerves are located near the edge of a nerve system especially on the extremities (arms and legs) close to the skin. When these nerves are injured it is usually because another disease process or major nerve injury is going on in the body such as Diabetes, heart disease, or an older injury to a major nerve.

PSSD™ Technology –
Pressure Specific Sensory Device
PDF Link for more info.

QST – Quantitative Sensory Testing –
This testing can precisely identify damaged nerves.
PDF Link for more info.

Sorbitol –
This is a sugar the person with diabetes produces.  Diabetic nerves can be swollen.  Glucose a natural sugar enters the nerves to give the nerves energy in a normal person. In the diabetic these amounts can be excessive. The glucose converts into sorbitol and this sugar attract water molecules causing the swelling in the diabetic patient.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome -
The Tarsal bones are the seven bones in the ankle. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when the Tibial Nerve at the ankle is compressed at the distal portion of the Tibial Nerve.  This syndrome causes pain, tingling, numbness and weakness in the heal, arch and ball of the foot.

Two-incision Four Component Fasciotomy Technique–
This surgical technique releases pressure in the legs.
PDF Link

USPSTF (United States Preventive Services Task Force) –
This agency will help you assess if any procedure that is being preformed will actually prevent what it claims to prevent.
http://www.ahrq.gov/CLINIC/uspstfix.htm