Neuropathy Research Brief · November 6, 2026
A trial of implanted spinal-cord stimulation in 91 people with severe, treatment-resistant painful diabetic neuropathy reported a six-month increase in lower-calf skin nerve-fiber density: 0.58 fibers/mm on average, compared with a decrease of 0.07 with usual care. Among patients assessed at six months, 55% of implanted participants versus 25% receiving usual care met the trial’s sensory-improvement threshold. The study was funded by the manufacturer and stopped early. Four participants needed surgery for study-related events. These findings do not establish lasting disease reversal, prevention of foot ulcers, or similar effects from external electrical treatment or laser.
What this means for patients
A review of exercise that trains balance and body-position awareness found possible benefits for people with chemotherapy neuropathy, but confidence was low. A small bupropion trial found an average pain advantage of half a point on a ten-point scale. An MRI study found lower muscle oxygenation responses in some people with type 1 diabetes and neuropathy; it did not test a circulation treatment. Each study helps answer a different question. They do not all measure nerve repair.
A question to bring to your next visit
Are we measuring what I feel, what I can do, or whether a nerve has physically changed?