Northwestern University

Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation (NMFF) Department of Neurology provides treatment and research for a full range of neurological disorders. The mission of the Department is to provide the highest quality care and treatment for patients with neurological disorders. The department strives to develop to implement educational programs, and conduct basic and clinical research to uncover the causes and cures of central and peripheral neurological disorders, to advance new therapies, and to uncover the causes and cures of neurological diseases NMFF physicians have areas of subspecialty interest in neurology and many of them are national leaders in their field.

The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy has awarded NMFF funds to establish The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy Comprehensive Care Clinic. The NMFF's team of experienced neuromuscular physicians believes that a single-site/multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral neuropathy disease is the most effective for symptom control and improved quality of life. A comprehensive care plan would include the following treatments:

• An evaluation and management visit with neurologist to confirm the diagnosis and severity of the condition.
• A consultation with pain medicine specialist to address the patient's discomfort from refractory pain.
• On-site neurophysiology diagnostic testing (electromyography) to assess the degree of motor and sensory damage.
• Physical therapy support to help the patient compensate for compromised function.
• Nutritional counseling to teach patients how to mitigate further damage through diet.
• Social work support to address the mental and emotional ability to cope with the affects of the disease and to identify community resources that would be of assistance.
• Occupational therapy to direct life style changes that may make living with the disease more tolerable.

 

FPN Peripheral Neuropathy Research Registry:

Collaborative efforts between our partners and other institutions help us work toward a greater understanding of the cause and progression of PN.  The Foundation is proud to provide the financial investments required to lead new medical innovations into the future. In addtion to providing funding for the Comprehensive Care Clinic, we have awarded an additional grant to Northwestern to participate in our groundbreaking new patient registry for people with painful and non-painful neuropathies.

Learn more about the Peripheral Neuropathy Research Registry.

 

Clinical Studies:

Chemotherapy Induced PN and Alpha Lipoic Acid

Northwestern University, Chicago

Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy is a common and potentially devastating complication that often follows cancer treatment. Physicians at Northwestern University are interested in understanding more about how to prevent this unfortunate complication. They will be initiating an in-house clinical trial in women with breast and ovarian cancer that are treated with the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel. Investigators believe that alpha lipoic acid, a potent antioxidant compound, may help prevent neuropathy in women exposed to paclitaxel. 

Individuals appropriate to receive paclitaxel will be treated with alpha lipoic acid for 4 months. The investigators hope that this trial establishes safety of alpha lipoic acid in women undergoing treatment with paclitaxel and opens the door to larger clinical trials of alpha lipoic acid in other populations of cancer patients.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (RSD) or Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN)

The Rehab Institute of Chicago, Center for Pain Management

(an academic affiliate of Norhtwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

The Rehab Insitutue is looking for volunteers who have RSD or DPN to participate in a research/treatment study. To learn more about their study and the requirements of participating, please click here.