Defining Neuropathy and Peripheral Neuropathy
Neuropathy is a condition where nerves are damaged and thereby sending improper signals to the brain. Peripheral Neuropathy occurs in a person’s hands and feet. The National Institutes of Health estimates 20 million people in the United States have some form of peripheral neuropathy.
Neuropathy describes nerves that are not working properly because they are actually damaged. When nerves are damaged, they send incorrect information to the brain that can result in a variety of symptoms. Types of neuropathies include:
- Mononeuropathy: affecting a single nerve
- Mononeuritis multiplex: affecting multiple nerves asymmetrically
- Polyneuropathy: affecting multiple nerves symmetrically
- Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy: affecting multiple nerves symmetrically, starting in the feet and hands
If you are experiencing any type of neuropathy, you are likely suffering from a variety of symptoms that fall into two main categories: positive and negative.
Symptoms of Neuropathy
In general, symptoms may begin as numbness in extremities, losing feeling in hands and feet, leading to ongoing discomfort, difficulty walking, and other complications. Symptoms can progress, however, as nerves become more damaged.
You might begin to experience sensations such as shooting, stabbing or aching pain, burning, tingling, itching, twitching, electrical sensations, pressure or squeezing, throbbing, freezing, or feeling like your socks are balled up underneath their toes.
Negative Symptoms
Those with negative symptoms will experience numbness or weakness, essentially losing the feeling in their feet or hands. This can, of course, lead to other complications. With a lack of feeling in your hand, you may be less aware of pain and injury. With these symptoms, you could have trouble walking, driving, and doing a variety of daily tasks.
Positive Symptoms
Positive symptoms only show up after the nerves have been damaged for quite some time. They will typically manifest as sensations such as shooting, stabbing or aching pain, burning, tingling, itching, twitching, electrical sensations, pressure or squeezing, throbbing, freezing, or feeling like their socks are balled up underneath their toes.
If you are suffering from these symptoms, you know your mobility is reduced, which can lead to unhealthy eating and exercise. Not getting enough exercise can result in heightening the chances of experiencing heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and other health concerns.
How Neuropathy Is Typically Treated
Peripheral neuropathy is a frustrating, life-impairing condition. Many have been told they just have to meditate and live with it. Neuropathy is commonly treated through pain relief drugs prescribed by doctors. Unfortunately, many patients report that pain killers do little to treat the symptoms associated with the condition.
The symptoms and sensations associated with neuropathy are often not related to pain and inflammation. When medications fail to treat those symptoms, it can lead to reduced health and wellness. Neuropathy can lead to:
- Reduced mobility and ability to perform everyday tasks
- Inability to exercise regularly
- Unhealthy eating habits resulting from lack of exercise and mobility
- Complications from reduced exercise and unhealthy eating habits
Some medications carry side effects that impact vision, cause dry mouth, and impact cognitive abilities. Furthermore, some may be susceptible to addiction to the medications prescribed to treat neuropathy. Many people find they want alternatives to traditional neuropathy treatments when medication does not seem to help accomplish their goals.
Chiropractic care may indeed help patients experience the relief for which they are searching. It can be the difference between correcting the issues causing neuropathy or continuing to treat them with drugs that do not seem to actually help.
Treating Neuropathy with Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care seeks to treat issues at their source while providing a holistic approach to healing. Chiropractic treatments aim to restore blood flow and oxygen to the nerves allowing them to repair properly. Adjustments and chiropractic care are utilized to reestablish nerve communication and nutrient pathways for improved oxygenation. We also utilize the Y-strap, lumbar spinal decompression, hammer chisel therapy and Tubio Lift adjustment.
When the nerves are allowed to heal, it can result in the restoration of feeling in their hands and feet. Many patients find their pain is reduced, the feeling is improved, and mobility can be restored, and they are amazed that it can be accomplished without medication.
Laser Therapy Is a Chiropractic Neuropathy Treatment
Also referred to as Cold Laser Therapy, this is an innovative, painless therapy that can help many different issues. Per our website, Laser Light Therapy reduces pain and inflammation and promotes healing for:
- Acute problems (a crick in the neck after sleeping, for example)
- Sports injuries (sprained ankle, twisted knee, etc.)
- Chronic conditions (fibromyalgia, plantar fasciitis, arthritis, neuropathy, etc.)
- Neurological and general pain and bruising
- Pre & post-surgical treatment
- Nervous system complaints
- Addiction issues
- Wounds
Laser therapy involves the application of certain wavelengths of light to the affected area(s). Damaged cells receive light energy, which stimulates intracellular activity. This hastens cellular repair while also lowering pain and speeding up healing and recovery.
The therapy is brief, usually under 5 minutes. Although it is common to have at least 3-5 sessions, many people see an improvement after just one treatment. There is usually a reduction in swelling as well as pain relief after treatment. Chronic illnesses need to be treated on a regular basis, whereas acute conditions will go away after a certain number of treatments.
Because this type of therapy has cumulative effects, it's critical to follow the suggested treatment plan to reap the most benefits.
Would You Benefit from Chiropractic Treatment?
When you reach out to Monitto Chiropractic for treatment, we will first schedule a free consultation. A doctor will speak with you, screen for medical conditions, and help determine whether you are a candidate for chiropractic neuropathy treatment. Then we will perform tests to assess the extent of nerve damage, and if you can benefit from chiropractic care, we will provide a plan for treatment.
If you or someone you love is struggling with the symptoms of neuropathy and have found traditional methods of treatment fall short, maybe it is time to try chiropractic. We are committed to helping you live a healthy and mobile life. We treat peripheral neuropathy and other conditions naturally, so you can find the relief you need.
We have years of experience and have seen tremendous success for our patients. This is an amazing area, and we want to help you get out and enjoy it as much as possible. Reach out to the team at Monitto Chiropractic for more information about how you can benefit from chiropractic care to treat neuropathy and other conditions.