Leaders in Natural Neuropathy Treatment
Chiropractic care has been shown to be an effective and natural neuropathy treatment. Neuropathy is a condition characterized by damage to the nerves. When nerves are damaged, they can't send signals properly to the brain, which can lead to pain, numbness, loss of motor control, and weakness.
Chiropractic is a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis, and treatment. Chiropractors use spinal manipulation and other manual therapies to adjust imbalances in the musculoskeletal system, which can relieve neuropathy pain and improve function.
Studies have shown that chiropractic care can help reduce neuropathy pain and improve nerve function.
What Is Neuropathy?
Neuropathy is a disease of damaged or diseased nerves. Because nerves are the pathways our body uses to send messages between the brain and the other parts of the body, neuropathy can affect multiple parts of your body.
Nerves carry sensory and motor signals between the brain and the body. There are different types of nerve pain, each with its own set of symptoms. The most common type is neuropathic pain, which is caused by damage to the nerves. This type of pain is often described as a burning or tingling sensation. It can also be debilitating and make it difficult to perform everyday activities.
Some people may not realize that there is a whole world of neurological function that isn't immediately apparent but necessary for life. This includes things like digestion, circulation, and heart function. By improving nerve function through chiropractic care for neuropathy, patients can treat symptoms and enhance their overall health.
Common Causes of Neuropathy
Seeing as our bodies have more than seven trillion nerves, neuropathies can occur throughout the body. There can be physical causes of neuropathy but some medications such as chemotherapy can also cause it. Below are a few of the more common forms and causes of neuropathy.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is characterized by damage to the nerves that can lead to pain, numbness, and tingling. It is a common complication of diabetes, affecting up to 60% of people with the disease.
Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most prevalent types of neuropathy. Since type 2 diabetes is becoming more common and more than 60% of those with diabetes have diabetic neuropathy, more than 20 million Americans now have neuropathy.
Diabetic neuropathy is a serious complication of diabetes. High blood sugar levels damage the nerves, and high triglyceride levels can cause additional nerve damage. Diabetic neuropathy occurs throughout the body, and its cause is what distinguishes it from other forms of neuropathy. If you have diabetes, it's important to monitor your blood sugar levels carefully and control your diet to help prevent diabetic neuropathy. If you already have diabetic neuropathy, there are treatments available that can help relieve the pain and other symptoms. With proper treatment, most people with diabetic neuropathy can lead normal, productive lives.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy can cause a wide range of symptoms, depending on the underlying condition. Symptoms can affect the hands, feet, arms, and legs and may include pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the affected area. In severe cases, peripheral neuropathy can lead to paralysis or loss of sensation. Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by a number of different conditions. These include diabetes, certain cancers, and autoimmune diseases.
If you have peripheral neuropathy, you may experience a range of symptoms. These can include numbness, weakness, and pain. If the condition affects your feet, it can make walking difficult. You may also develop problems with balance and coordination due to changes in your gait.
Focal Neuropathy
There are several types of focal neuropathy, the most common being carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition is caused by compression of the median nerve in the wrist, which can be due to repetitive stress injuries or other conditions that cause swelling. Other types of focal neuropathy include ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow (often called "cubital tunnel syndrome") and radial nerve entrapment at the shoulder. These conditions are often caused by injury or trauma to the area.
Autonomic Neuropathy
There are two types of autonomic neuropathy: primary and secondary. Primary autonomic neuropathy is caused by damage to the autonomic nervous system itself. Secondary autonomic neuropathy is caused by damage to other parts of the nervous system that affects the autonomic nervous system.
The most common symptom of autonomic neuropathy is orthostatic hypotension, which is a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up from a lying or sitting position. This can cause lightheadedness, dizziness, and even fainting. Other common symptoms include constipation, diarrhea, urinary incontinence, and sexual dysfunction.
Common Symptoms of Neuropathy
There are a variety of neuropathy symptoms that can occur, depending on the specific type of nerve damage. In general, however, most neuropathy symptoms stem from nerve dysfunction and include tingling, numbness, burning sensations, pain, loss of function and/or sensation.
The most common neuropathy symptoms include "pins and needles", weakened muscles, and low blood pressure. Some people may experience difficulty walking and are more likely to fall.
Stages of Neuropathy
The four stages of neuropathy are numbness, chronic pain, nerve degeneration, and sensation loss. Although the level of nerve damage and location of the affected nerves affects symptoms, neuropathy-related nerve damage follows a pattern that is predictable.
Stage 1: Numbness
Numbness is the first stage of neuropathy and is caused by damage to the small fibers that transmit information about touch and temperature. This damage can cause tingling, prickling, or burning sensations. Because at this stage patients experience relatively mild symptoms that don’t interfere with their everyday activities, they often don’t seek medical treatment.
Stage 2: Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is the second stage of neuropathy and is caused by damage to the larger fibers that transmit information about pressure and vibration. This damage can cause sharp, shooting pain or dull, aching pain that becomes a constant companion. This stage is also more severe. This stage is also an excellent time to visit our chiropractor for neuropathy to help reduce, prevent, or reverse much of the nerve damage caused by this disease.
Stage 3: Intensified Pain
At stage three of neuropathy, the pain is intense and constant. It can make it difficult to carry out everyday activities. Many people will do anything to get rid of the pain, including undergoing risky surgeries. This is particularly true for many patients contemplating median nerve decompression surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. We wish patients would see us before seeking surgery that has the potential to cause significant changes to the body.
Stage 4: Sensation Loss
Once neuropathy reaches stage four, patients can lose all sensation in their extremities. This can lead to serious health complications, as the body is unable to properly regulate blood flow and nutrients. Diabetic foot ulcers are a common complication of stage four neuropathy and can be very difficult to heal. Without proper treatment, these ulcers can lead to gangrene and amputation. It is important for patients with stage four neuropathy to receive prompt and effective treatment to prevent further damage.
Benefits of Seeing Our Chiropractor for Neuropathy
Neuropathy can be a debilitating condition, but our neuropathy chiropractor has helped many patients find relief. Chiropractic care for neuropathy focuses on treating any conditions that contribute to nerve dysfunction. This may include addressing issues with the spine, muscles, and other tissues that can put pressure on nerves.
Comprehensive Assessment
At Health From Within, we take a comprehensive approach to examining and treating our patients. In addition to physical assessment, we always start with a detailed conversation about current lifestyle choices and health goals. We may also perform tests or refer to other community healthcare facilities for scans. Since pain often occurs during movement or limits activity, we carefully analyze our patients as they walk, sit, and perform other actions.
Promote Nerve Health with Spinal Manipulation
The Central Nervous System (CNS) is the body’s master communication system, combining the signals from the brain and spinal cord. Since the spine is home to the spinal cord, proper spinal alignment is essential to maximizing communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
The scientific term for a spinal misalignment is called a spinal subluxation. Everyday movement has the potential for moving the spine out of alignment. The spine can press against or even compress the nerves due to a subluxation.
Nerve compression can cause a variety of problems, depending on which nerves are affected. Compression of the spinal cord or nerves in the arms or legs can lead to pain, numbness, or weakness. Organ function may also be affected if certain nerves are compressed. In severe cases, paralysis can occur.
Chiropractic care for neuropathy involves physically moving the spine toward healthier alignment. Correction of a spinal subluxation restores healthy nerve function allowing messages to get sent to and from the brain efficiently and accurately. Once nerve health is restored, the rest of the body follows. Since circulation, digestion, and respiration can function more effectively, nerves have what they need to become healthier again.
Lifestyle Interventions for Optimal Nerve Function
Good nutrition is essential for healthy nerves and the supporting structures that they rely on, such as muscles. At Health From Within, our in-office interventions can help improve our patients' conditions, but combining these with healthier lifestyle choices can lead to even greater improvements.
While exercise might seem impossible with nerve issues, it is essential to creating a healthier body. Our chiropractor will analyze strength, flexibility, balance, and many other abilities before designing a gentle movement program.
Neuropathy Care From an Experienced and Caring Team
Neuropathy is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While it can be debilitating and cause immense pain, there are treatments available to help manage the condition.
At Health From Within, we specialize in treating neuropathy by optimizing nerve health. This approach is based on the latest scientific research and has helped our patients achieve significant relief from their symptoms.
If you are living with neuropathy, we encourage you to give us a call today. Our caring team would be happy to discuss your treatment options and answer any questions you may have.