The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is the network of nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord, acting as a communication highway between the central nervous system (CNS) and the rest of the body. It plays a crucial role in transmitting signals that control movements, sensations, and the functions of internal organs. Sensory nerves in the PNS send information from the body to the CNS, while motor nerves carry instructions from the CNS to muscles and organs, enabling both voluntary actions and automatic body functions.
Peripheral neuropathy occurs when the peripheral nerves are damaged, disrupting their ability to function properly. This condition may affect one nerve (mononeuropathy) or multiple nerves throughout the body (polyneuropathy). It can result from a variety of factors, such as physical trauma, infections, metabolic issues, autoimmune diseases, toxins, or side effects of certain medications. These causes reduce blood flow to the nerves, depriving them of essential oxygen and nutrients. Over time, this leads to nerve damage, often causing chronic pain and significant lifestyle changes for many patients.
FREE Nerve Assessment
We offer two specialized tests to evaluate blood flow and detect sensory nerve damage in your hands and feet.
- Thermal Imaging – This test measures blood flow patterns. Reduced circulation indicates a lack of oxygen and nutrients, which can impair overall nerve health.
- Electrical Conductivity Testing – Using specialized gloves, we assess the level of sensory nerve damage in your hands and feet.
Based on the results of these assessments, you may be eligible for more in-depth nerve testing with the doctor.
How The Neuropathy Relief Plan Works
Real answers and real solutions to solving neuropathy
1. Schedule Your
Free Nerve Scan
The free nerve scan will assess both blood flow and nerve sensitivity. The outcome of these tests will help determine if you qualify for an advanced sensory examination with the doctor.
2. Be Truly Heard
and Understood
We will take the time to truly listen to your unique situation. We want to know how neuropathy is affecting your life, the therapies you have tried, and your health goals.
3. Get a Personalized
Plan of Action
A custom plan of attack is designed around your life to help rebuild your nerves, decrease pain levels, and improve your balance. This will help to get you back to the life you deserve.
Neuropathy Symptoms
Neuropathy can present itself in various ways depending on which nerves are affected. The symptoms often begin gradually and may worsen over time.
The three types of neuropathy that can affect the peripheral nervous system (PNS) are sensory neuropathy, motor neuropathy, and autonomic neuropathy. Each type targets different nerves and causes a unique set of symptoms:
1. Sensory Neuropathy
Sensory neuropathy affects the nerves that transmit sensory information, such as pain, temperature, and touch, from the body to the brain.
Symptoms:
- Numbness or tingling: Often in the hands, feet, or legs.
- Burning or stabbing pain: Sharp, shooting pains, usually worse at night.
- Loss of coordination: Difficulty in maintaining balance due to lack of sensation in the feet or legs.
- Sensitivity to touch: Even light pressure from clothing or blankets can cause discomfort or pain.
2. Motor Neuropathy
Motor neuropathy impacts the nerves responsible for controlling muscle movement.
Symptoms:
- Muscle weakness: Difficulty lifting objects or walking due to weakened muscles.
- Muscle cramps or twitching: Uncontrollable spasms or twitches in affected muscles.
- Loss of dexterity: Trouble with fine motor skills like buttoning clothes or holding small objects.
- Paralysis: In severe cases, nerve damage can lead to partial or complete paralysis of the affected muscles.
3. Autonomic Neuropathy
Autonomic neuropathy affects the autonomic nerves, which control involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and bladder control.
Symptoms:
- Dizziness or fainting: Often due to a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up (orthostatic hypotension).
- Irregular heartbeat: Changes in heart rate or arrhythmias.
- Digestive issues: Bloating, nausea, constipation, or diarrhea due to slowed digestion.
- Abnormal sweating: Either excessive sweating or inability to sweat, leading to heat intolerance.
- Bladder and bowel problems: Difficulty emptying the bladder completely or experiencing incontinence.
These different types of neuropathy can occur individually or together, and the severity of symptoms varies based on the extent of nerve damage and the underlying cause.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider for proper evaluation and treatment. Early detection and intervention can help prevent further nerve damage and improve your quality of life.
Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy can result from a variety of factors, each leading to damage of the peripheral nerves. Some of the most common causes include:
- Diabetes: One of the leading causes of peripheral neuropathy, particularly in long-term or poorly controlled diabetes. High blood sugar levels can damage nerves, especially in the legs and feet.
- Physical Injury or Trauma: Injuries from accidents, falls, or surgeries can compress or sever peripheral nerves, leading to neuropathy. Repetitive stress injuries, like carpal tunnel syndrome, can also damage nerves over time.
- Infections: Certain viral or bacterial infections, such as shingles (herpes zoster), Lyme disease, HIV/AIDS, or hepatitis C, can cause nerve damage and result in neuropathy.
- Autoimmune Diseases: Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Guillain-Barré syndrome can attack the body’s own nerves, leading to neuropathy.
- Toxin and Medication: Exposure to toxins like heavy metals (lead, mercury) or industrial chemicals can damage nerves. Certain medications, including chemotherapy drugs and some antibiotics, may also cause peripheral neuropathy as a side effect.
- Vitamin Deficiencies: Lack of essential vitamins, particularly B vitamins (B1, B6, B12), which are crucial for nerve health, can lead to neuropathy.
- Alcoholism: Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to nutritional deficiencies and direct nerve damage, resulting in alcoholic neuropathy.
- Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders: Conditions such as kidney disease, liver disease, and thyroid disorders can cause toxins to build up in the body, leading to nerve damage.
- Inherited Disorders: Some inherited disorders, like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, are genetic conditions that affect the peripheral nerves.
- Cancer or Tumors: Tumors pressing on nerves or cancer treatments like chemotherapy can damage the peripheral nervous system, causing neuropathy.
Conventional Neuropathy Treatment
Managing neuropathy often involves a combination of treatments to relieve pain and improve quality of life. Here are some commonly used pain management approaches for neuropathy:
- Medications:
- Pain Relievers: Over-the-counter options like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or prescription-strength pain relievers are often the first line of defense.
- Antidepressants: Certain antidepressants, such as amitriptyline and duloxetine, can help relieve neuropathic pain by affecting the chemicals in the brain that transmit pain signals.
- Anti-seizure Medications: Drugs like gabapentin and pregabalin are commonly prescribed to help reduce nerve pain by calming overactive nerves.
- Topical Treatments: Creams or patches containing lidocaine or capsaicin can be applied directly to the skin to numb the area or block pain signals.
- Physical Therapy: Strengthening muscles and improving mobility through guided exercises can reduce pain and improve functionality. Physical therapists may also use techniques like massage or ultrasound therapy to relieve symptoms.
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): TENS therapy uses small electrical currents delivered through electrodes on the skin to help block pain signals and stimulate the nerves.
- Steroid Injections: In cases where neuropathy is caused by inflammation or compression of nerves, steroid injections can reduce swelling and provide pain relief, especially in localized areas.
- Nerve Blocks: For more severe cases of pain, doctors may use injections to block pain signals in the affected nerves. These nerve blocks can provide temporary relief but may need to be repeated for continued benefit.
- Lifestyle Changes:
- Dietary Adjustments: A balanced diet rich in vitamins, particularly B vitamins, can help support nerve health. Reducing alcohol consumption is also crucial in managing symptoms.
- Exercise: Regular, low-impact exercise like walking or swimming helps improve circulation, reduce pain, and maintain muscle strength, which is especially important for those with neuropathy.
- Smoking Cessation: Quitting smoking improves circulation and can prevent further nerve damage by ensuring nerves receive enough oxygen.
- Surgery: In cases where a compressed nerve is causing neuropathy (such as carpal tunnel syndrome), surgical intervention may be required to relieve the pressure on the nerve.
- Assistive Devices: For patients with significant muscle weakness or balance issues, braces, orthotics, or mobility aids like canes or walkers can help improve independence and safety.
Chiropractic Care for Neuropathy Relief
Chiropractic care offers a natural, non-invasive approach to managing the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. By focusing on spinal health, improving nerve function, and enhancing overall body balance, chiropractic techniques can provide relief for neuropathy sufferers. Chiropractors use a variety of methods to address the root causes of nerve pain and discomfort, helping to restore nerve function, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. Here are some common chiropractic techniques used to manage peripheral neuropathy:
- Spinal Adjustments
Spinal adjustments, or chiropractic manipulations, are used to correct misalignments in the spine that may be contributing to nerve irritation. By realigning the spine, chiropractors aim to reduce pressure on nerves, improve communication between the central and peripheral nervous systems, and enhance the body’s ability to heal itself. These adjustments can help alleviate symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and pain associated with neuropathy.
- Nerve Stimulation Therapy
Chiropractors often use nerve stimulation techniques like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) to reduce neuropathic pain. This therapy involves applying low-voltage electrical currents to the affected area to block pain signals and stimulate the nerves. Nerve stimulation can help increase circulation, reduce discomfort, and promote nerve regeneration.
- Cold Laser Therapy (Low-Level Laser Therapy)
- Therapeutic Exercises
Chiropractors often recommend specific exercises to strengthen muscles, improve balance, and enhance circulation. These therapeutic exercises help support the recovery process by keeping muscles and joints strong, which is especially beneficial for neuropathy patients experiencing muscle weakness or loss of coordination.
- Nutritional Counseling
Proper nutrition plays a critical role in nerve health, and chiropractors can provide guidance on dietary changes and supplements that support nerve regeneration. Nutrients such as B vitamins, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids are essential for repairing nerve damage and reducing inflammation.
- Massage Therapy
Chiropractic massage therapy can help improve circulation, reduce muscle tension, and promote relaxation, all of which can benefit neuropathy patients.
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- Lifestyle Modifications
Chiropractors often work with neuropathy patients to implement lifestyle changes that improve overall health and well-being. This may include recommendations for regular exercise, stress reduction techniques, and proper ergonomics. These changes help reduce the risk of further nerve damage and enhance the effectiveness of chiropractic treatments.
Check Out Our Post Falls Location
1812 Carondalet Dr, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, USA
Our Approach to Treating Peripheral Neuropathy in Cape Girardeau, MO
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
At Elevation Neuropathy, our focus is on providing a personalized and thorough approach to neuropathy care. We understand that neuropathy affects every individual differently, so we begin with a detailed consultation and exam to truly grasp how it has impacted your life. We listen to your experiences, past treatment efforts, and health goals to get a complete understanding of your condition.
During your evaluation, we conduct an extensive examination that includes a 21-point sensory evaluation and orthopedic motor tests. These tests are designed to detect the presence and severity of peripheral neuropathy. By identifying the underlying cause and assessing the extent of nerve damage, we can determine whether you are a candidate for our specialized neuropathy program.
If we find that we can help, our healthcare professionals will create a customized treatment plan tailored specifically to your condition. On the following day, we will review the findings with you, including the percentage of nerve damage and what you can expect from care. We will provide a clear explanation of your prognosis and the steps we’ll take in your personalized treatment plan. Throughout the process, we strive to keep you fully informed and involved in every aspect of your recovery.
Infrared Light Therapy
A Non-Invasive Treatment for Pain Relief and Healing
Infrared Light Therapy is a cutting-edge, non-invasive treatment designed to promote healing, reduce inflammation, and provide relief from nerve-related pain. This therapy utilizes infrared light to penetrate the skin’s surface, reaching deep into tissues and nerves, stimulating natural healing processes at a cellular level.
How Infrared Light Therapy Works
Infrared light therapy harnesses the power of specific wavelengths of light that are not visible to the human eye but can penetrate deep into the body. The infrared light stimulates blood flow, enhancing circulation to the affected area, which helps deliver more oxygen and nutrients to injured or damaged nerves and tissues. This improved circulation promotes tissue repair, reduces inflammation, and alleviates pain associated with conditions like peripheral neuropathy, arthritis, and muscle soreness.
The Process Involved
Infrared light therapy is a simple and comfortable procedure. Here’s what to expect during a session:
- Preparation: You will sit or lie down comfortably, with the targeted area of your body exposed.
- Application: A specialized infrared light device is placed over the treatment area. The light penetrates the skin without causing any discomfort or damage.
- Duration: Sessions typically last between 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the area being treated and the severity of your condition.
- Frequency: For optimal results, multiple sessions may be recommended over a few weeks, depending on your condition and response to treatment.
Sensation During the Treatment
One of the key benefits of infrared light therapy is that it is completely painless. During the session, you may feel a gentle warmth or mild tingling in the treated area as the infrared light penetrates the tissues. This warming sensation is a sign that circulation is being enhanced, but most patients find the treatment soothing and relaxing.
Effectiveness of Infrared Light Therapy
Infrared light therapy has been proven effective in reducing pain and promoting healing for a variety of conditions. Studies have shown that it can significantly improve circulation, reduce nerve pain, and accelerate tissue recovery. For patients with peripheral neuropathy, this therapy can help reduce numbness, tingling, and burning sensations by stimulating nerve regeneration.
Because it is non-invasive and drug-free, infrared light therapy is a safe and effective treatment for individuals looking for natural pain relief and recovery support. Many patients experience noticeable improvements after just a few sessions, making it an ideal option for those seeking long-term relief from chronic pain.
Nerve Re-Education Stimulation Therapy is a cutting-edge treatment designed to help individuals recover nerve function and improve sensation, particularly for those affected by conditions like peripheral neuropathy or nerve injuries. By using targeted electrical impulses, this therapy retrains damaged nerves to promote healing and restore mobility.
How It Works
This therapy delivers gentle electrical impulses to specific nerves and muscles, stimulating:
- Nerve Pathways: Activating dormant nerves to improve communication with the brain.
- Blood Flow: Enhancing circulation to provide essential nutrients for healing.
- Muscle Activation: Encouraging movement and strength in affected areas.
The Treatment Process
- Assessment: Your condition is evaluated to tailor the therapy.
- Electrode Placement: Electrodes are placed on the skin over target areas.
- Stimulation Session: Sessions last 15 to 30 minutes, with mild tingling sensations experienced during treatment.
- Follow-Up: Progress is monitored to gauge improvements in nerve function.
Effectiveness
Nerve Re-Education Stimulation Therapy has shown promising results, including:
- Improved nerve regeneration and sensory perception.
- Enhanced muscle strength and mobility.
- Reduced pain associated with nerve damage.
If you’re looking to regain nerve function and alleviate pain, Nerve Re-Education Stimulation Therapy may be the solution for you. Contact us today to learn more!
Nutrition and Supplementation
Nerve Re-Education Stimulation Therapy is a cutting-edge treatment designed to help individuals recover nerve function and improve sensation, particularly for those affected by conditions like peripheral neuropathy or nerve injuries. By using targeted electrical impulses, this therapy retrains damaged nerves to promote healing and restore mobility.
How It Works
This therapy delivers gentle electrical impulses to specific nerves and muscles, stimulating:
- Nerve Pathways: Activating dormant nerves to improve communication with the brain.
- Blood Flow: Enhancing circulation to provide essential nutrients for healing.
- Muscle Activation: Encouraging movement and strength in affected areas.
The Treatment Process
- Assessment: Your condition is evaluated to tailor the therapy.
- Electrode Placement: Electrodes are placed on the skin over target areas.
- Stimulation Session: Sessions last 15 to 30 minutes, with mild tingling sensations experienced during treatment.
- Follow-Up: Progress is monitored to gauge improvements in nerve function.
Effectiveness
Nerve Re-Education Stimulation Therapy has shown promising results, including:
- Improved nerve regeneration and sensory perception.
- Enhanced muscle strength and mobility.
- Reduced pain associated with nerve damage.
If you’re looking to regain nerve function and alleviate pain, Nerve Re-Education Stimulation Therapy may be the solution for you. Contact us today to learn more!
Neuropathy Restoration Plan
Our Neuropathy Restoration Plan is designed to help individuals with nerve damage regain function, reduce pain, and improve their quality of life. Through a personalized approach, we focus on addressing the root cause of your neuropathy and supporting long-term healing.
The 3 Main Goals of Our Plan:
- Reduce Pain and Discomfort: Alleviate nerve pain, burning, and tingling through targeted therapies.
- Improve Nerve Function: Promote nerve repair and enhance communication between nerves and muscles.
- Restore Mobility and Strength: Increase circulation and muscle strength to improve overall mobility and independence.
Take the first step toward healing with our comprehensive Neuropathy Restoration Plan.