CUSTOMIZED TREATMENTS PROVIDING LASTING RELIEF
WHAT IS PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY?
Peripheral neuropathy is the damage or malfunctioning of the peripheral nerves that connect the central nervous system to the rest parts of the body. Neuropathy is a progressive disease that can get worse over time, if not treated. We encourage all of our clients to catch the disease before it goes into a non-treatable condition.
The damage of peripheral nerves may be caused due to a number of factors such as:
- Systemic diseases like diabetes, hyperthyroidism, alcohol abuse, chronic inflammation, cancer and tumours, vitamin deficiency, kidney disorders and liver diseases.
- Injuries from sports, falling, dental work and vehicle accidents.
Infectious diseases like HIV, leprosy, virus infection, diphtheria, shingles and others. - Autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Sjogren’s syndrome.
SYMPTOMS OF PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
Symptoms of neuropathy include sensory loss, muscle weakness and atrophy, and pain. Initial symptoms typically involve numbness in the feet or hands and may affect other parts of the body such as internal organs. Over time the person can experience sensations of burning, freezing, throbbing, or even shooting pain that’s often worse at night.
The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy often include:
- A sensation of wearing an invisible “glove” or “sock”
- Burning sensation or freezing pain, extreme sensitivity to touch
- Sharp, jabbing, shooting, or electric-like pain
- Difficulty sleeping because of feet and leg pain
- Loss of balance and coordination
- Muscle weakness, cramping/twitching
- Difficulty walking or moving the arms
- Unusual sweating
- Abnormalities in blood pressure or pulse
Symptoms such as experiencing weakness or not being able to hold something, not knowing where your feet are, and experiencing pain that feels as if it is stabbing or burning in your limbs, can be common signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may depend on the kind of peripheral nerves that have been damaged. There are three types of peripheral nerves: motor, sensory and autonomic. Some neuropathies affect all three types of nerves, while others involve only one or two. The majority of people, however, suffer from polyneuropathy, an umbrella term for damage involving many nerves at the same time.
EXPERIENCE TREATING NEUROPATHY
The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy reports that 40 million Americans struggle daily with peripheral neuropathy. According to the Foundation, the pain can be either constant or periodic, but usually, the pain is felt equally on both sides of the body — in both hands or in both feet.
The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy is a public charity foundation committed to fostering collaboration among today’s most gifted and dedicated neuroscientists and physicians. They work with specialists from around the country to maintain a comprehensive view of the field and determine the research areas that hold the most promise in neuropathy research and treatment. Their goal is to develop new and effective therapies that can reverse, reduce and one day eliminate Peripheral Neuropathy.
Neuropathy is one of the conditions that we specialize in at AHS. With decades of experience, Marc Cutler leads our team in education and understanding of the neurological condition and the best methods for treating the symptoms.
Marc is a member of the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy. It is his ultimate goal to utilize every means and opportunity to dramatically improve the lives of those living with this painful and debilitating disorder.
BENEFITS OF TREATMENT FOR NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
Many patients find that complementary and alternative therapies help manage pain caused by peripheral neuropathy.
Complementary and alternative therapies are drug-free treatments that are non-invasive and support the idea that the body will work to heal itself. They may be used alone or may be combined with other medications and treatments.
Acupuncture is one of those alternative and complementary therapies used to treat neuropathy. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment that is performed today throughout the United States and Europe. For some people with peripheral neuropathy, acupuncture acts as a complementary therapy because it may reduce the need to take pain-relieving drugs. Acupuncturists are skilled at combing Chinese herb, cupping and vitamin point injection, which are known to help the affected nerves to regenerate faster.
Arriving at a of Neuropathy diagnosis is often complex, involving multiple steps:
- Taking an appropriate and full history of symptoms and collecting relevant data
- Physical examination
- Generating a provisional and differential diagnosis
- Testing (ordering, reviewing, and acting on test results) reaching a final diagnosis
Some of these tests include:
- Tendon reflexes, Muscular strength/Tone
- Sensory Tests, Coordination analysis
- Blood tests, Urinalysis, Salivary Index testing
- Thyroid function testing
- Nerve conduction testing
- Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging
BENEFITS OF TREATMENT FOR NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
Through consistent treatment, lifestyle and dietary changes; our clients find a significant reduction in pain and other symptoms as well as a reduced number of, “flare-ups.”
In addition to an overall improved health, our patients also document a number of additional benefits from neuropathy treatment at AHS:
- Increase blood and oxygen flow
- Promotes nerve repair
- Decreases inflammation
- Stop pain signals
- Improve motor function
- Enhance dopamine (Parkinson’s disease)
