Peripheral Neuropathy

What Is Peripheral Neuropathy?

The peripheral nervous system is a major communications center within our bodies, sending messages between the brain and spinal cord. The brain controls motor neurons which tell the muscles to move, as well as sensory neurons, which send signals to your brain to relay when your feet are cold or your bladder is full. Peripheral neuropathy occurs when these nerves get damaged and can’t work properly. Many who suffer from this complication are diabetic or have endured an injury, but in most cases, there is no initial reason for the ailment. People with peripheral neuropathy often feel tingling or numbness in their fingers and toes, which can spread up their arms, feet, and legs. Some may experience muscle weakness. In some of the most challenging cases there might be a loss of feeling all together, and because there is no pain it is more often ignored, but left untreated it can cause frequent falling witch is one of leading causes of death in patients over 50. In the worst cases, people suffer from paralysis, muscle erosion, or their organs may not function properly or may shut down altogether.

Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy

The majority of patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy attribute it to type 2 diabetes. Some may feel its effects during or after chemotherapy treatments. But there are many people who complain of the symptoms but don’t have an underlying reason that points to why they have it. Because the cause may not always be prevalent, doctors may be slow to diagnose your condition as peripheral neuropathy. Instead, they may think you have carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis, vascular problems, or arthritis. You may be prescribed drugs such as Gabapentin, Cymbalta, and Lyrica, which will temporarily relieve any discomfort but do nothing for your tingling, numb arms, and legs. Pain medication cannot treat the problem, so once it wears off, you’re back where you started.

Treating Peripheral Neuropathy

Because it can be difficult to diagnose, doctors may not always recognize peripheral neuropathy and may treat you for a different condition that you don’t have. Surgeries and drugs cannot cure peripheral neuropathy. But at Rackham Chiropractic Plus, we offer a treatment that has helped many of our patients. We use the following therapies:

Infrared diode therapy: Light therapy helps improve blood flow and regenerate nerve endings. This cutting edge therapy was developed by NASA for treating wounds in space and was approved by the FDA in 2001
Vibration therapy: This helps improve balance. It also stimulates much needed blood supply to the damaged nerves
The Rebuilder: This is an FDA-approved medical device that alleviates a number of issues people with chronic pain experience. This device is based on a Nobel Prize winning concept and is amazingly effective.
PEMF: Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field therapy. Cutting edge therapy to promote cellular healing. Healing energy that you don’t have to imagine, you can feel it working.

Light Therapy for Peripheral Neuropathy

Infrared diode therapy uses a light with infrared diodes to penetrate the skin. Patients with neuropathy often suffer from low blood flow, which means their nerves may not be getting enough oxygen and glucose. Oftentimes, patients with neuropathy suffer more from lack of feeling than from pain or burning sensations. Because their nerves have less feeling, they have an increased chance of falling. Light therapy can stimulate sluggish blood flow and increase levels of nitric oxide in the body. An increase in nitric oxide can help:

Reduce inflammation Regenerate tissue Improve circulation
Diminish pain Restore nerve endings

Patients who have undergone infrared light therapy may experience a marked improvement in their balance. Because light therapy augments their blood flow, their nerve endings improve, and they regain sensations they had previously thought were gone for good. This is especially significant, as people suffering from neuropathy easily lose their balance and tend to fall.

Vibration Therapy for Peripheral Neuropathy

One of the biggest complications people with neuropathy suffer from is motor and sensory deterioration, which leads to loss of balance, inability to walk safely, and increased chance of falling. Elderly patients must be especially careful – neuropathy tends to get worse as you get older, and falls are a leading cause of death in people of advanced age. Patients who receive vibration therapy have shown a compelling reduction in pain. Moreover, it is common for patients to experience major improvements in their balance and ability to stand and walk. Best of all it can relieve pain without side effects.

The Rebuilder (www.rebuildermedical.com)

The Rebuilder is a device you can use at home to help with persistent pain. Specifically, the Rebuilder has been used to increase circulation, aid with range of motion, and provide relief for chronic pain. The device comes with a feedback feature that allows it to adjust to your changing needs. Best of all, the Rebuilder helps reduce pain without any side effects. This device increases circulation to the extremities. It’s crucial that once we get new blood flow to the nerves and creating new blood vessels that we re-educate the nerve back to normal function. This device is used in large hospital chains across the country for the treatment of Peripheral Neuropathy to repair damaged nerves.