It is estimated that as many as 20 million Americans suffer from peripheral neuropathy today. Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by any number of conditions including autoimmune disorders, tumors, or nutritional deficiencies. However, nearly 30% of the cases of peripheral neuropathy, which occurs when your peripheral nerves (those that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body) malfunction, are caused by diabetes. And while diabetes causes approximately 30% of peripheral neuropathy cases, peripheral neuropathy occurs in nearly 60% of diabetes patients. To that end, the need for safe and effective treatment options is great… and growing. While past treatments have traditionally relied on drug therapies, today there are advances in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy with Chiropractic Neurology, offering patients a better way to manage and treat symptoms and live a better life.
Chiropractic neurologists are experts in the intricacies of the brain- nervous system connection. As such, it makes perfect sense that the individualized care plans through Chiropractic Neurology would be extremely effective in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy. And while pharmaceutical treatment addresses the symptoms of the disease, essentially ignoring the bigger problem, Chiropractic Neurology care addresses and treats the underlying cause, offering many benefits including pain management.
As with many medical conditions, peripheral neuropathy can be challenging to diagnose, and awareness of the signs and symptoms are the first step towards knowing what to ask your doctor and finding an effective treatment plan. In addition, every nerve in the body has a function. Nerves typically fall into one of three categories: sensory nerves, motor nerves or autonomic nerves and symptoms can vary depending on the type of nerve that is affected. Peripheral neuropathy may affect one nerve or multiple nerves and some symptoms include:
- Gradual onset of numbness, prickling or tingling in your feet or hands, which can spread upward into your legs and arms
- Sharp, jabbing, throbbing, freezing or burning pain
- Extreme sensitivity to touch
- Lack of coordination and falling
- Muscle weakness or paralysis if motor nerves are affected
If autonomic nerves are affected, signs and symptoms might include:
- Heat intolerance and altered sweating
- Bowel, bladder or digestive problems
- Changes in blood pressure, causing dizziness or lightheadedness
Of course, early detection and treatment are essential to reducing the severity of the nerve damage and managing the disease so for anyone experiencing symptoms of peripheral neuropathy should contact their doctor right away. And remember, another 30% of cases of peripheral neuropathy are due to unknown causes so it is always best to err on the side of caution. If you or a loved one are suffering from diabetic-related pain or peripheral neuropathy, and are looking for new avenues of treatment, the team at Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center is here to help. Please contact us today for a consultation.