Neuropathy
Accepting New Spinal Care Patients
Effective Chiropractic Neuropathy Treatment
Our Chiropractic Care Provides Natural, Drug-Free Neuropathy Pain Relief
Neuropathy can be a frightening diagnosis. With prognoses including loss of motor control and sensation, it is not surprising that many of our patients considered neuropathy a life sentence when they first searched for a “neuropathy chiropractor near me.” At West Suburban Wellness, our neuropathy chiropractors present the following guide as a resource for patients who want to know more about this condition and some of the benefits of seeking chiropractic care for neuropathy pain relief.
What Is Neuropathy?
Neuropathy is a disease of damaged or diseased nerves. Since nerves are the pathways used to send messages between the brain and the rest of the body, neuropathy can have widespread effects throughout the body.
Nerves carry sensory and motor signals between the brain and the body. Therefore, any issue with the nerves can impact how pain is felt. Nerve issues can also affect how the body moves and one’s ability to respond to the surrounding environment.
While most people focus on the nerve function they can see and feel, there is a whole world of neurological function that isn’t immediately apparent but necessary for life. Some examples are digestion, circulation, and heart function. Improving nerve function through chiropractic neuropathy treatment can help alleviate symptoms and enhance overall health.
Common Causes of Neuropathy
Since the human body has more than seven trillion nerves, neuropathies can occur throughout the body. Medications such as chemotherapy can sometimes cause neuropathy. There are also several physical causes. The following are some of the more common forms of this condition and the reasons behind them.
Diabetic Neuropathy
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.
This form of neuropathy occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the nerves. High triglyceride levels, a consequence of diabetes, can cause additional nerve damage. Diabetic neuropathy occurs throughout the body. Its cause is what distinguishes it from other forms of neuropathy.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy affects the periphery of the body. Therefore, hands, feet, arms, and legs are where this form of neuropathy occurs. While diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy, injuries, infections, and other medical conditions can also cause it.
Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include numbness, weakness, and pain. When it affects the feet, it can lead to difficulties with walking. Patients can also develop issues with balance and coordination due to gait changes.
Focal Neuropathy
Focal neuropathy is nerve damage that is limited to a single nerve. This type of neuropathy most commonly occurs in the hand, leg, torso, or head and results from nerve compression. Repetitive stress injuries, injuries, or infections that increase swelling can cause this type of nerve compression. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common focal neuropathy.
Autonomic Neuropathy
The autonomic nervous system controls the internal organs, including the heart, bladder, and eyes. Therefore, this form of neuropathy can cause varied symptoms throughout the body. Common causes of this form of neuropathy include infections and injuries.
Autonomic neuropathy can be particularly risky. Persons with diabetes can develop hypoglycemia unawareness which reduces the symptoms that reveal low blood sugar. As a result, they might not get treated for dangerously low blood sugar swings until they suffer complications. Damaged heart nerves can cause blood pressure issues, changes in heartbeat, or dizziness.
Common Symptoms of Neuropathy
In general, neuropathy symptoms are the same as nerve dysfunction symptoms anywhere in the body. These include tingling, numbness, burning sensation, pain, loss of function, and loss of sensation. The four most common neuropathy symptoms include a “pins and needles” sensation, weakened muscles, and low blood pressure. Many patients eventually have difficulty walking and are more likely to fall.
Stages of Neuropathy
Although the level of nerve damage and location of the affected nerves affected symptoms, neuropathy-related nerve damage follows a predictable pattern. The four stages of neuropathy are numbness, chronic pain, nerve degeneration, and sensation loss.
Stage 1: Numbness
Stage 3: Intensified Pain
Stage 2: Chronic Pain
Stage 4: Sensation Loss
Stage four neuropathy occurs when patients lose sensation. Instead of experiencing normal feelings, they feel numbness. Since nerves control the veins and arteries that carry blood, nerve dysfunction reduces the body’s ability to carry needed nutrients and oxygen. This is why persons with diabetic neuropathy are much more likely to develop severe foot ulcers that are slow to heal.
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Benefits of Seeing a Chiropractor for Neuropathy
While the clinical portrait of neuropathy can seem rather bleak, our West Suburban Wellness chiropractors have successfully helped many patients needing neuropathy pain relief. Chiropractic care for neuropathy focuses on treating any conditions that contribute to nerve dysfunction.
Spinal Manipulation to Promote Nerve Health
The brain and spinal cord combine to form the body’s master communication system, the Central Nervous System (CNS). Since the spine houses the spinal cord, good spinal alignment is essential to maximizing communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
Spinal subluxation is the scientific term for spinal misalignment. Even everyday movement has the potential for slightly moving the spine out of alignment. The spine can press against or even compress the nerves due to a subluxation.
When nerves are compressed, information can’t freely flow through them. As a result, they carry misinformation, incomplete messages, or sometimes don’t transmit any information. This can cause pain or difficulties with movement, organ function, and other bodily processes.
This form of chiropractic treatment for neuropathy pain relief involves physically moving the spine toward healthier alignment. Such correction of spinal subluxation restores healthy nerve function. Messages get sent to and from the brain accurately and efficiently. 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.
Comprehensive Assessment
At West Suburban Wellness, our chiropractors carefully examine every patient seeking pain relief from neuropathy. In addition to physical assessment, an initial appointment always includes a detailed conversation about current lifestyle choices and health goals. Sometimes, we perform tests or refer to other community healthcare facilities for scans. Since pain often occurs during movement or limits activity, we analyze our patients as they walk, sit, and perform other actions.
Lifestyle Interventions for Optimal Nerve Function
At West Suburban Wellness, we’re proud of how our in-office interventions help our patients, but such improvements are nothing compared to what can happen when combined with healthier lifestyle choices. Good nutrition provides nerves with the building blocks for healthy nerves and supporting structures such as muscles.
While exercise might seem impossible with nerve issues, it is essential to creating a healthier body. Our team analyzes strength, flexibility, balance, and many other abilities before designing a gentle movement program.
Experienced, Caring, Natural Neuropathy Treatment
Many of our patients have told us they felt so alone when living with neuropathy. Our West Suburban Wellness team wants you to know that this condition is more common than most people realize. We also want you to know there is help for you. If you’re seeking natural neuropathy treatment that will focus on optimizing your nerve health, please give us a call today. Our team would be happy to schedule a comprehensive consultation or answer your questions.
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Lombard, IL 60148
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