Many patients with peripheral neuropathy often believe that their painful symptoms are irreversible or permanent. However, Dr. John Coppola and Dr. Valerie Monteiro describe that peripheral neuropathy can be treated by treating the underlying source of the painful symptoms. Several patients discuss their painful peripheral neuropathy symptoms and how these affected their overall quality of life.
Moreover, the patients also discuss how Dr. John Coppola and Dr. Valerie Monteiro helped treat their painful peripheral neuropathy symptoms through the use of a variety of treatment methods and techniques. Dr. Alex Jimenez, doctor of chiropractic in El Paso, TX, can help treat painful symptoms associated with peripheral neuropathy. Dr. Alex Jimenez is the non-surgical choice for chiropractic care and peripheral neuropathy treatment.
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Peripheral Neuropathy Recovery Success Stories | El Paso, TX (2019)
Neuropathy is a medical term used to describe a collection of general diseases or malfunctions which affect the nerves.
The causes of neuropathy, or nerve damage, can vary among individuals and these may be caused by different:
- Diseases
- Injuries
- Infections
- Vitamin deficiencies
Neuropathy can also be classified according to the location of the nerves being affected and according to the disease-causing it.
Neuropathy caused by diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy.
Furthermore, depending on which nerves are affected will depend on the symptoms that will manifest.
Peripheral neuropathy is simply referred to as neuropathy, which is a state that happens when the nerves become damaged or injured, oftentimes simply disturbed.
It’s estimated that neuropathy affects roughly 2.4 percent of the general populace and approximately 8 percent of people older than age 55.
Type
Neuropathy can affect any of the three types of peripheral nerves:
- Sensory nerves transmit messages from sensory organs:
- Eyes
- Nose
- Brain
- Motor nerves track the movement of the muscles
- Autonomic nerves regulate the involuntary body functions
Sometimes, neuropathy will only impact one nerve. This is medically referred to as mononeuropathy and instances of it include:
- Ulnar neuropathy affects the elbow
- Radial neuropathy affects the arms
- Peroneal neuropathy affects the knees
- Femoral neuropathy affects the thighs
- Cervical neuropathy affects the neck
Sometimes, two or more isolated nerves in separate regions of the body can become damaged, injured or disrupted, resulting in mono neuritis multiplex neuropathy.
Most of the time, multiple peripheral nerves malfunction at the same time, a condition called polyneuropathy.
Cause
Neuropathies are often inherited from birth or they develop later in life.
The most frequent inherited neuropathy is the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which affects 1 in 2,500 people in the USA.
Although healthcare professionals are sometimes not able to pinpoint the exact reason for an acquired neuropathy, medically referred to as idiopathic neuropathy.
There are many known causes for them, including:
- Systemic diseases – a systemic disease is one that affects the whole body.
- Physical trauma
- Infectious diseases
- Autoimmune disorders
The most frequent systemic cause behind peripheral neuropathy is diabetes, which can lead to chronically high blood glucose levels that harm nerves.
Other systemic issues can cause neuropathy, including:
- Kidney disorders permit high levels of nerve-damaging toxic chemicals to flow in the blood
- Toxins from exposure to heavy metals include:
- Arsenic
- Lead
- Mercury
- Thallium
- Drugs/medications, including anti-cancer medications, anticonvulsants, antivirals, and antibiotics
- Chemical imbalances because of liver illnesses.
- Hormonal diseases, like hyperthyroidism, which disturbs metabolic processes, and potentially induces cells and body parts to exert pressure on the nerves.
- Deficiencies in vitamins, such as E, B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine), B12, and niacin can be vital for healthy nerves.
- Alcohol abuse induces vitamin deficiencies and could harm nerves.
- Cancers and tumors can exert damaging pressure on nerve fibers and paths.
- Chronic inflammation can damage protective tissues around nerves, which makes them more vulnerable to compression, getting inflamed and swollen.
- Blood diseases and blood vessel damage, which may damage or injure nerve tissue by decreasing the available oxygen supply
Symptoms
Depending on the reason and unique to each patient, signs, and symptoms of neuropathy can include:
- Pain
- Tingling
- Burning/prickling sensations
- Increased sensitivity to touch
- Muscle weakness
- Temporary or permanent numbness;
- Paralysis
- Dysfunction in glands or organs
- Impairment in urination and
- Sexual function
Symptoms are dependent on autonomic, sensory, or motor nerves or a combination are affected.
Autonomic nerve damage can start a chain reaction of physiological functions like blood pressure or create gastrointestinal problems and issues.
Damage or dysfunction in the sensory nerves may impact sensations and sense of equilibrium or balance, while injury to motor nerves affects movement and reflexes.
When both sensory and motor nerves are involved, the condition is known as sensorimotor polyneuropathy.
Complications
Peripheral neuropathy may result in several complications, as a result of disease or its symptoms.
Numbness from the ailment can allow you to be less vulnerable to temperatures and pain, making you more likely to suffer from burns and serious wounds.
The lack of sensations in the feet, for instance, can make you more prone to developing infections from minor traumatic accidents, particularly for diabetics, who heal more slowly than other people, including foot ulcers and gangrene.
Furthermore, muscle atrophy may cause you to develop particular physical disfigurements, such as pes cavus, a condition marked by an abnormally high foot arch, and claw-like deformities in the feet and palms.
Treatment
The first step in neuropathy treatment should be finding the root cause that’s causing the neuropathy.
Treatment of diseases such as:
- Diabetes
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Sarcoidosis
- Other underlying diseases
Prevents continued nerve damage and in cases heals the damaged nerves.
If you are unaware of any underlying disease that is causing the peripheral neuropathy, make sure to let your doctor know of abnormal symptoms.
Medication
Peripheral neuropathy can be treated with various medications.
The first type used to treat mild symptoms are:
- Over-the-counter pain medications
In more severe cases:
- Opiates
- Narcotic medications
- Anti-seizure medications
A doctor may prescribe a lidocaine patch or anti-depressants to relieve symptoms.
Patients should thoroughly discuss neuropathy medication with a doctor before proceeding.
Chiropractic/Massage/Physical Therapy
Various manual therapies can benefit symptoms in neuropathy treatment.
A therapist or chiropractor will perform various manipulation techniques, and teach exercises and stretches to help improve symptoms combined with increased muscle strength/control.
A therapist may also recommend braces or splints to improve mobility.
Patients should attend all physical therapy sessions to gain maximum benefits.
Acids
Supplements like:
- Essential acids called ALA (alpha-Lipoic acid)
- GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) and omega-3 fatty acids
These can have a beneficial effect on diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
L-Carnitine
L-carnitine is a substance that the body makes and stores in the:
- Liver
- Brain
There have been reports that certain diabetics with neuropathy symptoms could regain regular sensation in the limbs when they increased their consumption of carnitine called acetyl-L-carnitine.
- Red meat
- Peanut butter
- Dairy products
Are good dietary sources of this nutrient.
Supplements are also available at health food stores and pharmacies and health/wellness clinics.
Vitamin Supplements
Vitamin deficiencies can result in peripheral neuropathy in some people.
Therefore there needs to be a replenishing of vitamins:
- B
- B12
- E
These can help to decrease symptoms.
Recommended dosages are 300mg daily of vitamin E.
Doses of the different B vitamins differ, but one option for patients is to take a daily B-complex supplement.
Herb Supplements
Herbal remedies are an alternative to explore.
St. John’s Wort, is a herbal supplement that can be taken orally and can reduce the pain.
Topical creams that have capsaicin, which is an anti-inflammatory found in chili peppers, can reduce the burning sensation.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be an effective way to manage peripheral neuropathy.
Acupuncture uses pressure points throughout the body to realign the body’s energy, called the qi or chi.
Also, movement therapy is a way to manage the condition.
Tai chi and yoga can help:
- Align the body
- Mind
- Encourage relaxation
- Distract from the pain
El Paso’s Premier Wellness & Injury Care Clinic.
Our services are specialized and focused on injuries and the complete recovery process. Our areas of practice include:
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We focus on improving your ability through flexibility, mobility and agility programs custom-tailored for all age groups and disabilities.
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NCBI Resources
While every type of neuropathy, such as diabetic neuropathy or autoimmune disease-associated neuropathy, develops its own unique group of symptoms, many patients will often report common complaints. Individuals with neuropathy generally describe their pain as stabbing, burning or tingling.
If you experience unusual or abnormal tingling or burning sensations, weakness and/or pain in your hands and feet, it’s essential to seek immediate medical attention in order to receive a proper diagnosis of the cause of your specific signs and symptoms. Early diagnosis may help prevent further nerve injury. Visit www.neuropathycure.org.
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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182
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Graduate with Honors: ICHS: MSN-FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, MSN-FNP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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