Many healthcare professionals believe that peripheral neuropathy, which affects the peripheral nerves or the nerves which connect from the brain and spinal cord to the upper and lower extremities, can be permanent or irreversible. However, healthcare professionals like Dr. John Coppola and Dr. Valerie Monteiro have demonstrated that peripheral neuropathy can be treated through the utilization of a variety of treatment methods and techniques.

Dr. Coppola and Dr. Monteiro describe that because peripheral neuropathy can manifest due to a variety of health issues, such as diabetes, treating the underlying cause of a patient’s peripheral neuropathy can help treat their symptoms. The 5 critical keys for defeating peripheral neuropathy are ultimately described to help promote overall health and wellness. Dr. Alex Jimenez, a chiropractor in El Paso, Tx, can help ease symptoms associated with peripheral neuropathy. Dr. Alex Jimenez is the non-surgical choice for peripheral neuropathy.

 

Peripheral Neuropathy Relief & Treatment | 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 greatly among each individual and these may be caused by a number of different diseases, injuries, infections, and even vitamin deficiency states. However, neuropathy can most commonly affect the nerves that control the motor and sensory nerves. Because the human body is composed of many different kinds of nerves which perform different functions, nerve damage is classified into several types.

Neuropathy can also be classified according to the location of the nerves being affected and according to the disease-causing it. For instance, neuropathy caused by diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy. Furthermore, depending on which nerves are affected will depend on the symptoms that will manifest as a result. Below we will discuss several specific types of neuropathies clinically treated by chiropractors, physical therapists and physical medicine doctors alike, as well as briefly describing their causes and their symptoms.

Peripheral neuropathy, which is often simply referred to as “neuropathy,” is a state that happens when your nerves become damaged or injured, oftentimes simply disrupted. It’s estimated that neuropathy affects roughly 2.4 percent of the general populace and approximately 8 percent of people older than age 55. However, this quote doesn’t include people affected by neuropathy caused by physical trauma to the nerves.

 

Types

Neuropathy can affect any of the three types of peripheral nerves:

• Sensory nerves, which transmit messages from the sensory organs, eyes, nose to the brain
• Motor nerves, which track the conscious movement of the muscles
• Autonomic nerves, which regulate the involuntary functions of the body

Sometimes, neuropathy will only impact one nerve. This is medically referred to as mononeuropathy and instances of it include:

• Ulnar neuropathy, which affects the elbow
• Radial neuropathy, which affects the arms
• Peroneal neuropathy, which affects the knees
• Femoral neuropathy, which affects the thighs
• Cervical neuropathy, which 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 often, however, multiple peripheral nerves malfunction at the same time, a condition called polyneuropathy. According to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, or the NINDS, there are over 100 kinds of peripheral neuropathies.

 

Causes

Neuropathies are often inherited from birth or they develop later in life. The most frequent inherited neuropathy is the neurological disease 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, physical trauma, infectious diseases, and autoimmune disorders.

A systemic disease is one which affects the whole body. 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, which permit high levels of nerve-damaging toxic chemicals to flow in the blood
• Toxins from exposure to heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, mercury, and thallium
• Certain drugs and/or medications, including anti-cancer medications, anticonvulsants, antivirals, and antibiotics
• Chemical imbalances because of liver ailments
• Hormonal diseases, including hyperthyroidism, which disturbs metabolic processes, potentially inducing cells and body parts to exert pressure on the nerves
• Deficiencies in vitamins, such as E, B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine), B12, and niacin, that can be vital for healthy nerves
• Alcohol abuse, which induces vitamin deficiencies and might also directly harm nerves
• Cancers and tumors that exert damaging pressure on nerve fibers and pathways
• Chronic inflammation, which can damage protective tissues around nerves, which makes them more vulnerable to compression or vulnerable to getting inflamed and swollen
• Blood diseases and blood vessel damage, which may damage or injure nerve tissue by decreasing the available oxygen supply

 

Signs and 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

Such signs and symptoms are dependent on whether autonomic, sensory, or motor nerves, as well as a combination of them, are ultimately affected. Autonomic nerve damage can influence 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 harm to motor nerves may affect 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.

 

Neuropathy 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 some 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 you may be experiencing.

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, as well to relieve symptoms.

Patients should thoroughly discuss medication for neuropathy treatment with a doctor before proceeding.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can benefit symptoms in neuropathy treatment.

A therapist will teach the patient exercises and stretches to help improve symptoms and increase muscle strength/control.

A therapist may also recommend braces or splints to improve mobility.

Patient’s should attend all physical therapy sessions to gain the 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.

 

Vitamins/Minerals

Vitamin deficiencies can result in peripheral neuropathy in some people.

Therefore there needs to be a replenishing of vitamins:

• B
• B12
• E

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.

 

Herbal 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.

 

Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM

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 also help:

• Align the body
• Mind
• Encourage relaxation
• Distract from the pain

Even if the neuropathy treatment is only temporary, it can still help.

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