Chiropractic Treatment for Neuropathy
Millions of people suffer from neuropathy, but many don’t know that chiropractic care can help treat this painful condition. Advantage Chiropractic in New Berlin offers a unique approach to helping people with this painful condition. Our chiropractors are board certified in treating neuropathy and specially trained in a highly effective technique called the Torque Release Technique.
The best treatment depends on the underlying medical condition that is causing nerve damage. The good news is there are steps a patient can take to manage damaged nerve pain and other issues.
Choosing a chiropractor for neuropathy is one of the most effective ways to manage pain and restore your quality of life.
Our Neuropathy Chiropractors in New Berlin , WI
What Is Neuropathy?
Neuropathy is a condition that affects the peripheral nervous system. These nerves sustain damage and gradually lose their ability to relay information from the body to the brain. It’s painful, and patients often experience a loss of sensation and control in the affected areas.
This condition affects 2.4% of the population. As it progresses, patients typically report pain, numbness, an electrical shock like pain and muscle weakness. Neuropathy can be caused by many factors such as people with diabetes, alcoholism, injuries, and certain medications.
Treatment outcomes vary greatly based on the underlying cause behind the condition. Therefore, it’s possible to relieve pain and other symptoms with the help of a chiropractor.
How Chiropractors Help With Neuropathy
Unlike other types of medical care, chiropractic care relies on the body’s ability to heal itself. Manipulating the spine through the torque release technique and other spinal adjustment methods can correct its alignment. This helps improve blood flow to the 31 pairs of spinal nerves. By relieving pressure in the spinal cord, it can also improve blocked nerve signals.
Your chiropractor can also provide relief for tight muscles which can cause nerve compression and block signals. By relieving pressure on neck and shoulder muscles, a chiropractor can provide pain relief for neuropathy. This helps the functions of the peripheral nervous system.
The great thing about chiropractic doctors is that they can develop personalized plans for each patient for all kinds of conditions. If you suffer from this debilitating condition, your chiropractor will create a plan to address your symptoms and underlying causes.
Benefits of a Chiropractor Neuropathy Treatment
Pain Relief
Through spinal manipulation and adjustments, chiropractors can ease the burning, tingling, and painful sensations associated with neuropathy.
Improved Nerve Function
Tight muscles and poor spinal alignment can block nerve signals. By enhancing nerve function, chiropractic care can improve sensations and motor control.
A Non-Invasive Treatment
Chiropractic care is a safe and non-invasive treatment option. It’s easy to schedule sessions around other medical procedures, and patients don’t have to worry about side effects.
A Holistic Approach
Chiropractors take a holistic approach to wellness. They can develop a treatment plan that addresses a wide range of symptoms and underlying conditions.
Reducing Inflammation
Researchers believe that inflammation plays a crucial role in forms of neuropathy. Managing inflammation can alleviate symptoms and protect the nerves from further damage.
Personalized Care Plan
The role of a chiropractor is to develop a personalized care plan for each patient. They will take symptoms and the needs of the patient into consideration before creating a care plan. Chiropractors are able to work in the patient’s budget and schedule.
What are Neuropathy Symptoms?
The most common symptom is neuropathic pain in the affected areas. Patients often describe the sensation as a stabbing or shooting pain, but some experience a tingling or burning sensation. Numbness and a “pins and needles” feeling is also another common pain signal.
Peripheral nerve damage can also make you overly sensitive to touch and cold. It is often times a spontaneous pain. Some patients report additional problems, including muscle wasting, sexual dysfunction, and feeling hot or cold.
As the condition progresses, you might notice muscle weakness, especially in the hands and feet. Some patients lose their balance and fall or struggle with coordination.
If the condition affects the autonomic nerves, symptoms will typically affect organs and body functions. Depending the location of the nerve damage, you might experience a drop in blood pressure, digestive problems, or issues with your urinary system.
What are the causes of Neuropathy?
Neuropathy stems from several underlying conditions that result in nerve damage. By managing the underlying cause is often the key to getting the pain and other symptoms under control.
Here are some of the most common causes:
- Neuropathy affects anywhere from 6 to 51% of adults with diabetes. High blood sugar levels can cause damaged nerves, especially in the legs and feet.
- Among many other health issues, alcoholism can damage nerves due to the toxicity of alcohol. The malnutrition that results from excessive drinking can worsen the damage to the nervous system.
- Neuropathy can be a side effect caused by different prescription drugs. Common culprits include chemotherapy drugs as well as drugs used to treat high blood pressure, infections, seizures, HIV/AIDS, and autoimmune diseases.
- In some cases, neuropathy stems from a traumatic injury or surgical procedure that severed or damaged a nerve.
- Viruses and bacteria can attack nerves when your immune system is weaken. It’s not unusual to see HIV, Lyme, hepatitis, and shingle patients develop this disorder as a result.
- Autoimmune disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can cause inflammation. If the patient is unable to get the inflammation under control, neuropathy can develop.
- Lastly, some genetic disorders can cause hereditary neuropathy, especially physical deformities that affect nerve function.
4 Main Types of Neuropathy
Chiropractic care can can help alleviate symptoms of these four types of neuropathy.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy pain is the most common form with an estimated 20 million patients suffering from this condition.
This form of neuropathy affects the peripheral nervous system and often leads to symptoms that affect the hands and feet. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a good example of this type of condition.
Autonomic Neuropathy
The autonomic nervous system regulates several body functions, including the digestive system, respiration, and heart rate.
Symptoms of autonomic neuropathy can include loss of bladder control, dizziness due to loss of control over blood pressure.
Focal Neuropathy
Focal neuropathy typically affects a single nerve or a small group of nerves. The symptoms can range from a tingling sensation to severe pain or even paralysis.
Cranial Neuropathy
Cranial nerves communicate directly with the brain. They help you control facial expressions and help you experience sensations.
Damage to the cranial nerves can affect your ability to smell, hear, and taste. You might also lose feeling in your face or become unable to control your facial expressions.
4 Stages of Neuropathy
Unless a medical team can get the underlying causes under control, the condition will continue progressing. Patients typically go through four stages.
Stage 1
In the early stages, patients tend to notice a numbing, tingling, or burning sensation in their extremities. The sensations come and go or occur when the patient applies pressure to the areas.
Stage 2
As the nerve damage progresses, the painful sensation becomes constant. It can interfere with daily tasks, and the patient might notice additional symptoms, such as difficulties with motion control.
Stage 3
The pain progressively gets worse and affects the patient’s quality of life. It can be difficult to find relief from the pain, and the condition can spread to more areas.
Stage 4
Advanced neuropathy can cause a complete loss of sensation in the affected areas. The patient becomes unresponsive to touch, painful stimuli, or changes in temperature. Paralysis can also appear.
Other Treatment Options for Neuropathy
Since neuropathy stems from an underlying condition, therapy focuses on the medical condition that is causing the nerve damage.
A holistic treatment plan should include steps for managing pain and other symptoms. The key to achieving relief is often to address the underlying condition.
Chiropractic care is safe and non-invasive option for this disease. It is easy for a chiropractor to create a treatment plan that combines adjustment sessions with other treatment options, including:
- Medication, including pain relievers, antidepressants, and antiseizure medications
- Topical treatments, like patches and creams
- TENS unit or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
- Plasma exchange
- Cold laser therapy
- Acupuncture
- Surgery
- Physical therapy
- Massage therapy
- At-home pain relief techniques
- Compression socks to reduce pain
How Can I Prevent Neuropathy?
If you’re at risk, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself from nerve damage:
- If you have diabetic neuropathy, getting your blood sugar levels and weight under control will greatly reduce your peripheral nerve pain.
- For those who consume alcohol in excess, reduce intake or seeking addiction treatment is the best way to prevent neuropathy.
- A healthy and well-balanced diet and knowing what foods to avoid can go a long way in supporting nerve health. Taking supplements can protect nerves in case of a vitamin deficiency.
- Wearing protective gear when engaging in dangerous activities can prevent traumatic injuries that could affect the nerves.
- Managing your stress, adopting a healthy diet, and being more active can help with inflammation and prevent complications. For smokers, quitting should be a priority since it can worsen inflammation.
- Adopting a healthy lifestyle with a well-balanced diet, regular exercise, and good sleep hygiene will support your overall health.
- Scheduling regular check-ups and getting blood tests with your doctor means you’ll be more likely to receive care early on if you develop a condition that can lead to neuropathy.
Taking prescribed medication and keeping up with other aspects of your treatment plan will protect you from nerve damage.
Neuropathy Exercises and Stretches Video
Get The Care You Need in New Berlin
While it’s not possible to reverse neuropathy, you can get pain and other symptoms under control by addressing the underlying cause. Chiropractic care for neuropathy can provide relief and improve your quality of life by managing pain and enhancing nerve function.
If you reside in Wisconsin, then give Advantage Chiropractic in New Berlin for all your chronic pain needs.
Questions about Chiropractic Neuropathy
What foods should I avoid?
To live with neuropathy, you must consider the foods you eat and avoid certain types. Some foods can exacerbate your symptoms, while others can help to ease them. Sugary foods should be avoided because they can aggravate inflammation and pain.
Processed foods and simple carbohydrates should also be avoided because they can cause blood sugar spikes that aggravate the condition. Instead, prioritize fresh fruits and veggies, lean protein, and healthy fats. These nutrient-dense foods will keep your nerves healthy and alleviate your symptoms.
Can neuropathy be corrected?
Neuropathy can be a challenging condition to manage, but the good news is that it can be treated with chiropractic care and lifestyle changes. If you have neuropathy please consult a medical professional for more information about your treatment options. You can improve your symptoms and live a full and healthy life with the right care.
Are you on The Morning Blend?
Yes, Advantage Chiropractic is on local a local morning TV show called “The Morning Blend” on TMJ4 Milwaukee. We exclusively talk about neuropathy conditions and treatments. Catch up on all our previous episodes about neuropathy.
Is Advantage Neuropathy known as Advantage Chiropractic?
Advantage Chiropractic and Advantage Neuropathy are two different companies but owned by the same doctors. Both companies operate in the same building.
