Types of Neuropathy

When you hear the word “neuropathy,” you might immediately think of a burning sensation in the feet or a numbness that keeps you awake at night. While these are common symptoms, neuropathy is not a single disease. Rather, it is a broad medical term describing damage or dysfunction of the peripheral nervous system.

At Advantage Chiropractic in New Berlin, our Advantage Neuropathy Program supports patients with nerve damage through noninvasive care, alongside any medical treatment their doctor recommends.

To understand how we manage this condition, it is vital to understand the different types of neuropathy, how they develop, and the specific symptoms they trigger.

The Role of the Peripheral Nervous System

Your central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord) is the control center of your body. Your peripheral nervous system acts as the “wiring” that connects the control center to your arms, legs, skin, and internal organs.

When these peripheral nerves are damaged, compressed, or starved of oxygen and nutrients, the signals they transmit become distorted. This distortion is known as peripheral neuropathy.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, nerve damage from diabetes falls into four main types, which we describe below. Other conditions can cause neuropathy too.

1. Peripheral Neuropathy (The Most Common)

When people use the word “neuropathy,” they are almost always referring to Peripheral Neuropathy. This type specifically affects the nerves in the extremities, the toes, feet, legs, fingers, hands, and arms.

• Common Symptoms A gradual onset of numbness, prickling, or a “pins and needles” sensation. As it progresses, patients often describe a sharp, jabbing, or burning pain, particularly at night. Extreme sensitivity to touch (where even the weight of a bedsheet causes pain) can also occur.
• Common Causes Diabetes is one of the most common causes, and up to half of people with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy, according to the NIDDK. Other causes include vitamin deficiencies, infections, certain medicines, injuries, and conditions that compress nerves.

2. Proximal Neuropathy

While peripheral neuropathy usually starts in the toes and feet (the furthest points from the spinal cord), proximal neuropathy affects nerves closer to the body’s center.

• Common Symptoms Pain that shoots through the thighs, hips, or buttocks. It can lead to muscle weakness in the legs, making it difficult for the patient to stand up from a seated position without assistance.
• Common Causes The NIDDK describes this type as rare but disabling, and it is linked to diabetes.

3. Focal Neuropathy (Mononeuropathy)

Unlike polyneuropathy (which affects multiple nerves system wide), focal neuropathy involves damage to a single specific nerve.

• Common Symptoms The symptoms depend entirely on which nerve is affected. For example, damage to the median nerve in the wrist causes pain and weakness in the hand. Damage to the peroneal nerve in the leg can cause “foot drop.”
• Common Causes Focal neuropathy is often caused by a nerve being compressed or trapped. Common examples include Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (compression in the wrist) or severe Sciatica (compression of the sciatic nerve root in the lumbar spine).

4. Autonomic Neuropathy

Your autonomic nervous system controls the involuntary functions of your body that you don’t actively think about, such as your heart rate, digestion, and temperature regulation.

• Common Symptoms Dizziness or fainting when standing up (due to poor blood pressure regulation), abnormal sweating, and severe digestive issues.
• Management Because this involves regulation of internal organs, autonomic neuropathy requires comprehensive medical management, often comanaged by a primary care physician or endocrinologist.

How We Approach Neuropathy in New Berlin

The standard medical approach to neuropathy often involves prescribing medications like Gabapentin or Lyrica. These drugs can help ease nerve pain for many people, but they do not repair damaged nerves, and they can cause side effects such as dizziness and drowsiness. Never stop a prescribed medicine without talking to your doctor.

Our Advantage Neuropathy Program takes a supportive approach that works alongside your medical care.

Our comprehensive protocol includes

1. Torque Release Technique (TRT) Adjustments Gentle, instrument assisted adjustments to the spine, aimed at easing joint restriction near the nerve roots.
2. Advanced Light Therapy Using targeted infrared light therapy in the feet and hands, with the goal of easing discomfort. Research on light therapy for neuropathy is still limited.
3. Targeted Nutritional Support Guidance on nutrition and supplements that may support nerve health. Ask your doctor before starting any supplement, since some can interact with medicines.

Don’t Let Neuropathy Steal Your Independence

Neuropathy can get worse over time, depending on the cause. Numbness and balance problems raise the risk of falls, so it is worth getting checked early.

Medication helps many people, and chiropractic care may be an added option. Contact Advantage Chiropractic in New Berlin today to schedule your comprehensive 54 point Neuropathy Evaluation and see whether our program is right for you.

To plan for care, read about neuropathy treatment cost.

This article is general information and not medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your own symptoms.