The chiropractors at Accent on Health in LaVale, MD, just outside of Cumberland, can help you treat your neuropathy and your symptoms.
Depending on the cause, you may be able to eliminate the condition completely or control it with regular chiropractic care and other related treatments. Here at Accent on Health we equipped to answer any questions you may have about how chiropractic care can benefit you and what you can expect.
What Is Neuropathy?
Neuropathy is defined as nerve disease of damage. More people suffer from this one condition than Alzheimer’s, Epilepsy, Rheumatoid Arthritis, HIV, Parkinson’s Disease, and Multiple Sclerosis combined. Of the 20 million Americans suffering from neuropathy, an estimated 15-18 million of those people have this condition due to a form of diabetes. Neuropathy and Peripheral Neuropathy are common terms used when referring to damage to a single nerve or a group of nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord. Nerves found in these areas of the body constitute what is called your peripheral nervous system. Neuropathy is used to describe a group of disorders that find their start from peripheral nervous system damage or injury.
Understanding Your Peripheral Nervous System
The peripheral nervous system is a part of the nervous system excluding the brain and spinal cord. This means that this is the collection of nerves that is connects your limbs and organs to the central nervous system.
Your peripheral nervous system is made up of different kinds of nerves that send information and commands from your brain and spinal cords to your body and back.
The peripheral nervous system nerves are:
- Sensory Nerves: communicate cold, heat, pain and touch.
- Motor Nerves: control movement and the muscles that allow you to move
- Autonomic Nerves: control the automatic or involuntary functions of your body such as heart rate, blood pressure and digestion.
- Damage or injury to any of these peripheral nerves can trigger symptoms throughout your body.
Peripheral Neuropathy Categories
Here at Accent on Health Chiropractic we can help you diagnose and treat all of the major types of neuropathy and their symptoms. There are over 100 different types of neuropathy, but some are more common than others.
To help breakdown the vastness of neuropathy, it is helpful to think of it according to these classifications:
- Functional classification: motor, sensory, autonomic or a combination
- Type of onset: hours, days, weeks, months, years
- When diagnosing your neuropathy, we will also consider which areas of your body are affected.
Peripheral neuropathy commonly affects your extremities like your arms, wrists, hands, legs, ankles and feet. It is also important to understand how many nerves are involved in your symptoms.
Peripheral neuropathy can be classified as polyneuropathic–affecting a number of nerves; mononeuropathic–affecting a single nerve; or multiple mononeuropathic–affecting two separate nerves simultaneously.
The Most Common Symptoms Of Neuropathy
The symptoms of neuropathy can range from minimal, moderate to severe due to the types of nerves that are impacted and/or where the impacted nerves are located. Some forms of neuropathy are constantly inflamed leading to chronic pain and fatigue. Others only trigger symptoms when agitated by exercise or poor posture. Some symptoms come and go at random.
Extremely rare/severe cases of neuropathy can cause paralyzation, loss of consciousness, or breathing problems. Most peripheral neuropathy symptoms come in the following forms:
- Foot & ankle pain
- Inflammation in the knees, calves, or shoulders
- Limited range of movement
- Numbness & tingling in the extremities and limbs
- Weakness or tremors
- Headaches & migraines
- Chronic pain & fatigue
- Stiff neck muscles
What Causes These Types Of Nerve Damage?
Figuring out what causes certain kinds of nerve damage can be very challenging. 30% of all neuropathy has no clear cause for the pain. At Accent on Health, our diagnostic tools, advanced nerve testing, and neurologist can help you determine if your condition is truly idiopathic (without a known cause) or if there is a hidden one we can treat. Our team in Cumberland, MD will work to rule out the most serious and life-threatening causes first. Another 30% of nerve issues find their root in diabetes. High blood sugar levels severely damage nerves, leading to further complications that only make it harder to stay healthy with this disease.
Studies show the following to also be linked to neuropathy cases:
- Diabetes (most common)
- Traumatic injury
- Infection
- Metabolic Disorders
- Toxins
- Alcoholism, especially addictions that stretch over decades
- Exposure to toxins and heavy metals
- Tumors – even benign lumps can put serious pressure on a nerve bundle
- Chronic diseases like HIV, AIDS, hypothyroidism, and Lyme disease
- Diseases and conditions that affect kidney and liver function
- Nutritional imbalances that lead to B vitamin deficiencies
- Sudden trauma or daily habits, such as poor posture and a lack of ergonomic office equipment
What To Expect With Neuropathy Treatment
Patients dealing with permanent damage or chronic neuropathic conditions find that regular electrostimulation and massage therapy controls their symptoms without the need to use medications. Other common, effective treatment options for your neuropathy are: chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, and inflammation injections. During your evaluation, a member of our team will also discuss your curtain nutritional habits. Improving your diet can make a noticeable difference in your symptoms and pain.
Free Neuropathy Consultation
If you are suffering from the symptoms of neuropathy, the team at Accent on Health are ready to help. Our practice provides specialized treatment plans for neuropathy to patients in Cumberland, LaVale, Frostburg and the surround region and can help you understand where your symptoms are coming from and what it will take to improve.