Neuropathy Specialist
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Advantage Spinal Dynamics & Innovative Medicine
Integrative Medicine & Chiropractic located in Meridian, ID
Neuropathy refers to nerve damage that causes changes in the receptors of your peripheral nervous system, leading to altered sensitivity and pain. If you have any kind of unexplained pain or loss of sensation, talk to the integrative team of chiropractors and therapists at Advantage Spinal Dynamics & Innovative Medicine in Meridian, Idaho. The team members have considerable experience in helping patients with neuropathy, so call the office or book an appointment online today.
Neuropathy Q & A
What is neuropathy?
Neuropathy is a term for pain or altered sensations caused by damage to the peripheral nerves that transmit messages to your spinal cord and brain. Neuropathy is often painful, but can also affect other types of nerves, causing symptoms that may include:
- Burning feeling
- Increased sensitivity to touch
- Muscle wasting
- Muscle weakness
- Numbness
- Organ or glandular dysfunction
- Paralysis
- Prickling sensation
- Sexual dysfunction
- Tingling or pins and needles sensation
- Urinary system problems
Rather than being a symptom of damage or infection to the body, neuropathy is pain or discomfort that originates in the nerves themselves, and thus serves no useful function.
For example, pain is an important part of your body’s defense mechanism, because it alerts you to injury or illness and compels you to take action. If you break a bone or sustain a wound, your body signals the damage to your brain through pain receptors in the peripheral nerves, and you’re alerted to attend to the problem.
When you have neuropathic pain, the receptors are sending pain messages to your brain when there is no damage to your body.
What causes neuropathy?
Neuropathy may result from a number of different conditions that affect your peripheral nerves, including:
- Celiac disease
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
- Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- HIV-associated peripheral sensory neuropathy
- Hormonal disorders
- Kidney failure
- Lupus
- Peripheral nerve injury pain
- Postherpetic neuralgia
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Trigeminal neuralgia
In addition to these conditions, neuropathy can also occur as a result of:
- Alcoholism
- Tissue compression
- Infectious diseases
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Physical trauma
- Poisoning
- Repetitive stress
Diabetic neuropathy is a condition that occurs in many people with diabetes, and is one of the most common causes of neuropathy. The team at Advantage Spinal Dynamics & Innovative Medicine has considerable expertise in treating diabetic neuropathy, as well as other neuropathic conditions.
In many cases, the cause of neuropathy isn’t identifiable, in which case it’s referred to as idiopathic neuropathy.
What treatments are available for neuropathy?
Neuropathy is irreversible, but there are treatments available that can relieve the symptoms, including:
- Laser therapy
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
The type of treatment your practitioner at Advantage Spinal Dynamics & Innovative Medicine recommends varies according to the symptoms of the neuropathy and the underlying medical condition causing your problem. The team also advises you on lifestyle management and prepares diet and exercise plans for you to help improve your overall well-being.
To find out more about neuropathy treatment, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
