Chiropractic and Neuropathy: A Pain-Free Treatment

By: Dr. Nicholas Toumazos November 12, 2021

Chiropractic care is an alternative form of healthcare that works to improve a person’s nervous system function. This type of healthcare is often used for people with chronic pain, chronic headaches, and neuropathy. Neuropathy can be caused by many different conditions, including diabetes and spinal cord injuries, but chiropractic care may help alleviate some symptoms.

In this blog post, we will go over what chiropractic treatments are like and how they work to heal nerve damage that has been caused by neuropathy to provide relief from symptoms such as numbness or tingling sensations.

What is neuropathy, and what does it feel like?

Patient Describing Neuropathy Symptoms to Chiropractor in a Clinic Setting

Neuropathy is a condition involving damage to the nerves. This can occur from many different sources, including diabetes and spinal cord injuries. Neuropathy symptoms include numbness or tingling sensations in the affected area such as fingers, hands, feet, arms, legs, etc.

It also includes weakness in some parts of your body, difficulty moving around independently, and decreased sensitivity or pain sensation on the skin that may lead to open wounds not being felt until it gets infected, for example.

Neuropathic symptoms depend greatly on what kind of nerve cells are damaged- these could be sensory neurons responsible for detecting temperature changes or motor neurons which control voluntary movement of muscles and organs.

The most common cause of neuropathy worldwide is diabetes, but other reasons for alcohol abuse have been observed.

People with neuropathy may experience a range of symptoms, including numbness, tingling sensations in the affected area, weakness in some parts of their body, and decreased sensitivity or pain sensation on the skin.

The symptoms you experience depend significantly on what kind of nerve cells are damaged- these could be sensory neurons responsible for detecting temperature changes or motor neurons which control voluntary movement of muscles and organs.

How do chiropractors treat neuropathy?

Chiropractor Demonstrating Neuropathy Treatment Technique on Patient in Clinic

Conventional treatment for neuropathy often includes medication to help relieve symptoms and sometimes surgery or hospitalization, but some alternative therapies are also available, like acupuncture and physical therapy.

Chiropractic care is an option as well- it’s a type of healthcare that focuses on the spine to improve the function of the nervous system, which may also be effective at relieving nerve damage from conditions such as diabetes or spinal cord injuries.

Many studies have been performed testing this theory out with varying results. So if you’re looking for pain relief from neuropathic pain, then consulting your doctor might be recommended first before trying chiropractic care out. Chiropractic adjustments focus on aligning the spinal column to restore nerve and brain function.

The results from these studies are mixed, meaning some patients feel relief. In contrast, others do not- it’s important to note that chiropractic care is a form of alternative medicine, so it should only be used in conjunction with other treatments for conditions such as neuropathy or diabetes if advised by your doctor first!

Chiropractors have been a popular choice for people suffering from nerve damage because they focus on the spine and nervous system.

Many of these alternative treatments are based on improving blood flow to reduce inflammation and pain, which also means they can’t be used by themselves without consulting medical professionals first.

For example, chiropractors like Dr. Nick Toumazos of Explore Family Chiropractic in Aurora, OH, uses spinal adjustments to help align the spine and relieve pressure, which helps improve nervous system function.

Chiropractic care has many success stories for people suffering from conditions such as neuropathy, so if you’re looking for pain relief, then it might be worth trying out, but make sure to talk with your doctor first before adopting this alternative treatment. Check out this website explorefamilychiropractic.com and schedule your appointment to reduce your pain and discomfort today.

Symptoms of neuropathy

Symptoms vary per patient and can include:

  • Numbness or tingling in some areas of the body.
  • A loss of sensation to hot, cold, pain, heat/cold intolerance.
  • Muscle weakness and a reduced feeling of muscle strength (inability to tightly squeeze an object). This symptom is often called paresthesia.

Paresthesia also typically includes abnormal sensations such as prickly feelings on the skin (formication) caused by injury or inflammation. More severe forms may involve muscular atrophy from long-term nerve damage with a significant reduction in bone marrow fat storage resulting in bony deformities due to lack of stimulation for growth hormone.

This is known as progressive neuropathy. Muscle cramping, spasms, or twitching may also occur from nerve damage.

Pain in the feet and hands is a common symptom of neuropathy, often described as “burning” (or sometimes “pins and needles”), which some people experience during exercise.

The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are similar to those found with other conditions such as diabetes mellitus type I or II, alcoholism, immune disorders like HIV/AIDS, and vitamin B12 deficiency, among others.

So it can be difficult for health care professionals to diagnose on their own without more information about the history of symptoms and potential medical conditions that might cause these types of problems.

This is why it’s important for patients not only to have regular check-ups but also follow up when there has been an unexplained worsening of symptoms.

A doctor will typically collect a patient’s history and conduct a physical exam in addition to ordering some tests, which may include blood work or an electrodiagnostic study (EMG/NCV).

The best way for patients with neuropathy to manage their condition is by following the advice of their physician on medications that can help them feel better and make dietary changes. This includes adding more protein to meals, drinking enough water throughout the day, and getting regular exercise.

For those who have any injury, it’s advised not to wait until the discomfort becomes severe before seeking treatment from someone qualified in chiropractic care because this could lead to increased disability, pain, and long-term adverse effects on quality of life.

Some people experience these symptoms during exercise. However, this condition may be difficult for doctors to diagnose independently without some information about the history of symptoms, so patients must have regular check-ups and seek treatment when there has been an unexplained worsening in symptoms.

The best way for patients with neuropathy to manage their condition is by following the advice from physicians regarding medications, dietary changes like adding more protein to meals, drinking enough water throughout the day, and getting regular exercise.

It’s advised not to wait until discomfort becomes severe before seeking treatment from someone qualified in chiropractic care. This could lead to increased disability, pain, and long-term adverse effects on quality of life.

Causes of Neuropathy

Chiropractor Discussing Various Causes of Neuropathy with a Patient in a Clinic

Some of the known causes of neuropathy include drugs such as chemotherapy, diabetes, and lupus. Neuropathies are also caused by viral infections of the nerves themselves or in nearby tissue.

Sometimes neuropathy is not a result of an underlying condition but instead appears hereditary with no other identifiable cause. In addition, this type tends to affect younger people more often than older ones.

How chiropractic helps with nerve problems

Chiropractor Treating a Patient with Nerve Problems in a Chiropractic Clinic

Chiropractic can help with neuropathy in many ways. First, chiropractors often refer to “nerve interference” caused by the vertebrae not being appropriately aligned and pressing on nerves as a source of pain relief when getting adjustments.

Chiropractic also helps decrease inflammation or pressure on spinal cord tissues, which may be causing nerve problems. Finally, through traction adjustment (a form of manipulation), there are instances where the chiropractor will prescribe exercises for home use to retrain muscles to contract again normally and alleviate some of the weight of affected areas like nerves.

Patients who have received spinal adjustments have reported a decrease in pain and an increase in mobility.

Why should I see a chiropractor for my neuropathy symptoms?

Patient with Neuropathy Symptoms Receiving Consultation from Chiropractor in Clinic

Neuropathy is a condition that causes nerve damage in the body. It can be caused by diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, and other conditions which cause nerves to become inflamed or start deteriorating over time.

Neuropathy symptoms include numbness, tingling sensations, muscle weakness, or pain throughout different parts of your body. In addition, people often feel discomfort in their hands and feet due to how close they are to the site where most neuropathies occur-the upper extremities (hands & feet).

Chiropractic care has been shown to help with chronic back and neck problems like these and assist with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease though it hasn’t yet been proven through clinical trials.

Treatment options for neuropathy

Chiropractor Demonstrating Neuropathy Treatment Options to Patient in Clinic

While neuropathy can cause pain, numbness, or tingling sensations in the hands and feet, it doesn’t always.

If you have neuropathy and aren’t experiencing any of these symptoms, then your chiropractor could help. Chiropractors will typically use a series of adjustments to address common causes of nerve pressure on specific nerves that control movement in the arms, legs, and other parts of your body.

A chiropractor might also recommend physical therapy exercises for additional relief from pain caused by neuropathy. All with no side effects! Moreover, several treatment options for neuropathy include:

Chiropractic care

Spinal manipulations and adjustments are known to be effective for many conditions, including neuropathy. Spinal manipulation is one of the most common treatments used in chiropractic care, and this treatment has been shown to help with many types of pain, including those caused by neuropathy.

It was found that spinal manipulations reduce swelling around areas with inflammation while also providing relief from symptoms like tingling, numbness, and sharp-shooting pains into limbs.

Chiropractors will typically recommend a series of adjustments over time and physical therapy exercises if you have more chronic pain.

Physical therapy

Patient Undergoing Physical Therapy in a Chiropractic Massage Clinic

For many people with neuropathy, the most common types of treatment are physical therapy and medications. Physical therapists can help patients deal with pain by providing exercises that focus on stretching, balance training, or muscle-strengthening so they can resume their everyday life.

Some may also use electrical stimulation to treat conditions such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy. An electric current is applied through electrodes onto affected areas of skin for 20-60 minutes per session. They might prescribe topical creams or other treatments like acupuncture, depending on what their patient needs.

Acupuncture

Patient Receiving Acupuncture Treatment in a Chiropractic Massage Clinic

This age-old Chinese technique is a form of alternative medicine that has been practiced for more than three thousand years. Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into various parts of the body, usually along pathways connecting specific organs with other internal organs or areas in the body where pain and dysfunction are manifested.

It is also believed to have healing effects on tissues, muscles, and joints. This is because the insertion of needles may stimulate the release of certain substances in the body that cause a relaxation response or block pain receptors from sending signals up through the spinal cord.

Final words

Chiropractor Providing Final Consultation to a Patient in a Comfortable Clinic Environment

Treating neuropathy can be difficult, but many treatments work for different types of neuropathy. If you’re struggling with the pain from neuropathy, consult your physician to find out if one of these treatments is right for you. A well-versed chiropractor can help you find the right treatments for your condition and help improve the quality of your life.

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