Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that more than 7 million Americans live with daily. The symptoms usually start out with burning pain and a sensation of pins and needles that often progresses to overall numbness. The issue usually starts in the toes and finger tips while moving slowly towards the body as damage to the nerves increase. If the condition is left unaddressed, it can often lead to health concerns related to increased incidents of falling as well as poor wound healing which in severe cases can lead to the need for amputation.
The diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy is often accompanied with a statement by the doctor that the condition is generally addressed by just treating the symptoms while trying to prevent the progression of the damage occurring at the nerves. This approach is often addressed with pain medications that rarely provide relief while the dosages of the medications are increased over time. Depending on the cause leading to the neuropathy, different approaches are used with varying effects to slow the progression.
Common Causes
- Chemo Induced
- Diabetes
- Autoimmune
- Physical Trauma
Treatment Goals
- Promote Blood Flow
- Decrease Pain Sensation
- Stimulate Nerves
- Improve Mobility
Acupuncture has the benefit of promoting blood flow to targeted areas around the body. The increase in blood circulating to the damaged nerve fibers will bring nutrients and oxygen to promote the body’s ability to heal the nerves. This will also increase the body’s ability to fight off infections that can often go unnoticed in peripheral neuropathy. Patients often begin to gain back more of their confidence with walking and driving, allowing them to get back to more of their social activities that bring them joy.
If you’ve been dealing with pain or numbness associated with peripheral neuropathy and think you would like to try a treatment method that has a proven track record without the unwanted side effects that medication causes, the team at St. Petersburg Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine are here to help you on that journey.
Call us at 727-235-0435 today to schedule your consultation.