Neuropathy Treatment in Lanham, MD
Offering Chiropractic Treatment for Neuropathy in Lanham, MD
What Is Neuropathy, and What Causes This Condition?
Neuropathy, or peripheral neuropathy, is a condition affecting your peripheral nerves (those found around your brain and spinal cord). Your peripheral nervous system is responsible for transmitting information and sensory details from your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body, including the central nervous system. A person with neuropathy may experience weakness, numbness, or pain in their hands and feet, although this condition also affects other areas of the body. Neuropathy may affect your sensory nerves, motor nerves (those controlling your muscles), or autonomic nerves (those controlling your blood pressure, heart rate, bladder, or digestion). Neuropathy may affect just one nerve (mononeuropathy), two or more nerves (multiple mononeuropathy), or various nerves throughout your body (polyneuropathy). Effective Chiropractic PG County offers chiropractic treatment for neuropathy to help Lanham, MD patients alleviate their neuropathy-related symptoms.
Who Does Neuropathy Usually Affect the Most?
Nerve damage is usually an unfortunate side effect from a more serious medical condition. Common causes of neuropathy include diabetes, certain viral or bacterial infections, traumatic injuries, inherited disorders, and metabolic issues. Many who have neuropathy issues also have an autoimmune disease, bone marrow disorder, kidney or liver disease, connective tissue disorder, or hypothyroidism. Types of injuries responsible for neuropathy include car accident injuries, falls, sports injuries, and repetitive motion injuries. Exposure to lead, mercury, or chemotherapy, vitamin deficiencies due to malnutrition, and alcoholism may also contribute to neuropathy among specific individuals.
Common Symptoms Associated with Neuropathy
Many people with neuropathy describe their pain as being a stabbing, burning, or tingling sensation. Neuropathy is a treatable medical condition with the symptoms becoming more manageable in many cases. Symptoms of neuropathy generally include:
- Sharp, throbbing, or burning pain
- Numbness in your hands or feet, which may travel to your legs or arms
- Sensitivity to touch
- Muscle weakness
- A lack of coordination and balance, leading to more falls
- Pain from things that shouldn’t cause pain (such as pain in your feet when under a blanket)
- Excessive sweating or an inability to sweat
- Bowel or bladder issues
- Intolerance to heat or inability to feel temperature changes
- Changes in blood pressure/lightheadedness (if it affects your autonomic nerves)
- Paralysis (if it affects your motor nerves)
How Do Doctors Typically Diagnose and Treat Neuropathy?
If your doctor suspects you may have neuropathy, they’ll likely refer you to a neurologist for further testing and diagnosis. A neurologist is a specialist who focuses on diseases affecting the nerves. Blood and urine tests may be ordered to check for diabetes or a vitamin or metabolic deficiency causing your issue. The neurologist may also ask you about your alcohol intake and any medications you may be taking, as well as if you have a family history of neuropathy. An electromyogram (EMG) or nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test may be necessary to take a closer look at your nerve and muscle function. Some patients may also require a nerve or muscle biopsy or a spinal tap for effective diagnosis. The cause and severity of nerve damage will impact the recommended course of neuropathy treatment. Careful blood sugar level monitoring or avoiding alcohol intake may help, while more severe cases may require surgery. Treatment typically stops or slows the progression of neuropathy, as nerve damage is often irreversible.
How Our Chiropractors Treat Neuropathy in Lanham, MD
Many patients seeking less invasive treatments for neuropathy consider chiropractic treatment at Effective Chiropractic PG County. Because chiropractors take a holistic approach to healthcare, we examine the root cause for a patient’s symptoms instead of relying on medication to numb away pain. While not a cure for neuropathy, chiropractic care can contribute to an effective treatment plan. Our customized chiropractic treatment typically involves the usage of many techniques, as we seek to bring your entire body into alignment. For example, our chiropractors may recommend pulsed cold laser therapy or chiropractic adjustments to help improve your circulation and promote natural healing. We may also suggest making dietary and lifestyle changes, including incorporating daily exercises, to aid in your neuropathy treatment at our Lanham, MD chiropractic clinic. Whatever we recommend, you can rest assured you’re in capable hands here, as our chiropractors have all undergone extensive training.
Contact Effective Chiropractic PG County for a Consultation
If you think chiropractic treatment for neuropathy might be right for you, please feel free to reach out to us to schedule a free consultation at Effective Chiropractic PG County. While we’d love to help you on your road to recovery from many ailments, including neuropathy. Results from treatment will vary from patient to patient, though many of our patients do see pain relief.