Peripheral neuropathy affects nearly everything. It impairs feeling and sensation, causing pain or even complete numbness. You lose your sense of coordination and balance. Muscles may become weakened or even paralyzed. Unnoticed nicks and scrapes can worsen into dangerous foot ulcers.
The biggest cost, though, is in the day-to-day moments. If you can’t walk more than a few paces with pain, or can’t drive, or can’t work, your world gets a lot smaller.
Fortunately, that’s changing. New and advanced treatments available at our office are delivering incredible results for our patients. If you want more in-depth information on these treatments, be sure to check out the articles we’ve written and linked below. Otherwise, read on for more information about peripheral neuropathy.
- Can Neuropathy in Feet Be Reversed?
- Neurogenx: Treatment Overview
- Your Game Plan to Contain (and Defeat!) Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral Neuropathy: A Brief Overview
Peripheral neuropathy is a progressive condition that tends to get worse over time. The most common underlying factor is diabetes since high blood glucose levels (and the associated inflammation) can poison nerves and choke them off from the oxygen and nutrients they need.
Other causes are possible, however, including rheumatoid arthritis, alcoholism, or multiple sclerosis (to name a few). Sometimes peripheral neuropathy is idiopathic, meaning no cause can be identified.
Peripheral nerves come in three different varieties:
- Sensory nerves which are mainly responsible for transmitting information about touch, temperature, and other physical sensations to the brain.
- Motor nerves which relay orders from the brain to muscles and glands so that they can move.
- Autonomic nerves,which regulate internal organs and systems such as digestion, heart rate, blood pressure, etc.
Any or all of these nerve types may be damaged by peripheral neuropathy, which is why such a wide range of symptoms can result.
A Comprehensive Treatment Approach
It wasn’t that long ago when most doctors would have said “there’s not much that can be done” when it came to peripheral neuropathy. But the research and technology has come a long way in a very short time, and we’re now able to offer a variety of treatments aimed at not only managing symptoms, but actually restoring nerve function.
We’ve made a commitment to bringing those state-of-the-art treatment options right here to the Magic Valley, so you don’t have to travel hundreds of miles or wait months for an appointment to start receiving help.
Alongside basic lifestyle therapies—including nutritional modifications and supplements and healthy exercise—we can also offer more sophisticated technology and treatments, including:
- Neurogenx. This exciting, non-invasive, and non-narcotic treatment transmits high-frequency electronic waves through layers of muscle and tissue to stimulate the nerves and increase cellular metabolism in the nearby region. It actually helps nerve fibers regenerate themselves, improving whatever function (sensory, motor, autonomic) they are meant to perform. We are the only practice in the area using this system, and the results we have seen have been incredible. In one instance, a man who had no feeling anywhere below the knee could feel his toes after just three days.
- MLS laser therapy. Although it doesn’t work for everyone, we have seen good results when applying laser therapy for patients with neuropathy. This technology uses light energy to activate and energize damaged cells, helping them heal and making them collect nutrients and flush toxins more efficiently.
Will it Work for Me?
Many patients with neuropathy have been suffering for years with little or no success. So naturally, many are a little skeptical about trying something new. However, over and over again, we’ve seen patients who receive these treatments make significant, lasting improvements in a relatively short timeframe.
It’s important to be realistic, of course. Can we make you feel like you’re 20 years old again? Probably not. However, there is a great chance that we can help you get your life back. We could get you out of the wheelchair. We could reduce or even eliminate the need for daily medications (and the resulting side effects). We could help you to drive again, hike again, and go for walks again without having to stop every two minutes.
Ready to get started? We’d love to see you in either Twin Falls or Burley. Give Canyon Foot + Ankle a call today.