Neuropathy: A Real Pain

Peripheral Neuropathy

Neuropathy is a term that is broken up into two parts: neuro, which means nerve, and “path” or “pathy” which means disease or disease process. So simply stated, neuropathy is just a diseased nerve or nerves. This can be a debilitating, progressive, and sometimes even permanent condition if not taken care of properly.

Most of the time the symptoms include pain, numbness, tingling, pins and needles, and sometimes shock like sensations or insensitivity to hot or cold. Neuropathies can be caused by physical trauma, arthritis in the spine, stenosis in the spine, Type 2 diabetes, chemotherapy side effects, side effects of medications like statins, or other toxicities.

Neuropathy Nerve Damage

The nerves of the body require good blood flow, oxygen, and adequate nutrition to remain healthy. The nerves that are the farthest from their source (the spinal cord), which usually includes the peripheral nerves of the hands and fingers feet and toes, are more susceptible to this type of damage. When the blood flow, oxygen, and nutrition levels of the legs and feet becomes very poor, the nerves begin to degenerate and die. This is what causes all of the challenging symptoms of neuropathy.

With any type of nerve damage, getting treatment and getting healthy as soon as possible is incredibly important. Nerve damage is a challenge to heal and can become permanent. The main current treatments for neuropathy are medications such as neurontin, topamax, lyrica, and others. Other treatments are focused on just providing palliative care at home. Most neuropathy sufferers also have daily routines such as thick socks, compression socks, warm Epsom salt baths and more.

Neuropathy Treatment Options

Good neuropathy treatment should always start with trying to help the nerves heal as much as possible, and then also addressing what caused the nerves to begin to die in the first place. That means if Type 2 diabetes is the cause, then a metabolic comprehensive nutrition plan should be recommended along with the nerve treatment. If side effects of medications is the cause, then the person‘s primary care physician should try to help with this.

Laser Therapy for Neuropathy

Creating nerve healing is a challenge that has been studied for many years. The most promising technology for healing nerves is Class 4 Laser. Class 4 Laser Therapy works at a cellular level to increase microcirculation, nitric oxide production, oxygen flow, and decrease inflammation. Laser has been shown to help nerve fibers regenerate the outer protective cells known as Schwann cells. This technology can be used on any nerve pain, including trigeminal neuralgia, multiple sclerosis, sciatic nerve pain, and diabetic neuropathy.

I became interested in this field when a patient of mine, after developing severe spinal stenosis, began suffering with pain and burning in her right foot. Even though I had read the promising studies on laser and its affect on neuropathy, I had not treated anyone with the condition yet. After just three or four treatments it was obvious that the laser was working. She began feeling much less pain and burning and she felt a lot more strength and balance while walking. This, to her, was life changing!

I have never experienced neuropathy, but according to the patients that I treat, it is miserable. I am currently accepting new patients at a reduced cost in order to create and publish a clinical trial. I hope to include 20 patients in the trial, and I hope that the results will have a far reaching effect so that more people can get help for this awful condition.

Kent Owens, DC