PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
- Do you or someone you love experience numbness, tingling or burning in the hands or feet?
- Do your feet or hands feel cold or hot?
- Have you noticed you are more clumsy on your feet or your balance seems to be getting worse?
- Do you have issues with dexterity in your hands when picking up items?
If you answered yes to one or more of the problems listed above, you may have peripheral neuropathy!
What is Peripheral Neuropathy?
This is a condition which affects the small blood vessels and nerves of the hands and feet which become damaged and can affect both the sensory and motor portion of your nerves….basically you can have diminished sensation like numbness, tingling or temperature changes or extreme pain (burning or shooting) typically when you are resting, sleeping or when you are less active. From a motor perspective, you may have weakness or decreased strength in the location of your lower leg and lower arms.
Most common causes of Peripheral Neuropathy are Diabetes, Pre-Diabetes, or Following Chemotherapy.
There are however, over 100 causes of Peripheral Neuropathy, and no matter what the cause, this condition can be very debilitating and if left untreated will likely get worse!
How can we help you with this?
The first step is to come in for an PT evaluation, or if you prefer a complimentary 20-30 min screen, though a full hour evaluation will get to the root of your issues in a more comprehensive way and is our preference through your insurance.
Our Physical Therapy 5 step Evaluation Process will examine:
- Blood flow or vascular compromise via your pulses, skin and nail assessment
- Muscle strength and flexibility, as well as joint mobility
- Healthy nerve flexibility via nerve glide assessment
- Light touch and protective sensory testing
- Balance
We will also rule out if this condition is coming from your neck or low back which is a different problem called radiculopathy!
Successful Treatment for Peripheral Neuropathy is a 3 Prong Approach!
Step 1: Physical Therapy Evaluation and Treatment targeted to address deficits in Balance, Blood flow Restriction, Strengthening, Flexibility and Healthy Nerve Gliding.
Step 2: Class IV Laser using our Stealth State-of-the-Art Diowave 810 nm laser to bring ATP or healing infra-red light energy directly into your capillaries and nerves in the affected region for improved circulation and nerve repair with 85% success rates. (We combine PT and Laser for your convenience in each visit)
For more information, www.chayespt.com/laser, Neufit/Neubie
Step 3: Recommendations for Home Exercises, and Nutritional Guidelines to support nerve health and healing.