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What is Neuropathy?

A woman holding her foot in pain | chiropractors Ann Arbor

Do you have persistent pain in your hands or feet?

Are you experiencing unusual sensations in your limbs?

You may have neuropathy. According to the National Institutes of Health, over 20 million people in the United States have neuropathy.

There are different types of neuropathies – peripheral, autonomic, proximal, and focal – but the most common is peripheral.

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that occurs from damaged or dysfunctional nerves that leaves people with pain, changes in sensation, or weakness in parts of the body – usually in the limbs, but especially the feet.

Causes of peripheral neuropathy can include:

  • Diabetes 
  • Injuries
  • Inflammation
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Vitamin deficiencies 
  • Genetic predisposition

Symptoms

The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy depend on what nerves the neuropathy affects. These can be sensory nerves, (the nerves that help you interpret sensations) motor nerves, (the nerves that help you move) and autonomic nerves (the nerves that control involuntary functions, like digestion). 

Common symptoms include:

  • Pain
  • Tingling or numbness
  • Changes in sensation – feeling like you’re wearing gloves or socks when you’re not
  • Muscle weakness
  • Decreased range of movement
  • Digestive upset

It’s hard to diagnose neuropathy because it has such a range of symptoms that can be mistaken for other conditions. Your doctor can try to find the root cause of your neuropathy and recommend ways to get it under control. For example, diabetics managing their blood sugar or people with vitamin deficiencies taking the needed vitamins.

Steps like these can help, but what if you’re still in pain?

For some, their only option is to manage the pain with medication. People with neuropathy may feel hopeless or that they’ll have to live in pain forever. That doesn’t have to be the case!

Restore Your Hope with One of the Longest Serving Chiropractors in Ann Arbor

Chiropractic care combined with laser therapy can help with peripheral neuropathy!

Chiropractic adjustments can realign your spine and healing laser therapy can decrease inflammation and promote healing. As one of the only laser therapy chiropractors in Ann Arbor, Dr. Bill Thatcher can find the right mix of healing laser therapy and chiropractic care for you.

Thatcher Chiropractic & Laser offers the most cost-effective laser services in Ann Arbor and makes it their duty to relieve your pain. Contact Thatcher Chiropractic & Laser today!