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Neuropathy is the medical term for nerve damage. Peripheral neuropathy, which causes pain, numbness and tingling. Neuropathy results when nerve cells, or neurons, are damaged or destroyed. This distorts the way the neurons communicate with each other and with the brain. Neuropathy can affect one nerve or nerve type, or a combination of nerves.
Neuropathic pain is a complex, chronic pain state that usually is accompanied by tissue injury. With neuropathic pain, the nerve fibers themselves may be damaged, dysfunctional, or injured. These damaged nerve fibers send incorrect signals to other pain centers.
What Causes Neuropathy?
There are many causes of neuropathy. The cause can be hereditary (runs in family) or acquired (after birth).
Acquired neuropathy is much more common than hereditary neuropathy. Trauma, infections and autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis can cause neuropathy.
. Systemic diseases that affect the entire body such as diabetes which is the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy, kidney disorders, certain cancers, and hormonal imbalance all can trigger neuropathy.
. Medications and poisons such as the strong medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy), can damage peripheral nerves that can cause neuropathy.
. Vascular disorders can also cause neuropathy when blood flow to the arms and legs is hindered by inflammation, blood clots, or other blood vessel disorders.
. Vitamin imbalances can cause neuropathy. Having proper levels of vitamins, and niacin in our bodies are very important for healthy nerve function.
. Alcoholism can cause neuropathy due to ex-cessive consumption of alcohol which can rob the body of thiamine and other essential nutrients, leading to neuropathy in the arms and legs.
Neuropathy pain effects people of all ages, however older people are at greater risk. If you are wondering what the symptoms of neuropathy are know that the symptoms vary depending on the type and location of the nerve damage. Symptoms can appear suddenly, which is called acute neuropathy, or develop slowly over time, called chronic neuropathy.
Common symptoms include. tingling, numbness especially in the hands and feet and changes in sensation, some people feel severe pain especially at night and some are unable to feel pain, pressure, temperature, or touch. Loss of coordination, loss of reflexes and burning sensations are all common symptoms of neuropathy.
If you have already been diagnosed with neuropathy think neuropathy might be the explanation for the pain you are suffering with treatment needs to be started as soon as possible. The sooner the diagnosis is made and treatment is started, the greater the chance that nerve damage can be slowed or repaired. In most cases, recovery takes a very long time. Some people live with a degree of neuropathy for the rest of their lives.
Lasers create a narrow beam of high-intensity light. The goal of laser therapy is to increase blood flow to the area of the damaged nerves and decrease pain by releasing nitric oxide. Use of lasers to treat pain may decrease the need for surgery in some cases.
Dr. Bob Ziegenfuss and Linda Gianetti of College Parkway Health Center Fort Myers FL. offers their patients the most technologically advanced and powerful deep tissue laser therapy available today, providing his patients with a safe and effective option to treat their pain and inflammation.
Laser therapy does not require the use of drugs or surgery, and there are no known side effects or risks that may occur with other forms of treatment. In addition, it can often achieve results faster than other treatment option. Laser therapy treats the nerves, stimulating nerve function, the root cause of neuropathy pain. Traditional treatments only treat the symptoms. Laser therapy’s soothing, deep penetrating photonic energy reduces pain and inflammation.
Each painless treatment draws water, oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area, creating an optimal healing environment. The best thing about this type of therapy, besides the fact that it is non-invasive, drug and painless, is that there are no known side effects and it has a great success rate.
If neuropathy pain has kept you from living your life to the fullest on a daily basis stop in and see us today and be on your way to a healthy, pain free body.
College Parkway Health Center
239-437-4000 | www.collegeparkwayhealthcenter.com
