What Is Peripheral Neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition due to damage of the peripheral nerves—the nerves located outside of the spinal cord. When the peripheral nerves are damaged, it can cause areas of the body to become weak, numb, tingly, or lose function.
Peripheral neuropathy can cause serious health problems if left untreated. Early intervention gives a patient the best chance of reversing the damage. Your healthcare provider will be able to recommend medication, physical therapy, or, in extreme cases, surgery. In addition, a chiropractor may be able to help get at the root of the problem and improve your condition.
Signs and Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy most commonly affects the extremities. People will begin to feel a tingling and/or numbness in the hands, arms, feet, or legs. As the condition becomes more advanced, patients may begin feeling burning or stabbing pains in the extremities.
Some people experience a reduction or a loss of sensation in the extremities, making the muscles weak and causing balance problems.
In some cases, peripheral neuropathy may affect other parts of the body. If it affects the digestive system, the patient may experience bloating, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea. If it strikes the bladder, it may cause an overactive or underactive bladder. If it strikes the cardiovascular system, it may cause blood pressure problems or may cause you to need a pacemaker.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Contributes to Peripheral Neuropathy
The seven uppermost vertebrae make up the upper cervical spine, which runs from the base of the skull and through the neck. This area is prone to injury; it doesn't take a major jolt to the head or neck to cause one of these vertebrae to slip out of alignment. A fender-bender, a fall, or even poor posture can result in a misalignment of the upper cervical spine.
Many vital nerves near the upper cervical spine may become pinched or compressed when the vertebrae are misaligned. This can result in peripheral neuropathy and nerve damage will continue to get worse without treatment.
The good news is, if caught in time, nerve damage will heal. Correcting the upper cervical spine helps alleviate pressure on the nerves, allowing the body's natural healing mechanisms to commence.
How We Treat Peripheral Neuropathy
Dr. Gordon Elder of the Blair Chiropractic Clinic in Lubbock, Texas, gets to the root of peripheral neuropathy by treating the upper cervical spine. Dr. Elder is a specialist in the Blair Chiropractic Technique, a modern technique focused on the health of the upper cervical spine.
Practitioners of the Blair technique understand how problems in the upper cervical area have a domino effect on the rest of the musculoskeletal system and nervous system. But this technique does not use traditional chiropractic methods such as jarring twists and cracks. Instead, Blair practitioners use state-of-the-art 3D imaging diagnostic tools to pinpoint issues so that doctors can make adjustments with a more precise, much lighter touch. The Blair technique is a safe, drug-free, non-invasive option for many sufferers of peripheral neuropathy.
Dr. Elder's three-step plan begins with a health screening, including advanced technology scans to help him better assess the health of your upper cervical spine.
The doctor then proceeds to treat any misalignments found with gentle pressure. This alleviates nerve compression and can kick-start the healing process.
As a final measure, step three of Dr. Elder's plan involves regular check-ups to ensure the spine remains properly aligned.
Contact Dr. Elder for a consultation if you are suffering from peripheral neuropathy. His areas of coverage include Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.