Acupuncture for Neuropathy

Curious about “acupuncture for neuropathy near me”? 

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that should be treated right away. It was found that “more than 20 million people in the United States have been estimated to have some form of peripheral neuropathy, but this figure may be significantly higher” [1]. When it comes to getting treatment for neuropathy, there is one treatment that is recommended by doctors. It’s acupuncture for neuropathy.

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irvine acupuncture for neuropathy

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Table of Contents

Neuropathy Information

Neuropathy, also known as peripheral neuropathy, is a condition where nerves aside from nerves in the brain and spinal cord are damaged or affected by a disease. As a result of the nerves (peripheral nerves) being damaged, it may lead to tingling, prickling, numbness, and muscle weakness. This usually affects the hands and feet but can affect other parts of the body.

Types Of Neuropathy

Neuropathy can be classified into different categories based on how many nerves are affected. The different categories include:

  • Mononeuropathy: Affects one nerve
  • Multiple mononeuropathy: Affects two or more nerves in different areas
  • Polyneuropathy: Affects many nerves

Some neuropathy examples are:

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What Is Acupuncture For Neuropathy?

Acupuncture for neuropathy is a treatment used to provide relief from pain and discomfort. It uses acupuncture needles to target acupuncture points in the body to stimulate the body’s qi and restore its balance. This promotes the body to naturally heal by releasing more endorphins as natural pain killers and increasing the blood flow to damaged nerves. This eventually results in improved symptoms of neuropathy.

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Acupuncture For Neuropathy
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Acupuncture For Neuropathy

Can Acupuncture For Neuropathy Help?

Acupuncture for neuropathy can help with your condition. Acupuncture is most notable for being the most cost-effective and drug-free. In addition, it was found that acupuncture can be used as a complementary treatment with Western treatment increasing their effectiveness and can also be used as an alternative treatment.

In one study, they got 47 patients who were struggling with peripheral neuropathy (PN) and separated them into two groups. 21 participants were given acupuncture for peripheral neuropathy and 26 received the best medical care but no specific treatment for peripheral neuropathy over a period of a year. Afterward, they found that 16 patients, who had acupuncture for peripheral neuropathy, had their conditions improved. With that, they were able to conclude that there is a positive effect of acupuncture on peripheral neuropathy of undefined etiology [2].

In another study, they had 10 patients who struggled with neuropathy of various etiologies and treated them with acupuncture for neuropathy. After the patients went through 6 sessions, the researchers used a visual analogue scale (VAS), clinical signs, and symptoms as their main outcome. With that, they were able to find improvement in the main outcomes and concluded that acupuncture for neuropathy was effective for the treatment of neuropathy of various causes [3].

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Additional Info

When it comes to neuropathy symptoms, they vary depending on the type of nerve that is damaged. Here are the different type of nerves:

  • Sensory nerves: Nerves that receive sensation, such as touch. When damaged, it can cause tingling, pain, numbness, or muscle weakness.
  • Motor nerves: Nerves that control the body’s movement. When damaged, it can cause muscle weakness.
  • Autonomic nerves: Nerves that control the body system like the cardiovascular system. When damaged, normal functions of the body like heart rate.

As a result of damaged nerves, those with neuropathy will experience symptoms like:

  • Gradual numbness, prickling, or tingling in your hands or feet. It can also spread throughout the body.
  • Sharp, jabbing, throbbing, or burning pain
  • Increase sensitivity to touch
  • Pain during normal activities
  • Lack of coordination and falling
  • Muscle weakness
  • Paralysis
  • Change in your tolerance to temperature
  • Sweating excessively or inability to sweat
  • Change in blood pressure

Neuropathy is a condition that isn’t caused by one thing but by a number of conditions. Neuropathy can be triggered by:

  • Autoimmune diseases (e.g vasculitis, Sjogren’s syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome)
  • Diabetes (the most common cause of neuropathy)
  • Infections (e.g shingles, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis B and C, leprosy, diphtheria)
  • Inherited disorders (e.g Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease)
  • Tumors
  • Bone marrow disorders
  • Injuries, trauma, or pressure towards the nerves
  • Other diseases (e.g kidney disease, liver disease, connective tissue disorders)

Some risk factor of neuropathy include:

  • Diabetes
  • Alcohol abuse
  • Vitamin deficiencies, specifically B vitamins
  • Kidney, liver, or thyroid disorders
  • Exposure to toxins
  • Repetitive motion
  • Family history of neuropathy

Neuropathy can cause other problems aside from the symptoms it has. Some complication caused by neuropathy include:

  • Infection: Lack of sensation can cause you to not notice pains that are caused by infections. It’s recommended to check your feet or hands for possible medical issues.
  • Falling: As a result of muscle weakness and lack of sensation, the risk of falling or losing balance increases. This can lead to other injuries.
  • Skin trauma: Like infections, this can lead to injuries or even burns without knowing because of the lack of sensation that prevents you from feeling any issues.

In some cases, the symptoms of neuropathy can be reduced in other ways. Here are some ways to manage your neuropathy:

  • Exercise regularly
  • Stop smoking
  • Eat healthy to keep nerves healthy
  • Relax and meditation
  • Wear comfortable clothes around areas affected by neuropathy
  • Losing weight
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Avoid factors that can cause damage to the nerves (e.g repetitive movement and bad posture)

[1] “Peripheral Neuropathy Fact Sheet“, NINDS, Publication date: August 2018. NIH Publication No. 18-NS-4853

[2] Schröder S, Liepert J, Remppis A, Greten JH. Acupuncture treatment improves nerve conduction in peripheral neuropathy. Eur J Neurol. 2007;14(3):276-281. doi:10.1111/j.1468-1331.2006.01632.x

[3] Dimitrova, Alexandra. “Introducing a Standardized Acupuncture Protocol for Peripheral Neuropathy: A Case Series.” Medical acupuncture vol. 29,6 (2017): 352-365. doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1242

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