“I’ve tried everything, and nothing works. Can acupuncture help me? I want to avoid surgery, and don’t want to spend the rest of my life on medication.” We get that phone call several times a week from individuals with a wide variety of conditions. One of the most frequent conditions prompting the call is Peripheral Neuropathy. Recently, I received a call from a client we had been treating for PN, and he said “I had no pain today. I consider that a big win.”
PN is a condition caused by damage to the peripheral nervous system, affecting the pathways from the spinal column into the rest of the body. It usually begins in the feet or hands and can travel up the arms and legs into other areas. Most of the symptoms associated with Peripheral Neuropathy include tingling, pain, or numbness, and they are generally worse at night. In some cases, PN can lead to muscle wasting, paralysis, and even organ/gland dysfunction.
There are several causes of Peripheral Neuropathy, including other diseases (diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, heavy metal poisoning; as a side effect of some prescription drug use; as the result of trauma or injury; and idiopathic (no exact cause can be pin pointed).
The good news is, acupuncture can often help with PN. Few, if any, treatments are silver bullets when it comes to chronic conditions. Many clients experience at least some relief with their first visit, but there is a cumulative effect to treatments. Affinity Acupuncture offers an exclusive Monthly Membership program as well as packages for individuals needing multiple treatments.
There are also things individuals can do at home to increase the success of their acupuncture treatments in treating Peripheral Neuropathy. These include:
Maintaining a healthy weight
Avoiding exposure to toxins
Specific exercises recommended by a health care professional
Keeping a healthy diet
Correcting vitamin deficiencies
Limiting/avoiding alcohol intake
Yoga and meditation to control external factors that trigger pain
Affinity Acupuncture offers nutritional counseling as well as high-quality herbal and vitamin supplements to further support PN care. To learn more about how we can help you or someone you love, call us at 615-939-2787.
