Neuropathic pain affects 7-10% of adults in the United States, often turning into a chronic pain condition that doesn't respond well to medications. The professional team at Advanced Medical Centers in Jacksonville, FL, offers a diverse range of chiropractic and physical therapy techniques that relieve pain caused by neuropathy so you can get back to your favorite activities. If you struggle with ongoing neuropathy pain in Jacksonville FL, call one of our offices to schedule an appointment today!
What is Neuropathy in Jacksonville FL
Neuropathy refers to any type of injury or disease affecting your nerves. However, neuropathy is often used to specifically refer to peripheral neuropathy. Your peripheral nerves include all the nerves throughout your body, but not those in your brain or spinal cord.
You may develop neuropathic pain when a nerve is pinched or damaged due to an injury or disease. Many possible health conditions lead to neuropathy, including:
- Bacterial and viral infections
- Autoimmune diseases
- Diabetes
- Blood vessel disorders
- Kidney and liver disease
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
More than 30% of all peripheral neuropathies are caused by diabetes. If your blood sugar levels aren't well-controlled, the excess sugar damages small nerves, often in your feet and eyes.
The pain that appears may feel like a burning, stabbing, or sudden electric-shock pain. In addition to pain, you may also develop symptoms such as tingling and numbness along the length of the nerve.
Ongoing nerve pain causes biochemical changes that make your nerves hypersensitive. When that happens, you'll feel pain from the slightest stimulation, such as the light touch of a feather. If a motor nerve is affected, your symptoms may include muscle cramps, weakness, and atrophy. When autonomic nerves are damaged, you can experience a wide range of symptoms, such as an irregular heartbeat, dizziness, and excessive sweating.
How is Neuropathic Pain Treated?
If you suffer from neuropathic pain, call Advanced Medical Centers today to schedule an appointment. Your comprehensive care begins by identifying and treating any underlying medical conditions. Then the professional team at Advanced Medical Centers offers a wide range of therapies to relieve nerve pain, including:
Spinal manipulation and decompression, active release technique, neuro mobilization, and spine stabilization exercises are chiropractic techniques that relieve pressure on your nerves, improve circulation, and alleviate nerve pain. Spinal manipulation may further relieve your pain by triggering the release of anti-inflammatory biochemicals.
Many physical therapy modalities provide pain relief by increasing blood flow, strengthening muscles, improving range of motion, and removing pressure from the nerve. Your physical therapist at Advanced Medical Centers may recommend:
- Structured exercise
- Massage
- Myofascial release
- Cold laser therapy
- Ultrasound therapy
- Microcurrent point stimulation (MPS) therapy
Regenerative medicine to alleviate nerve pain is still an emerging field. However, studies suggest that injecting mesenchymal stem cells may stimulate the growth of new nerve tissue.