TYPES

More than 100 different types of neuropathy exist. Each type has unique symptoms and specific treatment options. Peripheral neuropathies are further classified by the type of nerve damage involved. They are;

• Mononeuropathy occurs when only one nerve is damaged.
• Multifocal neuropathy-a combination of nerves in a limited area
• Polyneuropathies, which are more common, occur when multiple nerves are damaged.

CAUSES OF NEUROPATHY

Neuropathy is nerve damage caused by a number of conditions. Health conditions that can cause peripheral neuropathy include:

• Autoimmune diseases. These include Sjogren's syndrome, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and vasculitis.
• Diabetes. More than half the people with diabetes develop some type ofneuropathy.
• Infections. These include certain viral or bacterial infections, including Lyme disease, shingles, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis B and C, leprosy, diphtheria, and HIV.
• Inherited disorders. Disorders such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease are hereditary types of neuropathy.
• Tumors. Growths, cancerous (malignant) and noncancerous (benign), can develop on the nerves or press nerves. Also, polyneuropathy can arise as a result of some cancers related to the body's immune response. These are a form of a degenerative disorder called paraneoplastic syndrome.
• Bone marrow disorders. These include an abnormal protein in the blood (monoclonal gammopathies), a form of bone cancer (myeloma), lymphoma and the rare disease amyloidosis.
• Other diseases. These include kidney disease, liver disease, connective tissue disorders and an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

Other causes of neuropathies include:

• Alcoholism. Poor dietary choices made by people with alcoholism can lead to vitamin deficiencies.
• Exposure to poisons. Toxic substances include industrial chemicals and heavy metals such as lead and mercury.
• Medications. Certain medications, especially those used to treat cancer (chemotherapy), can cause peripheral neuropathy.
• Trauma or pressure on the nerve. Traumas, such as from motor vehicle accidents, falls or sports injuries, can sever or damage peripheral nerves. Nerve pressure can result from having a cast or using crutches or repeating a motion such as typing many times.
• Vitamin deficiencies. B vitamins — including B-1, B-6 and B-12 — vitamin E and niacin are crucial to nerve health.

In a number of cases, no cause can be identified (idiopathic).

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of Neuropathy include:

• tingling in the hands or feet
• a feeling like you’re wearing a tight glove or sock
• sharp, stabbing pains
• numbness in the hands or feet
• a weak, heavy feeling in the arms and legs, which sometimes may feel like your legs or arms lock in place
• regularly dropping things from your hands
• a buzzing or shocking sensation
• thinning of the skin
• a drop in blood pressure
• sexual dysfunction, especially in men
• constipation
• digestive difficulty
• diarrhea
• excessive sweating

These symptoms can also indicate other conditions.

RISK FACTORS

Neuropathy risk factors include:

• Diabetes, especially if your sugar levels are poorly controlled
• Alcohol abuse
• Vitamin deficiencies, particularly B vitamins
• Infections, such as Lyme disease, shingles, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis B and C, and HIV
• Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, in which your immune system attacks your own tissues
• Kidney, liver or thyroid disorders
• Exposure to toxins
• Repetitive motion, such as those performed for certain jobs
• Family history of neuropathy

COMPLICATIONS

Complications of Neuropathy can include

• Burns and skin trauma. You might not feel temperature changes or pain on parts of your body that are numb.
• Infection. Your feet and other areas lacking sensation can become injured without your knowing. Check these areas regularly and treat minor injuries before they become infected, especially if you have diabetes
• Falls. Weakness and loss of sensation may be associated with lack of balance and falling

DIAGNOSIS

Neuropathy has many potential causes. Besides a physical exam, which may include blood tests, diagnosis usually requires:

• A full medical history
• Neurological examination
• Tests

Your doctor may order tests, including:

• Blood tests
• Imaging tests
• Nerve function tests. Electromyography (EMG) records electrical activity in your muscles to detect nerve damage. A thin needle (electrode) is inserted into the muscle to measure electrical activity as you contract the muscle. At the same time as an electromyogram, your doctor or an EMG technician typically performs a nerve conduction study.
• Other nerve function tests. These might include an autonomic reflex screen that records how the autonomic nerve fibers work.
• Nerve biopsy. This involves removing a small portion of a nerve, usually a sensory nerve, to look for abnormalities.
• Skin biopsy. Your doctor removes a small portion of skin to look for a reduction in nerve endings.

CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT FOR NEUROPATHY

Treatment goals are to manage the condition causing your neuropathy and to relieve symptoms. If your lab tests indicate no underlying condition, your doctor might recommend watchful waiting to see if your neuropathy improves.

MEDICATIONS

Besides medications used to treat conditions associated with peripheral neuropathy, medications used to relieve Neuropathy signs and symptoms include:

• Pain relievers
• Anti-seizure medications
• Topical treatments
• Antidepressants
• Therapies

Various therapies and procedures might help ease the signs and symptoms of Neuropathy.

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
• Plasma exchange and intravenous immune globulin
• Physical therapy
• Surgery-If you have neuropathies caused by pressure on nerves, such as pressure from tumors, you might need surgery to reduce the pressure.

PREVENTION

Manage underlying conditions

The best way to prevent Neuropathy is to manage medical conditions that put you at risk, such as diabetes, alcoholism or rheumatoid arthritis.

Make healthy lifestyle choices

These habits support your nerve health:

• Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein to keep nerves healthy.
• Avoid factors that may cause nerve damage
• Take care of your feet, especially if you have diabetes
• Exercise
• Quit smoking
• Avoid excessive alcohol
• Monitor your blood glucose levels.

EFFECTIVENESS OF ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture has excellent results with reversing and treating neuropathies. It has been shown to help manage the nerve pain and numbness. The benefits of using acupuncture is to decrease numbness, decrease sharp/burning pain, no more “ant crawling sensation”, healing nerve damage, improve balance, improved ability to walk on uneven surfaces, and be able to improve grip while drinking coffee. Acupuncture is very effective for Chemotherapy induced Neuropathy when Acupuncture treatment is started at the very beginning of Chemotherapy to restore nerve function.

MECHANISM OF ACUPUNCTURE

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, pain and dysfunction are caused by a blockage of qi-energy and blood. If qi-energy and blood don’t flow properly, it prevents cells and tissues from receiving nourishment and can lead to pain and functional problems. In addition, depending on the symptoms experienced, there may be specific meridians that are also affected by the condition. This can affect where the pain and numbness are occurring and can also be responsible for accompanying symptoms. Acupuncture treatment typically will involve both local points to treat the meridians affected and the symptoms experienced, combined with points for strengthening and building up the body to augment qi-energy and blood. In this way, acupuncture can help to relieve many of the symptoms experienced, as well as help to strengthen the body and improve health to improve the functioning of the nerves and the body as a whole. Acupuncture shows promising results for those suffering from Neuropathy. Studies have demonstrated that acupuncture may help to improve nerve conduction, and the World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture as a useful therapy for neurological symptoms. An individual may not recover immediately or completely through acupuncture, but treatment can make a difference in the symptoms experienced and one’s comfort level. With time, treatments may have a lasting positive impact on Neuropathy and quality of life.

BEST CURE FOR NEUROPATHY

Looking for the best relief for Neuropathy in Chennai, here’s why you should reach out to the expert Acupuncturist. A. Shaji Bharath from the best rated clinic Dr.Bharath’s Acu Heal. He is currently treating patients for a wide range of conditions. As a best acupuncture practitioner with 15 years of experience, and having worked with several neurologists and diabetologists Acupuncturist. A. Shaji Bharath can create the treatment plan for the best cure for Neuropathy to manage the condition that's tailored to your needs, which can break a cycle of long-lasting numbness and pain. As the top acupuncture doctor for neurological conditions in Chennai he has witnessed acupuncture doing wonders for people suffering from Neuropathy. The effectiveness rate increases several times just with one course of Acupuncture and a specialized expertise in tingling in feet and other nerve-related symptoms are warranted. So, take some time to find the right pain management and best remedy for acupuncture approach that suits you. Most of the people swear by acupuncture, citing it as a best cure and a ‘miracle’ to improving their quality of life. To contact the top acupuncture doctor in Chennai, Dial: +91 9884746916 or Visit: drbharathsacuheal.com for more details.

BEST ACUPUNCTURE DOCTOR NEAR ME

To choose the Best doctor for Acupuncture, it's important that the Acupuncturist should have a decade of experience and treated at least 1000 to 2000 patients.

You can also search for the Best Acupuncture Doctor near me or ask your primary care physician to refer an experienced Acupuncturist nearby. Once you find the Best Acupuncture Doctor in Chennai, you may go through their google reviews first and then fix an appointment with the doctor only when you are satisfied with the reviews.

The Best Acupuncture Doctor should address your concerns and help you feel more comfortable before your first session. Acupuncture usually takes numerous sessions or several weeks to get a complete cure in any ailment but within 3 or 4 sessions the patients will experience positive differences.

BEST ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC NEAR ME

There are numerous clinics popping up and it is sometimes skeptical to choose the best or even the safe one. To address such concerns, you can look into the following points to choose the best acupuncture clinic for treating neuropathy. Acupuncture is also offered in hospital pain clinics and by healthcare organizations but it is ideal to visit the best Acupuncture Clinic. If you are not sure, it would be a good idea to contact your local doctor to see if they would be prepared to refer to the best rated acupuncture clinics. Acupuncture is offered in top rated acupuncture clinics near me because conventional treatment has failed or produces unacceptable side effects. Most of the best acupuncture clinics for neurological problems will spell out very clearly what type of acupuncture they practice and how professional they are - at present anyone can set themselves up as an acupuncturist but reputable practitioners will belong to an organization. So while you are filtering the best clinics for acupuncture that treats Neuropathy, you can look out for these factors.

We have been rewarded a 5-star rating from Google & Practo. You can also check the reviews there.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Treating Peripheral Neuropathy should include finding its underlying cause as well as relieving its symptoms.It may take time and effort on you and the doctor's parts to properly diagnose and treat your condition.You can make many changes in lifestyle to manage your Neuropathy symptoms.

They should also tell their doctor about any related symptoms. The doctor can help reach a diagnosis and recommend appropriate treatment. Dial: +91 9884746916 or Visit: drbharathsacuheal.com for more details on treating cough using Acupuncture, by contacting the top acupuncture doctor in Chennai in case of any medical emergency.

SCIENTIFIC REFERENCES:

• Dimitrova A. (2017). Introducing a Standardized Acupuncture Protocol for Peripheral Neuropathy: A Case Series. Medical acupuncture, 29(6), 352–365. https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2017.1242
• Wong, R., & Sagar, S. (2006). Acupuncture Treatment for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy – a Case Series. Acupuncture in Medicine, 24(2), 87–91.

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FAQ:

What are the services provided for neuropathy by Dr. Bharath’s Acu Heal?

Neuropathy is damage or dysfunction of one or more nerves that typically results in numbness, tingling, muscle weakness and pain in the affected area. Neuropathies frequently start in your hands and feet, but other parts of your body can be affected too.

After a thorough investigation by pulse and tongue diagnosis, condition of the disease is understood by the Acupuncturist .

The treatment will be given based on the disease’s chronicity and acuteness. In the first few sessions, positive changes in symptoms may be experienced and after several more sessions there are 90 to 100% chance that the patient be cured of the disease .

This treatment will help in inducing sound sleep which will help and play a vital role in reversing other ailments if any. Simultaneously the patient will be advised on a diet and exercise regime.

What are the benefits of acupuncture for neuropathy?

This is a drugless therapy and there are no side effects. During or after completing the course of treatment any form of medication if any can be stopped.

How many sessions do you need for neuropathy?

It takes around 30 to 40 sessions in a period of 4 to 5 months.