We will be the first to admit, neuropathy is hard to diagnose and treat. In fact, about 2.4% of people globally have a form of this neurological condition. Unfortunately, many conditions can cause a range of symptoms connected with neuropathy, making it near impossible to find the root cause.
But that doesn’t stop us at Family & Sport Chiropractic from trying!
We take an individualized approach to neuropathy treatment near Cedar Rapids. If your cause and symptoms are unique to you, shouldn’t you expect a treatment plan designed just for you?
Using the practice of functional medicine as our model, we don’t just try to mask the pain and symptoms. Instead, we guide you through treatment options and customized plans to help you manage your neuropathy.
To learn more about how we treat neuropathy, you need to understand this condition better. We answer all of your questions in this article.
What is neuropathy?
Neuropathy encompasses a range of disorders related to the nervous system, which controls your thoughts, movements, and senses. When trauma or injury damage the system, it can result in the following symptoms:
- Tingling sensations that feel like pins and needles, prickling, or numbness.
- Burning pain in the lower limbs that may spread to the arms and hands.
- Sharp, stabbing, “electric-like” pains, which extend into the hands and arm. This pain may feel worse in the evenings.
- Drops in blood pressure, causing dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Muscle weakness or inability to move.
As soon as you notice these discomforts, we encourage you to come into our office for neuropathy treatment near Cedar Rapids.
Understanding the sensations and feelings you experience requires a more thorough knowledge of the nervous system.
The Nervous System
The nervous system consists of 2 main parts:
- Central Nervous System (CNS) – Your brain and spinal cord. The CNS uses special nerve cells called neurons to transmit messages between your brain and other parts of your body. It regulates how you think, feel, and move.
- Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) – A branching nerve network that connects the brain to the body’s organs, limbs, and senses. It’s divided into the somatic system (which controls voluntary movements) and the autonomic system (which controls involuntary functions like blinking, breathing, and heart rate).
The PNS and CNS work together in a two-way relationship. The PNS transmits messages from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body, while also sending sensory information, like touch, temperature, and pain, back to the brain. So, damage to this communication pathway can disrupt various bodily functions, including how your body interprets pain.
Neuropathy Causes
Neuropathy doesn’t discriminate; it can affect anyone, regardless of age, sex, or medical history. That being said, researchers have found links between neuropathy and the following conditions:
- Diabetes
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Injury or trauma
- Inflammation
- Autoimmune diseases
- Infections
- Exposure to toxins
- Vascular disorders which cause a lack of blood flow
While these conditions don’t guarantee or directly cause neuropathy, a correlation exists. We can discuss every aspect of your concerns when you come in for a consultation for neuropathy treatment near Cedar Rapids.
Comprehensive Care at Iowa Wellness Center
We focus on providing lasting relief and management, beginning with your first step through our doors. Dr. Mohamed Karim, the founder of Family & Sport Chiropractic, is board certified in Chronic Intractable Pain and Neuropathy. With ongoing education in chiropractic care and natural healing, Dr. Karim and our team continue to help many patients find relief from neuropathy.
Honesty, commitment, and education are our core values. Even if our program isn’t right for you, we’ll provide referrals and other support to guide you toward the appropriate treatment. From us, you will learn lifestyle management to help ease the symptoms of neuropathy and improve your overall quality of life.
Consultation
Starting with a 2-hour-long consultation, we begin with a detailed conversation about your symptoms and extended health history. Prepare to discuss various aspects of your lifestyle: diet, physical activity, alcohol or tobacco use, etc. During the consultation, we conduct a neurological exam to determine the best option for your neuropathy treatment near Cedar Rapids. This includes an assessment of:
- Movement and coordination
- Hearing and speech
- Coordination and balance
- Vision and senses
We also use brain mapping during the consultation to analyze your brainwaves and identify ways to improve communication between brain regions. During this test, you’ll either perform a task, watch a movie, or listen to music while we capture real-time images of your brain activity. All of this information helps us pinpoint the source of your pain and begin creating a customized plan for you.
Treatment and Ongoing Care
Your doctor will tailor your treatment to the specific type and severity of your neuropathy. To track your progress, you’ll return to our office every 3 months so we can conduct the initial exams. Ongoing care includes an at-home therapy kit, plus weekly and monthly reports and regular calls from our team. Neuropathy can feel isolating. That’s why we make it our goal to maintain communication and offer guidance, support, and encouragement.
In our office, we offer devices, services, and therapies to help ease pain and manage your symptoms. Your neuropathy treatment near Cedar Rapids may include a combination of the following options:
Neurofeedback
Through the realignment of brainwave patterns’ timing and activation, neurofeedback teaches self-regulation of brain activity. The process involves attaching compact discs with wires on the scalp while you listen to music or watch a movie. Using audio and visual feedback, you will learn to identify and adjust your thought patterns. This treatment alleviates neurological discomfort, reduces stress, and improves mental health.
In fact, we also use neurofeedback to improve the following conditions:
- Anxiety
- Substance abuse
- Addiction
- Chronic fatigue
- Lyme disease
Through neurofeedback, you can find lasting neuropathy relief and better mind-body balance.
ReBuilder
Designed specifically for neuropathic pain, the ReBuilder uses electric pulses to reactivate and repair damaged nerves in the treatment area. This minimally invasive, gentle therapy increases circulation and improves the body’s natural ability to rebuild nerve function. We can customize the ReBuilder’s settings to your weight and treatment requirements, further personalizing your therapy plan.
Hako-Med Therapy
Hako-Med Therapy uses gentle electrical signals to stimulate nerves and improve circulation. Many people experience immediate pain relief, with lasting results from additional sessions. For this therapy, you will lie down, and we will place electrodes on the affected area. Our specialized computer programs, created for your treatment, continue the process from that point. Most people find this noninvasive neuropathy treatment near Cedar Rapids very pleasant.
Anodyne Therapy
Anodyne therapy uses noninvasive infrared light to penetrate deep into the body and increase circulation. With the release of nitric oxide, this drug-free therapy improves nerve function and supports the growth of new blood vessels.
Nutrition Counseling and IV Therapy
Proper nutrition is key to healthy nerves, as your diet significantly impacts neuropathy. A poor diet may worsen symptoms, while a balanced diet with the right nutrients can improve your nervous system’s functioning. Of course, nutrition also requires tailoring to the individual. Still, making sure that you’re eating lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and foods rich in omega-3s can help manage neuropathy.
Vitamin and nutrient deficiencies, including vitamin B12, can lead to neuropathy by damaging the protective structures around the nerves. Fortunately, we offer 9 different IV therapy infusions, many of which include this essential vitamin.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
PRP injections boast a wide range of benefits, delivering wellness and aesthetic enhancements for patients of varying backgrounds. With platelet-rich plasma, we use your own blood as a neuropathy treatment near Cedar Rapids. First, we take a blood sample, then use a centrifuge to isolate platelets for a concentrated solution. We apply the reparative properties at the treatment site to stimulate healing, improve circulation, and promote nerve regeneration.
Oxygen Therapy
To increase the amount of oxygen in your body and stimulate blood flow, healing, and tissue repair, we offer oxygen therapy. The process involves administering oxygen through a face mask or cannula and increasing the oxygen concentration in your body. Oxygen therapy also helps to reduce inflammation, which can further contribute to neuropathic pain.
Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy uses pulsed acoustic waves to dilate existing blood vessels and trigger the growth of new ones. The waves create microtraumas that trigger a cellular healing response, providing pain relief, reducing inflammation, and promoting nerve regeneration and the repair of damaged nerves.
For your treatment, you’ll lie down comfortably, and a member of our team will apply a conductive gel to the treatment area. With the Storz Medical Wave D-Actor 50, we administer high-energy acoustic waves directly to the treatment area, tailoring the intensity and frequency to your treatment type, area, and preferences.
What is the best treatment for neuropathy?
We can determine the best treatment for you during your consultation. Although we covered a lot of information regarding neuropathy treatment, you still have more options. We recommend coming into our longevity center for comprehensive and personalized treatment.
Find Relief From Neuropathy With Family & Sport Chiropractic
We are passionate about finding you the best neuropathy treatment near Cedar Rapids. If you’re ready to find ongoing and long-lasting support, you can reach out to us to schedule an appointment. If you’re ready to get started now, you can try our treatment planning tool!
