What is neuropathy?

In short neuropathy is nerve damage that can be the result of many different conditions such as trauma, viral infection, and diabetes.

Neuropathy is a condition where you suffer from nerve damage, that although rarely fatal, can lead to a variety of life altering problems. Neuropathy is not any single health condition but rather it is used as an umbrella term to describe a range of health issues which involves damage done to your peripheral nerves which include the symptoms of those issues. 

While there is no cure for some of these conditions, you can take steps in preventing neuropathy or managing it through treatments, lifestyle changes and diet. 

The nervous system is divided in two different sections, the central nervous system, which controls automatic body functions like breathing and digestion. The second is the peripheral nervous system, which transmits messages from the central nervous system out to the rest of your body like your feet and hands. In this article we are going to focus on prevention by looking at some of the warning signs of this condition as well as when to see a doctor.

Somatic nervous system

The somatic nervous system is the voluntary nerves that you have conscious control over. Also known as the voluntary nervous system due to its association with the voluntary control of the body.

When your somatic nerves are damaged some early warning signs include:

• Sharp, burning, or jabbing pain
• Poor coordination and loss of balance
• Muscle weakness
• Intense sensitivity to heat and touch
• Gradual feeling of numbness or tingling in your feet and hands

Central nervous system

The central nervous system is made up of the spinal cord and the brain. This system controls the functions of the body we tend to have little control over such as bodily functions, awareness, sensations, thoughts, and memory.

Since you have less control over the central nervous system it may be more difficult to realize you are suffering from a case of neuropathy. Some of the things to keep an eye out for include:

• Persistent headaches
• Loss of feeling or tingling
• Loss of muscle strength
• Erratic vision
• Lack of coordination
• Memory loss

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With early diagnosis many of the long term effects can be avoided and in some cases symptoms can be completely treated. This is why if you are suffering from any of these symptoms it is important to visit your primary care provider to get a diagnosis as early as possible.

When to See a Doctor

Although many of these symptoms are indicative of neuropathy it is still difficult to judge whether your symptoms will get better on their own or if you need to see your primary care provider. If at any point in time you begin to suffer any of these symptoms on a regular basis, it is a signal that there may be an underlying medical condition to be taken care of and this would be the appropriate time to ask your primary care provider about potentially suffering from a form of neuropathy.

If diagnosed with a type of neuropathy, at SOHMA we offer regenerative cellular tissue repair therapy, which may be covered by Medicare. Regenerative cellular tissue repair therapy is incredibly helpful in treating neuropathy by aiding in the healing and regeneration of the damaged nerves. This will help reduce pain as well as return sensation to your hands and feet.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.