For most people seeking treatment for neuropathy in legs and feet, they describe their symptoms as prickling or tingling, numbness, burning pain, a sharp throbbing, and difficulty sleeping. Additionally, you also may lose muscle strength, experience a loss of balance, or have difficulty walking. These are the words that my patients often use to describe the pain they are experiencing that is caused by peripheral neuropathy.
The majority of people needing treatment for neuropathy in legs and feet have a metabolic, mechanical, and/or hereditary condition. The common cause for people requiring treatment for neuropathy in legs and feet are metabolic or chemical factors. These most commonly include medications, chemo/radiation, diabetes, toxic chemicals, and excessive alcohol.
Additional reading: Nerve Pain: Your Body’s Alarm System
What Causes My Neuropathy?
Diabetes is by far the most common type of metabolic condition creating peripheral nerve damage. Prolonged elevated blood glucose can cause damage to the small blood vessels which provide nourishment to the nerves. Approximately 70% of people with diabetic conditions will need treatment for neuropathy in legs and feet.
As a patient exploring treatment for neuropathy in the legs and feet, you may have a mechanical cause of nerve damage. A more prevalent cause of peripheral neuropathy results from mechanical conditions of the spine and extremities. These mechanical conditions may result in compression or entrapment of the peripheral nerve. This can result from a spinal disc herniation, protrusion, bulge, degenerative disc disease, stenosis, and/or nerve compression or entrapment. Physical compressions or entrapments decrease the oxygen and nutrition to the nerves. Some neuropathy sufferers commonly develop sensory loss symptoms-sharp, burning pain, numb, tingling, pins & needles and/or loss of motor function-as the nerves are compromised.
Some of those affected may seek neuropathy treatment for feet due to hereditary conditions. While it is less common, some may have genetic predisposition for developing nerve damage. Most of these conditions are uncommon and affect an estimated 1-3% of the population. Charcot Marie Tooth is typically the most common forms of hereditary conditions in patients seeking treatment for neuropathy in legs and feet.
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Diseases Causing Tingling in One Foot
Tingling in one foot may be due to a specific, underlying disease or disorder that causes nerve damage including:
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Alcoholic Neuropathy
- Guillain-Barre syndrome (autoimmune nerve disorder)
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD, also called peripheral vascular disease, or PVD, which is a narrowing or blockage of arteries due to a buildup of fat and cholesterol on the artery walls, which limits blood flow to the extremities)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Shingles
- Vitamin deficiency, especially thiamine, vitamin B12 and folate
- Hypothyroidism
Learn more about neuropathy that affects other parts of the body and how to treat it.
5 Treatments for Foot Neuropathy
- Eating Healthy Foods—Eating fruits and vegetables and other foods rich in B vitamins will help nerves to talk to each other better. If you have diabetes, managing blood glucose levels with medication and by eating a proper diet is essential.
- Supplements For Neuropathy—Your nerves require minerals like magnesium and calcium for proper functioning. I like to think of supplements as an insurance policy. If you do not get enough from your diet, the extra vitamins and minerals are there as a back up.
- Medications For Neuropathy—There are common prescription medications for neuropathy. These neuropathy medications may alleviate some of your symptoms.
- Medical Laser Therapy—This non-invasive therapy is cutting-edge technology in neuropathy pain treatment. Deep tissue laser therapy helps repair the damaged cell by increasing stimulation and decreasing inflammation. The nerve now has the ability to repair and regrow
- Neuropathy Surgery—In more severe situations, surgery may be necessary to release swollen and compressed nerves.
Learn more about how acupuncture offers natural relief and solutions for neuropathy discomfort.
If you’ve experienced symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, you know just how challenging living a healthy lifestyle can be. You may have experienced physicians telling you that prescriptions, injections, and surgery are the only options to manage your symptoms of neuropathy. I’m here to tell you that’s simply not true. Here’s what I believe… Natural healing beats quick fixes; Finding solutions beat masking symptoms. If you are looking for neuropathy relief, taking your life back starts at our clinic.
To get to the root cause of pain and discomfort, schedule an initial consultation, including a comprehensive evaluation and first treatment.
