| Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that causes a | | | | Massage - which may help provide temporary |
| patient to experience pain, numbness, tingling, or burning | | | | relief of your symptoms |
| sensations in their hands or feet. The condition is due | | | | Avoiding body positions that prevent circulation for |
| to damage of the nerves, usually as a result of trauma, | | | | extended periods of time, such as sitting with your legs |
| diabetes, medications, infections, exposure to toxins, or | | | | crossed |
| secondary to another medical condition. It is a condition | | | | The Chinese medicine treatment of peripheral |
| that can cause someone to experience chronic pain | | | | neuropathy involves diagnosing which pattern of |
| that easily affects the other aspects of their life. | | | | disharmony your body is experiencing that is causing |
| Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can offer relief to | | | | the peripheral neuropathy symptoms. These may |
| those suffering from the symptoms of peripheral | | | | include: |
| neuropathy. | | | | Damp-heat - usually due to an unregulated diet |
| Usually, the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy comes | | | | Yin Deficiency - can occur due to aging, or |
| after another diagnosed medical condition because | | | | sometimes as a side effect of medical treatment such |
| neuropathy is considered a symptom, not a condition | | | | as chemotherapy or radiation |
| by itself. A doctor may use electromyography or | | | | Liver Qi Stagnation - can be due to excessive |
| conduct a nerve biopsy to help diagnose neuropathy. | | | | stress wearing on the body over time |
| Additionally, they may order x-rays, a CT, or MRI scan | | | | Blood Stasis - a complicating factor that can occur |
| to look for pinched nerves, herniated disks, tumors, or | | | | with chronic diseases |
| other physical abnormalities that might be causing the | | | | Spleen Qi Deficiency with Damp Obstruction - |
| peripheral neuropathy and rule them out first. | | | | occurs over time with damage to the digestive Qi |
| Patients with peripheral neuropathy may experience | | | | Any of these patterns may present alone or in |
| different sensations, and can be described as: | | | | combination with one another. Treatment will be aimed |
| Sharp, stabbing pain | | | | at reducing the pain, tingling, or burning sensations, as |
| Burning | | | | well as increasing your core Qi to help your body heal |
| Numbness | | | | faster. |
| Sensitivity to touch | | | | There are many acupuncture points on the body that |
| Tingling | | | | can treat the above patterns as well as Chinese |
| An electrical sensation | | | | herbal formulas that can help treat peripheral |
| The Western medical treatment for peripheral | | | | neuropathy and reduce the symptoms. Additionally, |
| neuropathy consists of: | | | | nutritional recommendations may be made to help |
| Prescription medications - including pain relievers, | | | | decrease the pain. Your practitioner may also |
| anti-seizure medications, antidepressants, topical | | | | recommend including a practice into your daily life such |
| anesthetics to numb the local area | | | | as meditation, tai chi, yoga, or biofeedback to help with |
| Tens units - when small electrodes are attached | | | | the emotional side-effects and stress of chronic pain. |
| to the skin, and a gentle electrical current is sent | | | | Since peripheral neuropathy can be a deep rooted, |
| through the electrodes to help stimulate the nerves | | | | complicated condition, it can take a few treatments |
| Regular exercise | | | | before the symptoms begin to improve, and may take |
| Quitting smoking | | | | months before a very noticeable effect takes place. |