Numbness in your hands and feet is a sign of neuropathy, a condition that interferes with the function of your nerves. At South Bay Wellness Center in San Jose, California, Jay Ebadat, DC, leads a team of expert health care professionals who can diagnose and treat neuropathy. If you think you’re experiencing signs of neuropathy, call South Bay Wellness Center, or request an appointment online today.

Neuropathy Q&A

What is neuropathy?

Neuropathy, which is also referred to as peripheral neuropathy, is the name for any condition that disrupts the function of the nerves that extend from your spinal cord through the rest of your body.

Your peripheral nerves control your senses, ability to move, and your autonomic functions, such as breathing and digestion. As a result, neuropathy can have a wide range of symptoms. Depending on the location of your nerve damage or compression, you may experience:

• Gradual development and spread of numbness, weakness, and loss of strength in your extremities
• Sharp or burning pain
• Increasingly extreme sensitivity to touch
• Loss of coordination and increased frequency of stumbles and falls
• Paralysis
• Heat intolerance
• Excessive sweating
• Bowel and bladder problems
• Changes in blood pressure

For example, carpal tunnel syndrome is a type of neuropathy. Swelling in your carpal tunnel compresses the nerves that run through it, and you develop numbness, pins-and-needles, and weakness in your fingers and hands. Similarly, sciatica is a type of neuropathy due to compression of the sciatic nerve in your lower back.

What causes neuropathy?

Neuropathy develops when something compresses or damages a nerve like inflammation or diabetes complications. A wide variety of conditions can contribute to neuropathy, including:

• Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other conditions that cause chronic inflammation
• Diabetes
• Infections, such as Lyme disease and shingles
• Tumors
• Bone marrow disorders
• Underactive thyroid
• Kidney and liver disease
• Alcoholism
• Traumatic injuries
• Vitamin deficiencies

Your risk of developing neuropathy increases if you have a family history of neuropathy or any of the conditions that can damage your nerves.

How is neuropathy treated?

The team at South Bay Wellness Center offers customized treatment plans to manage your neuropathy. For example, they may provide therapies and treatments to manage the condition, causing your neuropathy. They may recommend dietary changes or nutritional supplements to address any vitamin deficiencies and improve your overall health, helping you cope with your neuropathy.

Additionally, for severe cases, they may recommend chiropractic care and physical therapy to relieve stress on your nerves and help you improve your strength, flexibility, and balance to reduce your risk of falling and injuring yourself.

If you’re concerned about neuropathy, call South Bay Wellness Center or request an appointment online today.