Numbness, tingling, pin and needle sensations, loss of feeling, hot nerve pain, and complete loss of feelings are some typical symptoms of peripheral neuropathy (PN). Neuropathy affects more than 20 million people in the United States but this figure is likely much higher because many people are not tested for the disease.
Some common causes of peripheral neuropathy are:
-Diabetes can result in blood supply deficiencies to extremities.
-Autoimmune diseases like Guillain-Barre syndrome, in which the immune system
attacks the body’s nerves reducing sensitivity.
-Infections can attack nerve tissues causing PN. As in HIV, and varicella zoster.
-Chemotherapy can damage the nerves resulting in peripheral neuropathy.
-Vitamin deficiencies can cause PN, with B12 vitamin the most common.
-Food poisoning can cause peripheral neuropathy when bacteria damage the nerves.
-Idiopathic PN is very common in which no obvious cause is given for neuropathy.
Treatment with medications is the most common recommendation for people with peripheral neuropathy but this comes with risk of unwanted side effects. Most medications that are prescribed for peripheral neuropathy are considered “off-label”, meaning these medications were not specifically designed to treat neuropathy. For example, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants are common drugs prescribed to treat PN. These drugs were not designed nor approved for peripheral neuropathy treatment. According to research, about 75 percent of all off-label drugs prescribed have little or no scientific support for the condition they are prescribed for.
Summus Laser is proven to effectively treat peripheral neuropathy. Every nerve has its own blood supply, and when this blood supply is depleted or reduced, the nerve is less effective in transmitting the proper signal or the correct sensation (feeling) to the place it controls. Our class IV laser is one the most powerful lasers on the market and is specifically designed to increase blood flow to areas affected by peripheral neuropathy. Call Laser Center of Louisville for a complimentary consultation and get the feelings back in your problem areas!