Neuropathy Treatment in Provo
Peripheral neuropathy affects millions of Americans, causing numbness, tingling, burning pain, and weakness that typically begins in the hands and feet and can progressively worsen over time. At Alpine Spinal Rehab, we offer a comprehensive, non-pharmaceutical approach to neuropathy care that focuses on improving nerve function, restoring blood flow to damaged nerves, and addressing the spinal and structural factors that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Understanding Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy occurs when the nerves outside your brain and spinal cord are damaged or dysfunctional. These peripheral nerves carry signals for sensation, movement, and autonomic functions like blood pressure regulation and digestion. When they are impaired, the communication between your brain and extremities breaks down.
The symptoms vary depending on which nerves are affected:
- Sensory neuropathy produces numbness, tingling, pins-and-needles sensations, burning or freezing pain, and hypersensitivity to touch. Many patients describe the feeling of wearing socks or gloves when they are not, or the sensation of walking on pebbles.
- Motor neuropathy causes muscle weakness, cramping, twitching, and difficulty with coordination and balance. Patients may notice they drop objects more frequently or have trouble with buttons and zippers.
- Autonomic neuropathy affects functions you do not consciously control, including blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, and bladder function.
Most neuropathy patients experience a combination of these symptoms, with sensory changes being the most common initial complaint.
Causes of Neuropathy
The underlying causes of peripheral neuropathy are numerous. The most common include:
- Diabetes and pre-diabetes, which account for the largest percentage of neuropathy cases. Elevated blood sugar damages small blood vessels that supply nerves.
- Spinal nerve compression from herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or degenerative joint disease that impinges on nerve roots as they exit the spine.
- Chemotherapy and certain other medications that are toxic to peripheral nerves.
- Vitamin deficiencies, particularly B12, B6, and folate, which are essential for nerve health and myelin production.
- Autoimmune conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Guillain-Barre syndrome.
- Alcohol use which directly damages nerves and impairs nutrient absorption.
- Idiopathic neuropathy, where no specific cause can be identified despite thorough testing.
Understanding the cause of your neuropathy is important because it guides treatment decisions and helps us set realistic expectations for recovery.
Our Approach to Neuropathy Care
At Alpine Spinal Rehab, we take a multi-faceted approach to neuropathy that addresses both the symptoms and the contributing factors:
Chiropractic Adjustments ensure that the spinal joints are properly aligned and not compressing the nerve roots that supply the affected extremities. Many patients with neuropathy have concurrent spinal dysfunction that amplifies their symptoms. Correcting these misalignments can improve nerve signal transmission.
Spinal Decompression targets disc-related nerve compression in the cervical or lumbar spine that may be contributing to numbness and tingling in the arms, hands, legs, or feet. By reducing mechanical pressure on nerve roots, decompression can improve nerve conduction and reduce peripheral symptoms.
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation uses specific therapeutic frequencies to activate damaged nerves, promote blood flow to nerve tissue, and support the body’s neuroplastic healing mechanisms. This therapy is painless and often produces noticeable improvements in sensation within the first several sessions.
Nutritional Guidance addresses deficiencies that may be impairing nerve health. We evaluate your dietary intake and supplementation to ensure your nerves have the raw materials they need for repair and maintenance.
Spinal Rehabilitation with Med X equipment strengthens the postural muscles that keep your spine properly aligned, reducing chronic compression on nerve roots and supporting long-term neurological health.
What to Expect
Your neuropathy evaluation begins with a detailed history covering the onset, progression, and character of your symptoms, as well as a review of any known contributing factors. We perform neurological testing to assess sensation, reflexes, muscle strength, and coordination in the affected areas. Spinal examination identifies any structural issues that may be compounding your neuropathy.
Based on our findings, we develop a treatment plan that typically involves two to three visits per week during the initial phase, gradually reducing as your symptoms improve. Most patients begin noticing changes within the first few weeks of care, though the timeline varies depending on the severity and duration of nerve damage.
Realistic Expectations
We believe in honest communication about outcomes. Some neuropathy can be significantly improved or reversed, particularly when it is related to spinal compression, nutritional deficiency, or early-stage diabetic changes. Long-standing neuropathy with extensive nerve damage may respond more slowly and may not fully resolve. Our commitment is to help you achieve the best possible outcome for your specific situation and to be transparent about what you can expect.
Start Your Neuropathy Evaluation
If numbness, tingling, or nerve pain is affecting your daily life, call Alpine Spinal Rehab at (385) 314-4552 or book a consultation online at our Provo clinic. Early intervention gives you the best chance of meaningful improvement.