Your peripheral nervous system acts as the communications network for your entire body. When neuropathy interrupts or distorts those communications, relief is available through the services of Joseph Downer, LAc, of Stratford Acupuncture & Nutritional Wellness Center in Stratford, Connecticut.

What is peripheral neuropathy?

Your peripheral nervous system works to send messages between your body and brain via your spinal cord. The nerves within that system can suffer damage from traumatic injury, metabolic issues, genetic conditions, infection, and exposure to environmental toxins.

When your nerves are damaged, wide-ranging symptoms can follow.

You might notice:

● Sensitivity to touch.

● Numbness.

● Sensations of tingling, burning, or pain.

● Changes in blood pressure, heart rate, bladder function, or digestion

Because these symptoms are common to many other conditions, peripheral neuropathy can be challenging to identify.

What types of peripheral neuropathy can be treated with acupuncture?

Acupuncture can improve all types of peripheral neuropathy, but some of the areas where Joe has achieved impressive results include:

● Diabetic neuropathy

This occurs when excess blood glucose places a strain on nerves throughout your body.

● Foot/hand neuropathy

Sensations of tingling, or “pins and needles,” in your hands and feet are a sign of this type of neuropathy. Sensory changes can spread to your arms and legs over time.

● Chemo-induced neuropathy

Chemotherapy places enormous strain on your body and can damage your peripheral nerves.

● Exposure to Agent Orange

Agent Orange was a powerful herbicide used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. Veterans exposed to the chemical often suffer from neuropathy.

Neuropathy can affect many other aspects of bodily function.

Won’t acupuncture needles worsen neuropathy symptoms?

Many people worry that acupuncture might aggravate their symptoms. This fear, combined with a general lack of public understanding about acupuncture, leads many to avoid a treatment that could yield impressive results.

The needles used in acupuncture are extremely thin. They’re also sterile and used only once, so there’s virtually no risk of infection. In the hands of a skilled practitioner, these needles won’t cause any harm.

Acupuncture stimulates your nervous system, triggering the release of endorphins. That provides a natural source of pain relief, something that many who are suffering from neuropathy prefer over pharmaceutical pain-relief drugs.