Do you have a tingling sensation in your hands and feet? Do you feel like you’re wearing gloves and socks, even when your hands and feet are not covered? Does numbness in your feet prevent you from making a solid connection with the floor and throw off your gait?

Symptoms and Causes

If you recognize any of these experiences, you may be suffering from peripheral neuropathy. This condition often results from nerve damage and can cause the following in hands, feet and other areas of the body:

• Burning

• Heat intolerance

• Loss of coordination

• Muscle weakness

• Numbness

• Pain

• Sensitivity to touch

• Weakness

Patients with peripheral neuropathy often have diabetes. In addition, they may have experienced the following:

• Exposure to toxins

• Infections

• Metabolic problems

• Traumatic injuries

Some of the uncomfortable and unsettling sensations associated with peripheral neuropathy may ease over time. However, many patients need to find relief for this unrelenting discomfort, which may also intensify existing back problems. As nerve damage in the feet alters their previous walking patterns, their once-natural back alignment is negatively impacted and often results in more pain.

Personal Care

Making the effort to improve your overall health can help you cope with peripheral neuropathy. Here are some specific tips:

• Daily foot care including properly fitting socks and shoes

• Hand and foot massages to improve circulation, stimulate nerves and ease pain

• Healthy meals with fruits, vegetables and whole grains

• Regular exercise such as walking, yoga and tai chi to increase muscle strength and control blood sugar levels

Pain Relief Therapies

According to the Mayo Clinic, patients with peripheral neuropathy have experienced some pain relief with the following therapies:

• Acupuncture

• Biofeedback

• Herbs

• Fish oil

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke also suggests the following:

• Avoidance of alcohol

• Careful wound treatment

• Correction of vitamin deficiencies

• Maintenance of optimal weight

• Smoking cessation

• Treatment of underlying conditions

With a regular plan following these steps, nerve regeneration may even occur in some patients.

Importance of Seeking Medical Care

If you are experiencing tingling, numbness, weakness or pain in your hands and feet, it is important to seek immediate medical care. The physicians at Non-Surgical Orthopaedics, specializing in acupuncture and many other treatments for peripheral neuropathy, can offer you pain relief. Call 770-421-1420 to schedule an appointment now.