Acupuncture For Neuropathy

I Have Neuropathy….Can Acupuncture Make a Difference?

Being that neuropathy is a very common problem (over 20 million people or 1 in 15 in the U.S.), it is safe to say that traditional methods of treatment have not been doing the trick for many sufferers. Customary treatments can range anywhere from run of the mill over the counter pain killers such as ibuprofen or aspirin, to surgery and injections to reduce pain and discomfort. The issue here is that while some of these may be effective to a degree, they also all come with their own set of side effects. You are essentially trading one discomfort for the other, which seems, to be frank, counterintuitive. Acupuncture is a natural, safe method of pain relief that help a variety of neuropathy patients without the negative side effects of traditional methods of treatment. Studies have shown acupuncture has a big impact on the condition of neuropathy symptoms and seems that acupuncture should be the new “go-to” method of treatment for neuropathy patients.

What is Neuropathy?

For the most part, the type of neuropathy we hear of most is diabetic neuropathy. However, this is far from the only type that affects patients, and diabetes is certainly not the only reason someone can have symptoms of neuropathy. Before we can take a look at acupuncture for neuropathy, we have to look at the issue as a whole and where it stems from. Also known as peripheral (meaning “extremities”) neuropathy, it is in its simplest form, is nerve damage. It is any condition that damages the body’s peripheral nervous system. Peripheral neuropathy exists when nerves are destroyed and can’t send communication from the brain to the muscles, skin, legs and feet, internal organs, joints, and even eyes, ears, and nose. When the nerves are damaged, this is when it causes pain and numbness for the patient.

There are two types of neuropathy:

• Peripheral Neuropathy (polyneuropathy; most common)-affecting multiple nerves. Examples of this are Diabetic Neuropathy (caused by diabetes, problems mostly in the legs and feet), Drug-Induced (chemotherapy, etc), Idiopathic (no one knows the cause).

• Mononeuropathy (one nerve or nerve group)-usually damage by trauma, injury, pressure or inflammation. Examples of this are Carpal Tunnel syndrome (wrist and hand disorder) and Bell’s Palsy (facial nerve disorder).

In general, neuropathy is either hereditary (runs in families) or obtained (develops after birth).

There are three types of nerves that make up the peripheral nervous system:

• Sensory-these carry messages to the brain through your spinal cord such as temperature, pain, or touch. An example of this would be telling your brain when something is hot or cold.

• Motor-these carry the messages in the opposite direction from your brain to your muscles controlling muscle movement. It would tell your muscles to move away from the hot or cold surface.

• Autonomic-these control body functions that are outside of your control. These are things like digestion, blood pressure, breathing, bladder, and heart rate.

Each of these play an important part in keeping your body functioning correctly and when one is damaged, that is where medical intervention needs to happen.

What Are the Signs of Neuropathy and What Caused it?

As stated above, there are many causes of neuropathy, essentially either hereditary or acquired. Most people fall under the acquired category, but there is a hereditary form of neuropathy known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease which affects both motor nerves and sensory nerves, and there is currently no known cure for hereditary neuropathy.

While diabetic neuropathy is the most well-known, some other health conditions that can cause peripheral neuropathy are:

• Infections–viral or bacterial including shingles, Lyme disease, hepatitis B & C, leprosy, HIV, diphtheria, and Epstein-Barr virus.

• Diabetes-most (more than half) of the people diagnosed with diabetes at some point develop some type of neuropathy.

• Autoimmune diseases-diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis (R.A.), Guillain-Barre syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and vasculitis.

• Alcoholism-this can lead to vitamin deficiencies.

• Trauma-this could be from motor vehicle accidents and falls or sports injuries.

• Medication-ones that treat cancer such as chemotherapy, along with other certain medications can cause peripheral neuropathy.

• Vitamin deficiencies-vitamins B (B1, B6, and B12) and E are pivotal for nerve health.

The most common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include tingling, numbness, or pain. Patients can feel a wide variety of versions of these symptoms. Being that each nerve in the peripheral nervous system has a particular function, the symptoms for each person could be completely different and would depend on the types of nerves that are affected. This is something that would be determined by your acupuncturist in a consultation to provide and individualized treatment unlike traditional medication remedies.

Some symptoms may consist of:

• Pricking or tingling in your feet or hands which can spread into your arms and legs

• Sharp, throbbing or burning pain

• High sensitivity to touch

• Pain with activities where there shouldn’t be pain like pain in your feet when putting weight on them or when they’re under a blanket

• Insufficient coordination and falling

• Muscle weakness

• Feeling of wearing gloves or socks when you are not

• Motor nerve paralysis

If autonomic nerves are affected:

• Heat intolerance

• Uncontrolled sweating or unable to sweat

• Digestive issues

• Changes in blood pressure giving rise to dizziness

Unfortunately, with medication, there is no way to address all of these issues to date. There is also no way with medication currently to address these issues without giving way to more issues and side effects for the patient, creating a need for yet another medication creating a vicious circle.

How Can Acupuncture Help?

Acupuncture is well-known to increase and stimulate blood flow in the limbs and with peripheral neuropathy, this knowledge could be a game changer in the restoration of nerve damage. With minimal, if any, side effects compared to pharmaceutical treatment options, acupuncture is a reasonable treatment option for the symptoms of neuropathy. Typically, there are about six sessions within the month, and a monthly maintenance treatment thereafter. Most patients have more energy, less pain, and better sleep by the third session. The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture as a useful therapy for neurological symptoms such as peripheral neuropathy. There have been several studies done (and still more being done) as to the effectiveness of acupuncture for symptoms of neuropathy.

A study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20397454) done previously showed significant results in favor of acupuncture or diabetic peripheral neuropathy:

• In the group that received acupuncture, there were 16 cases that were relieved, 12 improved, and 4 failed with a 87.5% total effective rate.

• In the control group, who were orally administered inositol, 7 cases were relieved, 14 cases improved, and 12 failed with a 63.6% effective rate.

According to the results, acupuncture shows larger positive effects for diabetic peripheral neuropathy to that of the control group receiving oral medication. Along with this study there are many more being conducted as to the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for neuropathy including one still being worked on as of September 2019 whose results will solidify up to date benefits of acupuncture for a treatment option to go along with its previous positive outcomes conducted in 2007 and 2010. There has not been a study to date that has shown adverse effects from acupuncture treatment.

What is the Outlook for Acupuncture Treatment?

If traditional over the counter treatments are just not cutting it, it may be time to think outside the box with alternative treatment options like acupuncture. The numbers certainly don’t lie, and with the continuing research and positive results being obtained with acupuncture, there is no question if it could be a viable option for you. Make sure to speak with a licensed acupuncturist with the appropriate credentials and go over any and all symptoms you are having as a result of your neuropathy. Acupuncture is gaining ground in today’s world, and it’s easy to see why when western medicine is failing so many and costing them a fortune to boot. Acupuncture has changed the daily life of many patients with neuropathy symptoms just by taking the plunge with acupuncture treatment. Are you going to give it a try? A better question would be, especially if all else has failed, why not?

Acupuncture, one of the oldest and most commonly used forms of alternative medicine, has existed for more than 2500 years. Acupuncture is a meridian-based therapy. In traditional acupuncture, needles are inserted into precisely defined, specific points on the body, each of which has distinct therapeutic actions When an acupuncture point is stimulated, treatment effects tend to occur on the specific parts of the body along a particular meridian that contains this specific acupuncture point. Investigators have demonstrated that the nervous system and neurotransmitters respond to needling stimulation and electroacupuncture . As a safe form of treatment, acupuncture offers clear clinical advantages in the reduction of symptoms related to nervous system disorders such as neuropathy.