What is peripheral neuropathy?

hands touching

Your nervous system connects the nerves from your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body, delivering signals about physical sensations back to your brain from your arms, hands, feet, and legs.

If these nerves become damaged due to an injury, illness, infection, diabetes, or exposure to toxins, it is called peripheral neuropathy. Physical injury is the most common cause of nerve damage, including a car accident, fall, or fracture. The risk of neuropathy due to disease increases in people who are over the age of 40, overweight, have high blood pressure, or have diabetes.

The symptoms of neuropathy include:

  • loss of sensation, weakness, numbness, tingling in your hands or feet
  • sharp, stabbing, or burning pain
  • weak or heavy feeling in your arms or legs
  • drop in blood pressure
  • loss of ability to detect changes in heat and cold
  • loss of coordination and balance

These effects can be reversed if the underlying cause is treated. Chiropractic care and spinal decompression therapy may be right for you. To learn more, please fill out our contact form or call for an appointment: 845-255-1200.