What Exactly Is Neuropathy?
When those communication lines are compromised, the body's ability to send and receive signals breaks down.
At the root of most neuropathy is damage to the nerve axon — the fiber that carries electrical impulses from one place to another. When a sensory axon is damaged, your sense of touch, temperature and pain become distorted. When motor axons are affected, muscle control weakens. When autonomic axons are involved, involuntary functions like breathing, heart rate and perspiration can be impaired.
For most people, neuropathy first makes itself known as tingling, burning, prickling or numbness in the hands and feet. These sensations can range from a minor annoyance to a debilitating daily experience — but with the right treatment, they don't have to be permanent.
More than 20 million Americans are living with some form of neuropathy — more than those affected by Alzheimer's, Epilepsy, Rheumatoid Arthritis, HIV, Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis combined. You are not alone, and effective help is available right here in Southern Oregon.
Types of Neuropathy
With over 100 distinct types of neuropathy documented, it helps to understand how they are grouped. Clinically, they are categorized first by which part of the nervous system is affected, then by how many nerves are involved.
Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy
The most common form. Affects both sensory nerves (touch, temperature, pain) and motor nerves (movement and muscle control), typically in the feet and hands first.
Autonomic Neuropathy
Disrupts nerves that manage involuntary body functions — breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, perspiration and digestion — leading to widespread systemic effects.
Peripheral Neuropathy
The broadest category: damage to nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, most often expressed as pain, numbness and tingling in the arms, wrists, hands, legs, ankles and feet.
How Many Nerves Are Involved?
By Nerve Count
- Mononeuropathy — a single nerve affected; conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and Bell's palsy may result.
- Multiple Mononeuropathy — two or more individual nerves involved, each in distinct locations.
- Polyneuropathy — a broad range of peripheral nerves affected simultaneously; commonly associated with diabetes.
Other Classification Methods
- Functional class: motor, sensory, autonomic, or a combination of all three.
- Speed of onset: symptoms that develop over hours, days, weeks, months or years indicate very different underlying mechanisms.
- Anatomical location: peripheral neuropathy affecting the extremities — arms, wrists, hands, legs, ankles and feet — is the most prevalent form.
What Causes Neuropathy?
There is rarely a single, simple answer. Neuropathy is most often a symptom of an underlying condition rather than a standalone disease — which is precisely why identifying the root cause is so critical to effective treatment. Roughly 40% of all neuropathies have no identifiable cause and are labeled idiopathic. Of the remaining cases, approximately 35% involve diabetes as the primary driver.
Diabetes (Most Common)
Nearly 70% of Americans with diabetes develop some form of neuropathy. High blood sugar gradually damages nerve axons throughout the body, most often in the feet and legs first.
Traumatic Injury & Nerve Pressure
Physical injury, repetitive movements over extended periods, or sustained pressure on nerves — such as prolonged time on knees or elbows — can directly damage nerve fibers.
Infections & Disease
HIV/AIDS, Lyme disease, liver disease, kidney disease and hypothyroidism are all associated with the development of peripheral neuropathy.
Toxins & Medications
Heavy metal poisoning, alcoholism, certain cancer treatments (chemotherapy), and various medications can all be neurotoxic, progressively degrading peripheral nerve function.
Autoimmune Disorders
Conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus and other autoimmune diseases attack the body's own tissues — including peripheral nerves — triggering chronic neuropathic symptoms.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Poor nutrition — especially deficiencies in vitamin B-12 — is a well-established cause of neuropathy and a key factor in the development of Type II Diabetes.
What is idiopathic neuropathy? When no identifiable cause can be found through testing, the condition is classified as idiopathic. This accounts for nearly 40% of all neuropathy cases — meaning nearly half of all sufferers receive no clear explanation for their pain.
Who Can Develop Neuropathy?
Neuropathy does not discriminate — it can affect people of all ages in Southern Oregon. That said, certain lifestyle factors, health conditions and demographic characteristics elevate the risk considerably. Understanding where you stand is the first step toward prevention and early treatment.
Diabetes & Poor Nutrition
Those with poor nutritional habits are more likely to develop Type II Diabetes — the single largest driver of neuropathy.
Autoimmune Conditions
If you have an autoimmune disease, you carry a predisposition for developing multiple types of neuropathy over time.
Compromised Immune System
Organ transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients, and those on immunosuppressant medications face elevated neuropathy risk.
Repetitive Motion Work
Jobs or activities involving sustained repetitive movements can create chronic nerve compression and cumulative axon damage.
Alcoholism
Chronic alcohol use is directly neurotoxic and also contributes to the nutritional deficiencies that cause neuropathy.
Vitamin Deficiencies
Low levels of key vitamins — particularly B-12 — are a well-documented, treatable cause of peripheral neuropathy symptoms.
Kidney, Liver & Thyroid Disease
All three conditions alter the body's metabolic environment in ways that make peripheral nerves significantly more vulnerable.
Hereditary Factors
Some neuropathies are inherited. If a blood relative has neuropathy, your own risk profile should be discussed with a clinician.
How Is Neuropathy Diagnosed?
Neuropathy is rarely straightforward to diagnose. Because it so often presents as a symptom of another underlying disease rather than a standalone condition, a thorough multi-step evaluation is required. No single test confirms it — instead, a layered process builds a complete picture of your nerve health.
- Full medical history review
- Comprehensive physical examination
- Neurological exam — tendon reflexes, muscle strength and tone
- Sensory tests for touch, temperature and pain response
- Postural and coordination analysis
- Blood tests — including vitamin B-12 levels
- Urinalysis
- Thyroid function tests
- Nerve conduction studies
- Nerve biopsy (when indicated by physician)
Why is diagnosis so complex? Neuropathy almost never exists in isolation. The diagnostic process must rule out — or confirm — dozens of underlying conditions before an accurate treatment plan can be established. This thoroughness is what separates effective care from symptom management.
Neuropathy Relief — What's Available
Neuropathy treatment has advanced considerably. Options range from medications and topical therapies to alternative treatments, neuromodulation and targeted lifestyle changes. The most effective path is rarely a single approach — it is a coordinated plan designed around your specific type and cause of neuropathy.
Prescription Antidepressants
The most common first-line treatment. These medications can relieve neuropathic pain even in non-depressed patients, and research shows they can also alleviate chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Anticonvulsants
Block incoming calcium within neurons, which inhibits the transmission of pain signals through the peripheral nervous system — a proven mechanism for reducing chronic neuropathic pain.
Topical Creams
Lidocaine and capsaicin creams applied directly to affected areas can provide localized, targeted relief with minimal systemic side effects.
Spinal Cord Stimulators
Surgically implanted devices that use electrical signals to interrupt pain pathways before they reach the brain — a well-established intervention for severe neuropathy.
Motor Cortex Electrodes
Implanted electrodes that stimulate the motor cortex to modulate chronic pain signals in cases where other approaches have not provided adequate relief.
Deep Brain Stimulation & Spinal Pumps
Reserved for complex or refractory neuropathic pain, these surgical approaches use chemical or electrical implants to directly modulate the nervous system.
Lifestyle Measures That Make a Real Difference
Proper nutrition is essential — particularly for diabetics. A structured exercise plan is strongly recommended. If you smoke, quitting is one of the most impactful things you can do for your nerve health. At home, massaging your hands and feet stimulates nerve activity and provides direct relief. Avoid spending extended periods on your knees or elbows, as sustained pressure on nerves can cause or worsen damage over time.
Ready to explore a chiropractic approach to neuropathy relief?
Visit our Services page to learn exactly how we treat neuropathy at Southern Oregon Neuropathy Solutions.Your Questions, Answered
We hear these questions every day from patients across Southern Oregon. Clear, honest answers are the foundation of good care.
Can neuropathy be cured, or only managed?
The answer depends significantly on the underlying cause. When neuropathy is linked to a treatable or correctable condition — such as a nutritional deficiency, pressure on a nerve, or poorly controlled diabetes — addressing that root cause can lead to meaningful improvement or even resolution of symptoms over time.
For other forms, particularly those tied to irreversible nerve damage or hereditary conditions, the focus shifts toward effective management: reducing pain, slowing progression and maximizing function. The key point is that with proper treatment for the underlying condition, there is a far better chance of improving symptoms than if neuropathy is left unaddressed. Early intervention matters enormously — which is why we encourage anyone experiencing tingling, numbness or burning in the extremities to seek evaluation promptly.
I have diabetes — how likely am I to develop neuropathy?
The statistics are sobering: nearly 70% of Americans with diabetes develop some form of neuropathy as a result of the disease. Of the estimated 20 million Americans currently living with neuropathy, between 15 and 18 million cases are attributed to diabetes. This makes diabetic neuropathy by far the most common form of this condition.
High blood sugar causes progressive damage to nerve axons, most often beginning in the feet and hands. The good news is that with careful blood sugar control, appropriate nutrition, a structured exercise plan, and supportive care — including chiropractic-based neuropathy treatment — it is possible to slow the progression and significantly reduce symptoms. If you are diabetic and experiencing any numbness, tingling or burning sensations, please do not wait. Contact us to schedule an evaluation today.
What is idiopathic neuropathy, and does it mean nothing can be done?
Idiopathic neuropathy is the term used when no identifiable cause can be determined after thorough testing. It accounts for approximately 40% of all neuropathy cases — making it far more common than most patients realize. Receiving an idiopathic diagnosis can feel discouraging, but it does not mean treatment is futile.
Even without a confirmed underlying cause, neuropathic symptoms — pain, numbness, tingling, burning — can often be meaningfully reduced through targeted therapies. Chiropractic care, nutritional support, therapeutic massage and other integrative approaches can address the nerve environment and reduce symptomatic burden, regardless of whether a single root cause has been identified. Our approach focuses on what can be done to improve your daily function and quality of life, not just what caused the problem.
How does chiropractic care help with peripheral neuropathy?
Chiropractic adjustments are a recognized alternative therapy for neuropathy, appearing alongside acupuncture, therapeutic massage and other integrative approaches in clinical literature. The central idea is that the peripheral nervous system does not function in isolation — it is profoundly influenced by the alignment and health of the spine and musculoskeletal system as a whole.
Misalignments or restrictions in the spine can create or worsen nerve compression and impair the nervous system's ability to communicate effectively with the extremities. By restoring proper alignment and reducing nerve pressure, chiropractic care can help improve nerve conduction, reduce pain signals and support the body's natural recovery processes. At Southern Oregon Neuropathy Solutions, our approach is specifically tailored to neuropathy patients — it is not a generic chiropractic adjustment program. For a full explanation of what our treatment involves, visit our Services page.
What are the earliest warning signs of neuropathy I should look for?
Peripheral neuropathy most commonly begins in the furthest points of the body — the feet, then hands — and moves inward. The earliest signs are typically sensory in nature and include:
Tingling or "pins and needles" sensations that come and go, particularly in the toes, feet or fingers. Burning pain that may be worse at night. Unusual sensitivity to touch — even light contact like bed sheets can feel painful. Numbness or a feeling that you're wearing an invisible glove or sock. As the condition progresses, motor symptoms such as muscle weakness, balance problems and coordination difficulties may emerge. Autonomic involvement can produce symptoms like unusual perspiration, changes in blood pressure or digestive irregularities.
If you recognize any of these signs — especially if you have diabetes, a nutritional deficiency, or any of the other risk factors described on this page — we strongly encourage you to seek evaluation early. The sooner neuropathy is identified and addressed, the better the outcome.
Do I need a referral to be seen at Southern Oregon Neuropathy Solutions?
No referral is required to schedule an evaluation with us. We welcome patients directly and will work collaboratively with your existing medical team — your primary care physician, endocrinologist or neurologist — to ensure your care is coordinated and comprehensive.
At your first visit, we will conduct a thorough review of your medical history, a physical and neurological assessment, and a discussion of your symptoms, lifestyle and goals. From there, we build an individualized treatment plan. To learn more about what to expect, visit our Contact page or call us to speak with a member of our team. We serve patients throughout Southern Oregon and are committed to making high-quality neuropathy care accessible and clearly explained from day one.
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