What is Neuropathy?
Neuropathy is not one single condition, but instead describes various health problems and the symptoms relating to nerve damage. Neuropathy is often caused by diabetes, but can also be caused by many other diseases and conditions including alcoholism, autoimmune disease, medications you are taking, infections, trauma, tumors, vitamin deficiency, and other disorders. There are four types of neuropathy:
- Autonomic neuropathy.
- Peripheral neuropathy – This is often called diabetic nerve pain or distal polyneuropathy.
- Proximal neuropathy – You may hear the term diabetic amyotrophy.
- Focal neuropathy.
More serious forms of neuropathy can lead to muscle weakness, painful cramps, twitching, a loss of reflexes, the feeling of wearing gloves or socks when you are not, heat intolerance, excess sweating, pain from a light touch, and more.
While the symptoms are not life-threatening, they can range from mildly frustrating to downright disabling and often lessen your quality of life. In some cases, the symptoms will pass over time as your body generates new cells. But in others, the nerve damage is permanent and irreversible.
Essentially it kick starts the body’s natural healing mechanisms. The treatment is non-surgical and non-invasive allowing you to heal without the need for drugs or for surgery.