Peripheral neuropathy in Loveland, CO gets compassionate, comprehensive care at Dawson Chiropractic, where Dr. Jerod Dawson helps patients dealing with numbness, tingling, burning sensations, and pain in their hands and feet through gentle treatment that addresses nerve function, spinal alignment, and the underlying factors contributing to nerve damage. The office at 670 E 29th St has that welcoming, homey atmosphere patients appreciate when dealing with a frustrating condition that affects balance, coordination, and quality of life.
Dr. Dawson’s faith-based approach means he treats every neuropathy patient with patience and genuine care, recognizing how frightening and frustrating it is when your feet feel numb, your hands tingle constantly, or you struggle with balance because you can’t feel the ground properly. He takes time to understand your specific symptoms – when they started, what makes them worse, and how they affect your daily activities.
Most patients say they learn something new at every visit about what’s causing their neuropathy symptoms and what they can do to help manage them. While peripheral neuropathy can be challenging to treat, many patients experience improvement in symptoms and quality of life through comprehensive care that addresses multiple contributing factors.
What Is Peripheral Neuropathy and What Causes It?
Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the peripheral nerves that carry information between your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body, causing numbness, tingling, burning pain, weakness, and loss of coordination primarily in hands and feet but potentially affecting other areas. The condition has many possible causes including diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, infections, toxins, medications, injuries, and sometimes no identifiable cause.
Your peripheral nervous system is like a communication network sending signals about sensation, movement, and organ function. When these nerves get damaged, signals don’t transmit properly. You might lose feeling in your feet, experience painful burning sensations, struggle with fine motor tasks like buttoning shirts, or have trouble maintaining balance.
Diabetic neuropathy is the most common type, developing from prolonged high blood sugar that damages small blood vessels feeding nerves. Other causes include chemotherapy drugs, excessive alcohol use, vitamin B12 deficiency, autoimmune conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, infections like shingles or Lyme disease, and physical trauma that injures nerves.
How Do I Know If I Have Peripheral Neuropathy?
You likely have peripheral neuropathy if you experience numbness or reduced sensation in your feet or hands (often described as wearing gloves or socks when you’re not), tingling or burning sensations, sharp shooting pains, extreme sensitivity to touch, muscle weakness, loss of coordination and balance, or foot problems like ulcers if you can’t feel injuries. The symptoms typically start in your toes and feet, then progress upward, though hands can be affected too.
Early neuropathy might feel like pins and needles in your toes or fingertips. As it progresses, you might lose feeling completely in affected areas. Some people experience painful burning or freezing sensations instead of numbness. Others describe electrical shocks or stabbing pains that come and go.
Balance problems develop when you can’t feel your feet properly and don’t get accurate feedback about where they are in space. You might become clumsy, trip more easily, or feel unsteady. During your examination at 670 E 29th St, Dr. Dawson performs specific tests to evaluate nerve function and help identify whether you have neuropathy and what might be causing it.
Can Chiropractic Care Help Peripheral Neuropathy?
Yes, chiropractic care helps many peripheral neuropathy patients by addressing spinal misalignments that can contribute to nerve dysfunction, improving circulation to affected areas, providing nutrition guidance about vitamins and minerals that support nerve health, and coordinating with medical providers to address underlying causes. While chiropractic doesn’t cure neuropathy, it can reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for many patients.
Spinal alignment affects nerve function throughout your body. Misalignments in your lower back can contribute to leg and foot neuropathy symptoms. Neck problems can worsen hand symptoms. Adjustments that restore proper spinal function support better nerve communication and may reduce some neuropathy symptoms.
Dr. Dawson takes a comprehensive approach, addressing not just spinal alignment but also lifestyle factors, nutrition, blood sugar management for diabetic patients, and other contributors to nerve health. He works alongside your medical doctor rather than replacing medical care, helping you manage symptoms while addressing reversible causes of nerve damage.
What Should I Expect During Neuropathy Treatment?
During neuropathy treatment, expect gentle spinal adjustments tailored to your condition, discussion about managing underlying causes like diabetes or nutritional deficiencies, lifestyle and nutrition guidance that supports nerve health, and coordination with your medical providers to address the complete picture. Treatment focuses on reducing symptoms, preventing progression, and improving your ability to function in daily activities.
Dr. Dawson performs a thorough evaluation to understand your neuropathy – what areas are affected, how severe symptoms are, what underlying conditions might contribute, and what limitations you experience. He creates a personalized plan based on your specific situation rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
The adjustments are gentle because many neuropathy patients have increased pain sensitivity or fragile health conditions that require modified techniques. Treatment progresses gradually with realistic expectations about what can be achieved. The goal is meaningful improvement in symptoms and quality of life, not necessarily complete elimination of all neuropathy.
How Does Diabetes Cause Peripheral Neuropathy?
Diabetes causes peripheral neuropathy because prolonged high blood sugar damages the small blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to nerves, particularly in your extremities, and also directly harms nerve fibers through metabolic changes and oxidative stress. Diabetic neuropathy develops gradually, often going unnoticed until significant nerve damage has occurred.
High blood sugar over months and years affects nerves in multiple ways. It damages the protective coating around nerves called myelin, disrupts the chemical signals nerves use to communicate, and reduces blood flow that nerves need to stay healthy. The longest nerves – those reaching your feet – get damaged first because they’re most vulnerable.
Blood sugar control is the single most important factor in preventing and managing diabetic neuropathy. Dr. Dawson discusses nutrition strategies that help stabilize blood sugar, works with your medical doctor on diabetes management, and addresses lifestyle factors that affect blood sugar control. While nerve damage that’s already occurred can’t always be reversed, controlling blood sugar prevents further damage and sometimes allows partial nerve recovery.
Can Vitamin Deficiencies Cause Neuropathy Symptoms?
Yes, vitamin deficiencies cause neuropathy symptoms, particularly deficiencies in vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin E, and other B vitamins that are necessary for proper nerve function and the production of myelin that protects nerve fibers. Correcting deficiencies can improve and sometimes reverse neuropathy symptoms if caught before permanent nerve damage occurs.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is especially common in people over 60, vegetarians and vegans, those taking certain medications like metformin or acid reducers, and people with digestive problems that impair nutrient absorption. The deficiency develops slowly and causes numbness, tingling, weakness, and balance problems that mimic other types of neuropathy.
Dr. Dawson discusses your diet, medications, and risk factors for nutritional deficiencies. He might recommend lab testing to check vitamin levels if deficiency seems likely. Supplementation under proper guidance can significantly improve symptoms when deficiency is the cause or a contributing factor to neuropathy.
Why Are My Feet Numb and Tingly?
Your feet are numb and tingly because peripheral nerves in your legs and feet are damaged or dysfunctional, sending abnormal signals to your brain that get interpreted as tingling, numbness, burning, or pain. Feet are typically affected first and worst in peripheral neuropathy because the nerves reaching your feet are the longest in your body and most vulnerable to damage.
The tingling sensation happens when damaged nerves fire spontaneously or send garbled signals. Numbness occurs when nerves lose their ability to transmit sensation signals properly. You might have both – areas of numbness interspersed with areas of painful tingling or burning.
These symptoms start gradually in your toes and slowly progress upward over months or years if the underlying cause isn’t addressed. Some people describe feeling like they’re walking on cotton or wearing thick socks when barefoot. Others experience painful hypersensitivity where even light touch feels uncomfortable.
How Does Neuropathy Affect Balance and Walking?
Neuropathy affects balance and walking because when you can’t feel your feet properly, you lose sensory feedback about foot position and ground contact that your brain needs to maintain balance and coordinate movement. This sensory loss increases fall risk, makes you walk more carefully or shuffle, and can significantly limit mobility and independence.
Normal balance relies on three systems working together – vision, inner ear function, and sensation from your feet and legs telling your brain where your body is in space. When peripheral neuropathy damages sensation, you lose one-third of your balance system. You rely more heavily on vision and become unsteady in the dark or on uneven surfaces.
Dr. Dawson addresses balance problems through exercises that strengthen remaining balance systems, gait training that improves walking safety, and recommendations about assistive devices if needed. Maintaining mobility and preventing falls is important for overall health and quality of life with neuropathy.
Can Neuropathy Be Reversed or Only Managed?
Neuropathy can sometimes be reversed if caught early and the underlying cause is corrected – like treating vitamin B12 deficiency, controlling blood sugar in diabetics, or removing exposure to toxins – but advanced nerve damage with significant loss of nerve fibers is usually permanent and can only be managed to prevent progression and reduce symptoms. The earlier you address neuropathy, the better your chances of improvement rather than just slowing decline.
Nerves can regenerate slowly under the right conditions. If you correct the cause before too much damage occurs, you might experience gradual improvement over months. However, nerves regenerate very slowly – about one millimeter per day – so recovery takes patience when it’s possible at all.
Even when complete reversal isn’t possible, proper management prevents worsening and helps you maintain function. Dr. Dawson provides realistic expectations based on your specific situation. The focus is on protecting remaining nerve function, managing symptoms, preventing complications like falls or foot ulcers, and maintaining the best possible quality of life.
What Lifestyle Changes Help Manage Neuropathy?
Lifestyle changes that help manage neuropathy include controlling blood sugar if you have diabetes, eating a nutrient-rich diet that supports nerve health, avoiding alcohol which damages nerves further, exercising regularly to improve circulation and maintain strength, inspecting feet daily for injuries you might not feel, wearing proper footwear, and managing conditions like high blood pressure that contribute to nerve damage. Dr. Dawson provides personalized lifestyle guidance based on your specific situation.
Exercise seems counterintuitive when your feet hurt or feel numb, but gentle activity improves blood flow to nerves, helps control blood sugar, maintains muscle strength, and can actually reduce neuropathy pain for many people. Walking, swimming, or cycling are good options if tolerated.
Foot care becomes critical with neuropathy because you might not feel cuts, blisters, or other injuries that could become infected. Check your feet daily, wear comfortable shoes that fit properly, keep toenails trimmed, and address any foot problems promptly. Dr. Dawson teaches you what to watch for and when to seek medical attention for foot issues.
Does Alcohol Make Neuropathy Worse?
Yes, alcohol makes neuropathy worse because it directly damages peripheral nerves, depletes B vitamins needed for nerve health, and can cause a specific type of neuropathy called alcoholic neuropathy in people who drink heavily over long periods. If you have neuropathy from any cause, alcohol consumption can accelerate nerve damage and worsen symptoms.
Even moderate drinking can be problematic for people with existing neuropathy. Alcohol interferes with how your body absorbs and uses vitamins, particularly B vitamins that are important for nerve function. It also has direct toxic effects on nerve tissue.
Dr. Dawson discusses alcohol use honestly and compassionately, understanding that habits are hard to change. If alcohol contributes to your neuropathy, reducing or eliminating consumption gives your nerves the best chance of stabilizing or improving. The faith-based foundation of this practice means support is available for making difficult but necessary lifestyle changes.
What Medications Cause Peripheral Neuropathy?
Medications that cause peripheral neuropathy include certain chemotherapy drugs, some antibiotics like fluoroquinolones, medications for HIV/AIDS, statins in some people, anti-seizure medications, and others that have nerve damage as a potential side effect. If you develop neuropathy while taking any medication, discuss it with your prescribing doctor – sometimes alternatives exist or the benefits outweigh the side effects.
Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy is particularly common and can persist long after cancer treatment ends. The drugs that kill rapidly dividing cancer cells also damage nerve tissue. Symptoms might improve gradually after treatment stops, but some patients have permanent neuropathy.
Dr. Dawson reviews your medication list during evaluation. He doesn’t recommend stopping prescribed medications but can coordinate with your doctor about whether drug-induced neuropathy might be occurring and what options exist. He focuses on supporting nerve health as much as possible given your medical needs.
How Can I Protect My Feet With Neuropathy?
You can protect your feet with neuropathy by inspecting them daily for cuts, blisters, redness, or swelling you might not feel, wearing comfortable shoes that fit properly without tight spots, keeping feet clean and moisturized, trimming toenails carefully, never walking barefoot even at home, testing bath water temperature with your hand before stepping in, and seeing a podiatrist regularly for professional foot care. Preventing foot injuries matters because neuropathy slows healing and increases infection risk.
Use a mirror to check the bottoms of your feet if you can’t see them easily. Look between toes for cracks or fungal infections. Feel for temperature differences that might indicate inflammation. Address any problems immediately before they worsen.
Shoes should have plenty of room in the toe box, good arch support, and cushioning. Avoid high heels or shoes with pointed toes. Check inside shoes for objects or rough areas before putting them on. Change socks daily and avoid tight socks that restrict circulation. Dr. Dawson can recommend appropriate footwear and custom orthotics if needed to protect neuropathic feet.
Can Stress Make Neuropathy Symptoms Worse?
Yes, stress makes neuropathy symptoms worse by increasing inflammation, affecting blood sugar control in diabetics, disrupting sleep which is when your body repairs nerve tissue, and lowering your pain tolerance so symptoms feel more intense. Mental and emotional stress creates physiological changes that compound the challenges of managing peripheral neuropathy.
Chronic stress keeps your nervous system in a heightened state of alert, which amplifies pain signals and makes existing discomfort feel worse. Stress also affects health behaviors – you might eat poorly, skip exercise, or neglect self-care routines when stressed, all of which can worsen neuropathy.
Dr. Dawson addresses stress management as part of comprehensive neuropathy care. He discusses breathing techniques, the connection between faith and stress reduction, time management, and the importance of addressing emotional wellbeing alongside physical health. The faith-based values guiding this practice recognize that true healing involves body, mind, and spirit.
Why Do My Neuropathy Symptoms Feel Worse at Night?
Your neuropathy symptoms feel worse at night because you have fewer distractions from pain when trying to sleep, body temperature changes can affect nerve sensitivity, lying down alters circulation to extremities, and damaged nerves often fire more actively during rest periods. Many neuropathy patients struggle with sleep disruption from nighttime symptom flares.
When you’re busy during the day, your brain focuses on activities and doesn’t attend as much to neuropathy sensations. At night when you’re trying to sleep, those sensations demand attention. Temperature changes – like feet getting cold or warming up under covers – can trigger painful responses in damaged nerves.
Dr. Dawson discusses strategies for managing nighttime symptoms – keeping feet warm with socks, using fans if heat bothers you, positioning pillows to keep covers off sensitive feet, and sleep hygiene practices that improve rest despite symptoms. Better sleep supports healing and helps you cope better with symptoms during the day.
What Tests Diagnose Peripheral Neuropathy?
Tests that diagnose peripheral neuropathy include nerve conduction studies that measure how well electrical signals travel through nerves, electromyography (EMG) that evaluates muscle response to nerve signals, blood tests to check for diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, and other underlying causes, and sometimes nerve biopsies for unclear cases. Dr. Dawson coordinates with your medical doctor to ensure appropriate testing when neuropathy is suspected.
Nerve conduction studies and EMG are the main diagnostic tests. They can confirm neuropathy, identify which nerves are affected, and determine severity. These tests involve small electrical shocks and needle electrodes, which can be uncomfortable but provide valuable diagnostic information.
Blood work screens for treatable causes – checking blood sugar, vitamin B12, thyroid function, kidney function, and markers of inflammation or autoimmune disease. Identifying an underlying cause guides treatment and sometimes allows reversal if caught early. Dr. Dawson works with your medical providers to interpret results and coordinate care.
How Long Does It Take to See Improvement?
Improvement timelines for peripheral neuropathy vary widely depending on the cause, severity, how long you’ve had symptoms, and whether underlying causes can be corrected, but many patients notice some reduction in pain and improved function within 2-3 months of addressing contributing factors and following treatment recommendations, while nerve regeneration when possible occurs slowly over many months to years. Neuropathy requires patience and realistic expectations.
If nutritional deficiency caused your neuropathy and you correct it, you might see improvement within weeks to months as nerves begin healing. Diabetic neuropathy stabilizes once blood sugar is controlled but damaged nerves may not recover. Medication-induced neuropathy sometimes improves after stopping the offending drug, though recovery can be slow and incomplete.
Dr. Dawson helps you track progress because day-to-day changes are hard to notice. Looking back over months often reveals improvement in symptoms, function, or quality of life even when complete resolution isn’t possible. Focus on meaningful improvements rather than expecting perfect recovery.
Does Insurance Cover Neuropathy Treatment?
Most health insurance plans cover chiropractic care and treatment for peripheral neuropathy symptoms, though coverage varies by policy regarding copays, visit limits, and whether pre-authorization is required for chronic conditions. Dawson Chiropractic works with most major insurance carriers and handles all verification and billing so you can focus on managing your symptoms.
The team verifies your benefits before starting treatment and tells you exactly what your out-of-pocket costs will be. Some plans cover care for chronic pain conditions like neuropathy generously, while others have more limited coverage that might not be adequate for ongoing management.
For patients without insurance or whose plans don’t cover care adequately, the office offers affordable cash rates and payment plans. Dr. Dawson believes cost shouldn’t prevent people from accessing care that might improve their quality of life with neuropathy. Call (970) 663-2200 to discuss your insurance coverage and available payment options.
How Do I Schedule an Appointment for Neuropathy?
Schedule an appointment for peripheral neuropathy by calling Dawson Chiropractic at (970) 663-2200 to book an evaluation where Dr. Dawson will assess your symptoms, discuss potential causes, and determine how chiropractic care might help your specific situation. You can also visit dawsonchiro.com to learn more about the practice’s approach to managing chronic nerve conditions.
Your first appointment includes time for Dr. Dawson to understand your neuropathy – which areas are affected, how symptoms impact your life, what underlying conditions you have, and what treatments you’ve tried. He performs a gentle examination appropriate for your sensitivity level and discusses realistic expectations for what care might accomplish.
Bring a list of your medications, any lab results or test reports related to your neuropathy, and questions you want answered. Dr. Dawson coordinates with your medical providers to ensure comprehensive care. If you’re not sure whether chiropractic can help neuropathy, call anyway – Dr. Dawson will provide honest guidance. Check out reviews on Google Maps to see what other Loveland patients say about managing chronic conditions at this practice.
Living with peripheral neuropathy feels frustrating and frightening, especially when numbness affects your balance or painful symptoms disrupt sleep and daily activities. You don’t have to manage neuropathy alone. Comprehensive care that addresses multiple factors can improve symptoms and quality of life even when complete cure isn’t possible. Stop suffering in silence – call today.
