Peripheral Neuropathy – “How Can My Feet Be Numb and Hurt At the Same Time?”

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is truly a paradox. Everyday in my practice I hear many descriptions of pain, but when people describe their peripheral neuropathy symptoms they are both contradictory and very accurate descriptions of the underlying cause of the condition.

People frequently use unusual language to describe their symptoms:

• “My toes are painful but feel numb at the same time.”
• “Sometimes my feet are ice-cold but other times they burn.”
• “I feel like I’m walking on sandpaper or marbles or rocks.”
• “There are electrical shocks in my toes that turn to sharp stabbing pains.”
• “It feels like my socks are folded over in my shoes.”
• “I feel miserable one day and okay the next.”
• “Why do my symptoms change when I’ve done nothing different?”

  Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a disease involving damage to the nerves that supply the legs and arms. Certain nerves carry temperature sensations (“my feet are ice-cold or hot”) and others carry information about sharp pain. Still others provide information about whether toe position is up or down, and some are there to feel vibration or control the sweat glands. There are also nerves that tell the muscles to contract or relax (“my legs feel weak”). The different sensations occur as the nerves are slowly damaged as the disease progresses. These symptoms begin because of a chemical/physical irritation that frequently can be stopped or reversed.

  There are many causes of PN, and just for the record, it’s not just diabetics, post-cancer patients and MS that get neuropathy. PN is in fact a complex web of neurological, hormonal, immunological, mechanical and nutritional problems. The pain of PN is only one of the ways in which these imbalances impact one’s health.

  The causes of PN fall into seven major and numerous subsidiary categories:

  1. Mechanical conditions from injury, pressure on the feet, overworking a part of the body, low back disc conditions.
  2. Vascular: Blockages or damage of vessels in nerves of the legs or feet.
  3. Infectious conditions: Secondary to shingles, diphtheria, tetanus etc.
  4. Toxic: From heavy metal like arsenic, mercury and lead; chemical from organic phosphates, drug or alcohol abuse.
  5. Metabolic: From vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, pre-diabetes and other blood sugar issues, hemachromatosis (too much iron), and too many other imbalances to list in the space.
  6. Electro/chemical imbalances in the parietal lobe of the brain.
  7. Autoimmune and allergic responses to specific foods against the nerve tissues of the feet.

  Unfortunately, even though the diagnosis of PN tells us there’s pain in the feet and hands, it doesn’t say which of the 20 or more causes need to be addressed; and most (not all) of the causes can be addressed without drugs or surgery. As you can see, there are multiple possible causes to assess and rule out in order to identify the appropriate approach to each individual’s problem. Furthermore, you can see from the list above that there is no “one size fits all” (Neurotonin, Lyrica, Tarsal Tunnel Release, Metformin, etc.) treatment for peripheral neuropathy cases because they may be from any or a combination of several of the above listed causes.

  So to properly assess and treat PN, each system of the body and all potential causes must be reviewed and evaluated. Inflammatory triggers must be eliminated and imbalances in the brain, hormones, G.I tract and immune systems must be corrected. The various imbalances must be tested for and addressed in a fashion unique to that individual, in order to develop a coordinated non-drug metabolic and neurological approach for their specific cause.

  What’s more, most of the common causes discovered with an orderly examination and history can be improved dramatically without drugs or surgeries. Often times, improvement can be achieved in three to six months.

  Dr. Don Davis, D.C., DACNB is a BOARD CERTIFIED CHIROPRACTIC NEUROLOGIST in Walnut Creek. He has been serving individuals with chronic pain for 30 years. For information about how you can get a free consultation with Dr. Davis, call (925) 279-4324 (HEAL). Visit us at WalnutCreekHealth.com or WalnutCreekNeuropathy.com