The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord and all the nerves that to and from the rest of the body. Sometimes an injury to a nerve can happen. This is usually by some kind of trauma but could be from other disease processes such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia and other similar conditions.
Injuries to nerves can happen in many ways, there can be a primary lesion which originates in the brain. Those kinds are difficult to identify and to treat. Acupuncture can take time to make a difference as there is lots of work to do to 'get to' the central nervous system. The acupuncture needles do not stick into that part of the system (brain and spinal cord) and so we have to find other ways to effect change there. The acupuncture system is thousands of years old and little was known about the nerves then or even now really. We are continually finding more and more about our nerves and brains that what was thought true only a few years ago is now obsolete.
In acupuncture theory, for example, the nerves and the brain are considered like marrow. If you think about it it makes some sense. Inside the bones is marrow, inside the skull and inside the large hole in the spinal bones (foramen) is the spinal cord and brain. They are of even similar color and texture in the body. That aside, the acupuncture theory sees the whole body as a unit and microcosm of the environment. Today we would call that holistic... Then, it was just normal.
When a nerve is crushed or pinched, it can lose its ability to transfer the nerve impulse down or up from the brain. This makes it difficult for the brain to register the information correctly or the muscles to do exactly what the brain said to do. Think of it like static on the phone line, it can make it impossible to understand the directions. That, in a simplistic nutshell, is neuropathy.
Neuropathy can also be from chemical causes. Either the nerve and surrounding tissues have toxins built up that can 'poison' the nerve or muscle making it work less efficiently. Another reason is that the nerve does not have all the chemical building blocks to make what it needs to send the nerve impulse or to make and recycle the neurotransmitters.
There are four main types of neuropathy; or nerve pathology (that is what neuropathy means) is...
1. Motor- this is most commonly called a 'pinched nerve' it can cause weakness and muscle atrophy (the muscle gets smaller)
2. Sensory- The most common, causes numbness, pain, tingling, shooting pain, burning sensation
3. Autonomic- This affects things like your heart rate, digestion and even can be connected to some skin conditions.
4. Autoimmune- some arthritis issues and problems with no identifiable cause.
Other causes and problems that make neuropathy harder to treat are...
#1 Diabetes
#2 Chemotherapy
#3 Heredity disorders (Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's, epilepsy and others)
#4 Infections
#5 Exposure to chemicals
#6 Poor nutrition
#7 Kidney failure
#8 Liver problems
#9 Medications
So how can acupuncture help?
This is a difficult answer to explain. On one side we are talking about endorphins, histamines and all sorts of Western physiological concepts that although are measurable when significant enough, sometimes do not show changes in blood levels that we can detect. However there is definite change in the body both subjectively and objectively over time. The other side of this is the Easter or Acupuncture theory which gets into a type of energy or life force we call Chi or Qi. This is a definite feel and easily appreciated after only a visit or two. The third part of this is intention. Intention in this art and science is important for both the patient and provider. When a needle is inserted it can cause a myriad of feelings in the patient. In fact we rely on these subjective feelings to help determine the next steps in treatment. Over time, the needles have provided a new psychological link to the body part that may have been somehow damaged or not as strong as it once was. Not only that but each time the needles are inserted, endorphins are released, these are natural 'home made' pain killers that our body needs for healing. There are also histamines released, histamines attract all sorts of cells and factors to help with the repair process of the area, in these cases, nerves. Continual stimulation of the nerves sends messages to the brain which will go through processes of directing and interpreting the stimulus. Then creating a reaction and efferent nerve impulse to the area of dis-ease and therefore increasing the intention and attention to the injured part.
Injuries to nerves can happen in many ways, there can be a primary lesion which originates in the brain. Those kinds are difficult to identify and to treat. Acupuncture can take time to make a difference as there is lots of work to do to 'get to' the central nervous system. The acupuncture needles do not stick into that part of the system (brain and spinal cord) and so we have to find other ways to effect change there. The acupuncture system is thousands of years old and little was known about the nerves then or even now really. We are continually finding more and more about our nerves and brains that what was thought true only a few years ago is now obsolete.
In acupuncture theory, for example, the nerves and the brain are considered like marrow. If you think about it it makes some sense. Inside the bones is marrow, inside the skull and inside the large hole in the spinal bones (foramen) is the spinal cord and brain. They are of even similar color and texture in the body. That aside, the acupuncture theory sees the whole body as a unit and microcosm of the environment. Today we would call that holistic... Then, it was just normal.
When a nerve is crushed or pinched, it can lose its ability to transfer the nerve impulse down or up from the brain. This makes it difficult for the brain to register the information correctly or the muscles to do exactly what the brain said to do. Think of it like static on the phone line, it can make it impossible to understand the directions. That, in a simplistic nutshell, is neuropathy.
Neuropathy can also be from chemical causes. Either the nerve and surrounding tissues have toxins built up that can 'poison' the nerve or muscle making it work less efficiently. Another reason is that the nerve does not have all the chemical building blocks to make what it needs to send the nerve impulse or to make and recycle the neurotransmitters.
There are four main types of neuropathy; or nerve pathology (that is what neuropathy means) is...
1. Motor- this is most commonly called a 'pinched nerve' it can cause weakness and muscle atrophy (the muscle gets smaller)
2. Sensory- The most common, causes numbness, pain, tingling, shooting pain, burning sensation
3. Autonomic- This affects things like your heart rate, digestion and even can be connected to some skin conditions.
4. Autoimmune- some arthritis issues and problems with no identifiable cause.
Other causes and problems that make neuropathy harder to treat are...
#1 Diabetes
#2 Chemotherapy
#3 Heredity disorders (Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's, epilepsy and others)
#4 Infections
#5 Exposure to chemicals
#6 Poor nutrition
#7 Kidney failure
#8 Liver problems
#9 Medications
So how can acupuncture help?
This is a difficult answer to explain. On one side we are talking about endorphins, histamines and all sorts of Western physiological concepts that although are measurable when significant enough, sometimes do not show changes in blood levels that we can detect. However there is definite change in the body both subjectively and objectively over time. The other side of this is the Easter or Acupuncture theory which gets into a type of energy or life force we call Chi or Qi. This is a definite feel and easily appreciated after only a visit or two. The third part of this is intention. Intention in this art and science is important for both the patient and provider. When a needle is inserted it can cause a myriad of feelings in the patient. In fact we rely on these subjective feelings to help determine the next steps in treatment. Over time, the needles have provided a new psychological link to the body part that may have been somehow damaged or not as strong as it once was. Not only that but each time the needles are inserted, endorphins are released, these are natural 'home made' pain killers that our body needs for healing. There are also histamines released, histamines attract all sorts of cells and factors to help with the repair process of the area, in these cases, nerves. Continual stimulation of the nerves sends messages to the brain which will go through processes of directing and interpreting the stimulus. Then creating a reaction and efferent nerve impulse to the area of dis-ease and therefore increasing the intention and attention to the injured part.
Acupuncture is a very old and whole body treatment system that does include exercise, nutrition, and of course needles for treatment. The needles are placed in very specific places to influence different aspects of the body including the nerves. Some techniques rely on you the patient actually feeling a difference during treatment, some do not. When the needles are placed you will generally feel the slight pinch of the needle in the skin, but soon the area may feel warm, heavy, light, tingly or even a vibration sense in the area of the needle. This is an important thing to connect the consciousness to the part being treated. The brain and mind will work together to get the body to restart or enhance the healing process. In the case of neuropathy we treat the actual area of complaint.
One visit is good to get a sense of what acupuncture feels like, but it does not get the healing process back on track. That takes time and multiple encounters especially early on. This is about a month of daily or every other day treatments. Slowly the body will reprocess the healing energy and get it better moving in the right directions and in the right strengths. Soon you will find that treatments between once every three weeks and six weeks will keep you on track. It is a wellness process not an illness process of treatments. The body will get better and better, needing less and less treatments. However you will know what it feels like to not be well and will crave feeling better. This is why that kind of maintenance schedule is so common.
With simple exercises, good foods and liquids and acupuncture many have found total control and relief from neuropathy. It does take time and effort on both the doctor and patient to work together to find the right points and patterns to help.
To schedule an appointment with me to be evaluated, call or text 720-325-9886
One visit is good to get a sense of what acupuncture feels like, but it does not get the healing process back on track. That takes time and multiple encounters especially early on. This is about a month of daily or every other day treatments. Slowly the body will reprocess the healing energy and get it better moving in the right directions and in the right strengths. Soon you will find that treatments between once every three weeks and six weeks will keep you on track. It is a wellness process not an illness process of treatments. The body will get better and better, needing less and less treatments. However you will know what it feels like to not be well and will crave feeling better. This is why that kind of maintenance schedule is so common.
With simple exercises, good foods and liquids and acupuncture many have found total control and relief from neuropathy. It does take time and effort on both the doctor and patient to work together to find the right points and patterns to help.
To schedule an appointment with me to be evaluated, call or text 720-325-9886
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