Neuropathy "The Painful Enigma"

Peripheral neuropathy may be more common in patients with pre-diabetes than previously thought, and early interventions may be warranted in this patient population, according to researchers from the University of Utah.

Currently, 86 million adults — more than one in three U.S. adults — have prediabetes, according to CDC estimates. Without weight loss and moderate physical activity, 15% to 30% of these people will develop full-blown type 2 diabetes within 5 years.1

“We know now a lot more than we did 3 or 5 years ago about neuropathic pain in patients with prediabetes. Neuropathy affects patients with prediabetes in a continuum,” said J. Rob Singleton, MD, who is a professor of neurology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. “We think it is more obesity and dysfunction of lipids (fats) that is causing the problem.”

For many families, type 2 diabetes can develop in several members of the household. For some people, diabetes has been diagnosed throughout previous generations of family members. However, does this mean, you are bound to inherit the condition?

Over a period of 25 years, according to statistics, the number of people in the world who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has increased from 35 million to 240 million. Moreover, these statistics don't take into account the number of individuals with undiagnosed diabetes. Many families have the relevant concern regarding whether they or future generations could genetically develop type 2 diabetes. While the magnitude of cases is quite significant, the reality is that the widespread issue of diabetes couldn't have simply occurred through genetic or inherited means in such a short time span.

If genetic alteration is not the reason behind the dramatic increase in type 2 diabetes cases, then why has the condition been on the rise over the past few decades? As a matter of fact, diabetes is a condition that is almost entirely caused by environmental and lifestyle factors. Our genetic code itself may not be altered through these circumstances but our environment as well as stress and improper nutrition and fitness habits can influence the way those genes are expressed. Predisposed genes can certainly contribute to the development of diabetes, however, if you are not exposed to these environmental and lifestyle triggers, the diabetes gene may never fully develop.

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition which occurs due to nerve damage in the arms, legs, hands and feet. Common symptoms include pain, tingling and burning sensations and numbness.

This type of neuropathy can be caused by a variety of factors, such as diabetes, chemotherapy, statin medications, disc herniation and trauma from an injury, toxic metal exposure, chronic alcohol consumption and vitamin deficiencies. Recent research studies, however, have associated peripheral nerve damage to gluten sensitivity and celiac disease.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that generally affects the individual's digestive tract. When a person with celiac disease consumes gluten, it can cause damage to the small intestine, interfering with the body's natural nutrient absorption function. In a majority of cases, this inability to properly absorb nutrients can alter growth, weaken bones and even damage peripheral nerves, leading to neuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy most commonly develops in patients who've been previously diagnosed with pre-diabetes. According to researchers from the University of Utah, early interventions can allow people to maintain their overall health and wellness. Further research studies have revealed that peripheral nerve damage begins with pre-diabetes and obesity.

Approximately more than one in three adults in the United States, about 86 million people, have pre-diabetes. Without the proper body weight and moderate physical activity, 15 to 30 percent of these individuals could develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years.

"We now know a lot more than we did 3 to 5 years ago about neuropathic pain in patients with pre-diabetes. Neuropathy affects patients with pre-diabetes in a continuum," stated Dr. Rob Singleton, MD, and professor of neurology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. "We think obesity and the dysfunction of lips or fats are what's actually causing the issues."

Neuropathy means damage to the nerves, which transmit messages from the spinal cord to the brain. Neuropathy often causes numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, called peripheral neuropathy. Physical injury or trauma to nerves most often causes neuropathy; between 60 to 70 percent of diabetics also have neuropathy, ranging from mild to severe, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. A number of diseases, acute infections and toxins can also cause neuropathy. Many people turn to herbs for relief -- but do not take herbs for neuropathy without your doctor’s approval.

Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, a topical pain reliever that can help reduce discomfort from neuropathy. Capsaicin works by depleting substance P, a pain-causing chemical, from nerve receptors. Applying cayenne pepper in a topical solution initially stimulates the release of substance P but then depletes it, which decreases pain. Several over-the-counter topical pain relievers containing cayenne pepper approved for use by United States Food and Drug Administration are available. They appear to help at least some people with neuropathies from shingles; trigeminal neuralgia, which causes facial neuropathy; and diabetic retinopathy, the Diabetes Self-Management website reports. In some cases, topical application of this herb can worsen pain. Wright State University pharmacy suggests starting with the weakest concentration of the herb and increasing over time. It can take one to two months to work up to the strongest dose.

A systematic review of studies conducted by the University of Oxford reported on study findings in the April 24, 2004 issue of the “British Medical Journal.” L. Mason and colleagues, of the Pain Research and Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics, reported that capsaicin had poor to moderate effectiveness overall in six separate studies.

The different aspects of nerve damage after surgery are taken into account through this article. Focus of the article is on understanding about this complex medical problem through explanation of important points.

After undergoing surgery, there's a possibility that the nerves could result in damage or injury due to bruises or cuts made by scalpel at the time of surgery. The inflammation of the tissues surrounding the nerves can also result in damage. 

The nervous systems serves the very important role of maintaining the function of various activities in the body. The nervous system can basically be divided into two types, the central and peripheral nervous system. Injury to the nerves is a serious matter, although many times, the damage can be repaired.

Neuropraxia is a type of nerve injury where the structure of the nerve is not altered, however, the nerve impulses are interrupted as a result of injury. With this condition, several of the normal coordinated movements of the body cannot take place. 

Dr Scott Berman MD & Neuropathy Patient discusses the strong overlap between Neuropathy pain, anxiety and depression Pain & depression often occur together

There is a great correlation between neuropathy pain, anxiety, and depression. Each of the three can increase the risk of developing the other two. About 30-60% of people with chronic pain develop feelings of depression and anxiety as well as pain and depression can occur simultaneously 30-50% of the time, each causing the other. 

Anxiety is naturally expected if an individual has been diagnosed with a chronic illness such as neuropathy. The condition can be almost unavoidable and can take many forms.

Depression on the other hand, is often confused with the disease, where continuous problems or complications in function can be labeled as phychological issues. However, physical symptoms often have physical causes and it's not uncommon for emotional stress to develop when diagnosed with a medical disease such as neuropathy. 

Neuropathy is a medical term used to describe nerve damage that affects all regions of the body. There are several different types of neuropathies, each classified according to the affected area of the body. Neuropathy can be categorized as inherited, such as diabetic neuropathy, or acquired, resulting from trauma or injuries on the nerves. The symptoms for each type differ depending on the region but the majority of symptoms include tingling, loss of sensation, muscle weakeness, and pain. 

Neuropathy can be caused by a variety of factors. Diabetes is an underlying condition that can cause many complications, including the development of neuropathy. Imbalances in the production of hormones can be a cause of leg and foot neuropathy. Also, nutritional deficiencies, alcoholism, and toxins can often lead to the development of this condition. 

Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, is a disorder that most commonly affects the joint found in between the back of the jaw and the skull. TMJ can be a difficult condition and, in some cases, the disorder could lead to the development of anxiety.

Anxiety is usually a condition that occurs gradually over time as a result of life experiences or genetics but temporomandibular joint disorder may influence the development of this condition. It might appear strange to associate a joint disorder in the jaw with anxiety but TMJ causes a great variety of symptoms that cause the development of anxiety. In other cases, TMJ often doesn't cause anxiety, instead it makes anxiety worse. 

There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves. These are located within the cranium or skull. The cranial nerves are those connected directly to the brain or brainstem and they send signals to areas of the face and eyes. The cranial nerves control functions such as vision, hearing, facial movement, and the actions of several of the organs in the head, chest, and abdomen.

Cranial neuropathy occurs when a single or more of the cranial nerves becomes damaged or injured. Injury to these nerves can occur for a variety of reasons, the most common being diabetes. Cranial neuropathy is a complication typically caused by an underlying condition as well as trauma. 

Did you ever let your foot fall asleep and suffer first from numbness and then from a tingling, pins-and-needles sensation while it “awakened”? People with peripheral neuropathy suffer from those types of sensations all the time. And there’s growing evidence that peripheral neuropathy is linked with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that occurs from damaged nerves in the arms, legs, hands, and feet. Commonly, symptoms experienced as a result of this are numbness, tingling, burning, and pain. The condition has a number of different causes, such as, diabetes, chemotherapy, statin medications, disc herniation and traumas, toxic metal exposure, chronic alcohol consumption and vitamin deficiencies. Now, however, scientists have linked peripheral nerve damage to gluten sensitivity and celiac disease.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, spelt, kamut and barley. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that wreaks havoc on the digestive tract. When a person afflicted with celiac’s eats even the tiniest bit of gluten it causes damage to the small intestine and interferes with nutrient absorption. In many cases, the inability to absorb nutrients can stunt growth, weaken bones and damage peripheral nerves resulting in neuropathy.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 29 million type 2 diabetes cases have currently been diagnosed in the United States, where another 8.1 million cases are undiagnosed. Diabetes can have various serious complications, including the development of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated that between 60 and 70 percent of individuals diagnosed with diabetes have some form of neuropathy. Patients with diabetes often report experiencing symptoms of pain and discomfort, while other may report minor or no symptoms at all. Nerve damage can even manifest up to 10 years after being diagnosed with diabetes.

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Diabetic neuropathy can occur due to an extended period of elevated blood sugar levels. High, unregulated blood glucose can cause injury to the vessels that supply the body's nerves with the proper nutrition and oxygen they require to function accordingly. Over time, the nerves can become damaged, impairing the nervous system's ability to communicate effectively. The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can vary greatly depending on the severity and extent of the nerve damage.

Neurotoxins are substances which can interfere with nerve cells by overstimulating them to death or interrupting the electrical activities of nerves and their communication process, altering the normal function of the nervous system.

Common symptoms associated with the consumption of neurotoxins can manifest immediately after ingestion or they may be delayed. Symptoms include: weakness in the extremities; tingling sensations or numbness; memory loss; loss of vision and/or intellect; uncontrollable obsessive and/or compulsive behaviors; delusions; headaches; cognitive and behavioral issues; and sexual dysfunction. Also, people with certain types of disorders can be more vulnerable to these substances.

Research studies have demonstrated that neurotoxins can shorten the life span of nerve cells. In addition, these substances have been associated with the development of brain disorders, peripheral neuropathy as well as neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s Chorea and Parkinson’s disease.

To make matters worse, the availability of neurotoxins has increased dramatically within the last few decades. A majority of the neurotoxins our bodies absorb are found in the food we eat and the water we drink. Even worse, these can also be found in baby food.

Over 3 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with type I diabetes. This disorder is considered an auto-immune condition where the immune system destroys the insulin producing Beta cells of the pancreas. A new case study showed how chiropractic adjustments dramatically improved a 4 year old child’s ability to manage this disorder.

A large UK study has revealed that type 1 diabetes has increased 5-fold in children less than 5 years of age between the years of 1985 and 2004. During those same years there was a doubling in children under 15 years of age being diagnosed with type I diabetes. Studies in other European countries and the US have shown similar results.

Environmental Risk Factors

The most common risk factors include exposure to environmental toxins and other stressors. The list of toxins includes pesticides, herbicides, and household cleaning agents. Additionally, food allergens such as pasteurized cow’s milk, gluten and processed soy, peanuts, & eggs are thought to be possible triggers. Low maternal and infant vitamin D3 levels and less than 6 months of breast feeding appear to be very serious risk factors as well. Birth trauma affecting the upper cervical spine has been hypothesized as a risk factor by some experts.

A recent case study published in the November 2011 edition of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal, & Family Health documents a case of a 4 year old child, who had terrific results stabilizing her blood sugar through chiropractic care.

The child’s mother described her as being a very healthy baby, who was not vaccinated at all and was breastfed for a full 12 months. She was officially diagnosed with type I diabetes at 2 years of age. The family ate a healthy, whole food based diet and avoided processed foods and other environmental toxins.

Understanding the role of Neuroendoimmunology

The nervous, endocrine and immune system are hardwired and work together to create optimal responses for the body to adapt and heal appropriately. The new study of neuroendoimmunology looks closely at this intimate relationship between bodily systems.

Neural dysfunctions due to spinal subluxations are stressful to the body and cause abnormal changes that lead to a poorly coordinated immune response. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to reduce subluxations and boost the coordinated responses of the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems.

The patient was diagnosed with spinal subluxations in the upper cervical region. She began chiropractic care and was seen a total of 24 times over a 2 month period. During this 2 month period, she experienced a decrease in hemoglobin A1C from 7.2% to 6.5%. She also decreased the amount of insulin used from 15 units to 11 units per day.

These results are quite remarkable because the literature states that intensive medical treatment of type I diabetes often does not succeed in lowering A1C levels under 7.0%. Chiropractic care works by optimizing the neural connections throughout the body.

This enhanced brain-body connection works to better coordinate immunity and hormone function throughout the body. This improvement in type I diabetes management is most likely a result of better cellular communication.

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that affects the nerves outside of the brain or spinal cord. It can cause changes to sensation, movement and involuntary functions. Pressure on the nerves can cause peripheral neuropathy, as can certain conditions such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, an inherited disorder. MedlinePlus, a website of the National Institutes of Health, points out that some types of peripheral neuropathy do not have a cure. The nerve damage from this condition can have lasting effects.

Peripheral neuropathy affects three types of nerves: sensory, motor and autonomic. The sensory nerves relay information to the brain such as a change in temperature. When peripheral neuropathy damages the sensory nerves, patients can experience nerve pain, burning sensations or tingling. Some patients may have numbness that starts in the feet and moves up in the body. MayoClinic.com explains that with the numbness, patients can have reduced feeling in their limbs, which can affect their ability to sense changes. Problems can arise, such as in the case of a peripheral neuropathy patient who cannot feel pain in his feet and therefore does not notice a foot injury. If the injury goes untreated, an infection can develop.

A research study conducted by Harvard Medical School reported that patients suffering with long term peripheral nerve injury showed progressive improvement in nerve motor function with the use of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) leading to significant functional recovery. 

There are many different forms of near infrared lasers (NIR) on the market. In order to elicit nerve repair in peripheral nerves, the infrared light wavelength must be between 800 nm – 1100 nm. This range of wavelength allows for penetration of 4-6 inches deep within the tissue. Medical evidence shows that NIR triggers Nitric Oxide (NO) release, found to be extremely beneficial for neuropathy sufferers. 

Nitric Oxide (NO) increases blood flow to injured or damaged nerves, increases circulation, oxygen, and nutrient delivery to nerves, stimulates proper nerve transmission, decreases pain and muscle spasms, among other benefits. 

Several types of neuropathy (nerve damage) are caused by diabetes. Learn about these diabetic neuropathies: peripheral, autonomic, proximal, and focal neuropathies. Explains what nerves are affected in each type of diabetic neuropathy.

Diabetic neuropathy can be narrowed down into various types. The different types of neuropathies are broken down according to the different kinds of nerves affected which each serve different functions. An individual's symptoms and treatments will vary depending on the type of diabetic neuropathy.

There are four types of diabetic neuropathy: peripheral neuropathy, proximal neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, and focal neuropathy. Understanding and learning about the different types of neuropathy and their symptoms is important in order to determine the most appropriate option for treatment. 

There are twelve nerves in the human body that exit from the central nervous system through openings in the skull, medically referred to as the cranial nerves. The 12 cranial nerves function by maintaining the various functions of these nerves, from allowing the eyes to blink to moving food through the gastrointestinal system, including the ability to sense flavors, aromas, sights, and sounds.

Damage or trauma from an injury or disease from an underlying condition can affect a single or multiple of the cranial nerves and result in symptoms indicating cranial neuropathy. The symptoms a person may experience depend on which cranial nerve may have been damaged.