It is not exactly known how many people have small fiber neuropathy--but at Skocik Chiropractic we work with many patients who are trying to find relief from this challenging health condition.
What is small fiber neuropathy?
In this condition, small nerve fibers that innervate the skin and other organs become damaged. The exact cause is not always known, but it is most commonly seen in people with diabetes mellitus. Small fiber neuropathy can also be caused by other factors or health problems, including, but not limited to:
- Immune disorders, including celiac disease or Sjogren syndrome
- Lyme disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Chronic nutritional deficiency
- HIV
- Certain inherited genetic mutations
What are the signs and symptoms of small fiber neuropathy?
Symptoms of small fiber neuropathy vary wildly, and depend on the location and severity of nerve fiber degeneration. Considered a form of peripheral neuropathy, this condition commonly affects the hands and feet, at least early on in the disease process. With time, symptoms of small fiber neuropathy can extend to other areas of the body.
Specific symptoms may include:
- Abnormal or impaired sensation, including numbness, burning, tingling, itchiness and "pins and needles" (these pain "attacks" are often worse at night)
- Decreased ability to sense pain (e.g., impaired pin-prick sensation) or temperature
- Hypersensitivity to external stimulus--even if the stimulus does not normally cause pain (e.g., even the feeling of one's clothing or a light touch of the hand can be extremely painful)
- Widespread body pain
- Orthostatic hypotension (dizziness upon standing due to a rapid drop in blood pressure)
- Heart palpitations
- Dry eyes and mouth
- Excessive sweating
What treatments are available for small fiber neuropathy for Harrisburg, Hershey, Progress, Colonial Park, Lower Paxton, and Grantville communities?
Right now, there is no known cure for this condition. Fortunately, there are several neuropathy treatment options available to help people reduce the severity of symptoms, and help address the underlying causes of the disease. At Skocik Chiropractic, we offer:
- Chiropractic adjustments, to restore the body's natural alignment and optimize energy flow within the central nervous system
- Massage therapy, to relax aching limbs and improve blood flow
- Nutritional and lifestyle counseling, to promote healing and improved functioning of the hormonal, digestive, metabolic, immune, and neurological systems
- THOR laser therapy, or low level light directed at musculoskeletal tissues to promote anti-inflammation, pain relief, and increased cellular repair
Let the Skocik Chiropractic Team Help Relieve Your Neuropathic Pain--And More
If you have been diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy, then you deserve relief. But at Skocik Chiropractic, we want to do more than just treat your symptoms. It is our mission to help all our patients understand and identify the underlying root causes of their physical dysfunction. To do this, we take a "whole body" approach to healing, by relying on patient education, lifestyle and nutritional counseling, and non-invasive, natural methods for all our chiropractic care.
Chiropractor Dr. Skocik and his team are currently serving patients in the Colonial Park, Lower Paxton, Progress, Harrisburg, Hershey, and Grantville, PA areas. To learn more about how we can help you, call our office today at 540-8448.