Frequently Asked Questions in Canonsburg and McMurray

Neuropathy means your nerves aren’t working the way they should. Nerves are like little “wires” that send messages from your brain and spine out to your hands, feet, and the rest of your body. When those wires get damaged, the messages don’t travel right — and that’s what causes things like burning, tingling, numbness, cramping, or even weakness.

The most common reason people develop neuropathy is diabetes, but it’s not the only one. Poor circulation, vitamin shortages, old injuries, certain medications, and just the wear and tear of life can all put stress on your nerves. Over time, this stress limits the nutrients and oxygen your nerves need to stay healthy — and that’s when symptoms start showing up.

Neuropathy can feel different for everyone, but some of the most common symptoms include tingling or a “pins and needles” feeling in the hands or feet, numbness or loss of sensation (especially in the toes), and burning, sharp, or stabbing pain. Some people also notice cramps or weakness in their legs and arms, along with trouble keeping their balance or walking steadily. In certain cases, neuropathy can even reduce your ability to feel temperature or pain, which can be dangerous because it makes it harder to notice small injuries before they turn into bigger problems.

Neuropathy usually can’t be fully cured, but it can often be managed and improved. The key is finding the cause like diabetes, circulation issues, or vitamin deficiencies and addressing it. While nerves don’t always heal completely, treatments and lifestyle changes can reduce pain, improve function, and slow things from getting worse.

Neuropathy can be managed in many ways, depending on the cause and the severity of symptoms. The first step is always to address the root problem, like diabetes, circulation issues, or vitamin deficiencies. From there, treatment often focuses on improving blood flow, supporting nerve health, and reducing pain. Options may include lifestyle changes such as better nutrition, exercise, and hydration, along with therapies like red light therapy to improve circulation, nerve stimulation to wake up damaged nerves, balance therapy to improve stability and prevent falls, and chiropractic care to reduce pressure on the nervous system and improve function. Physical therapy and natural approaches can also play a role, while medications may be used mainly for pain relief. The goal is not just to cover up symptoms but to help protect and restore nerve function so patients can live more comfortably.

Neuropathy isn’t always reversible, but in some cases nerves can improve if the root cause is treated early. Even when the damage can’t be fully undone, the right care can reduce symptoms, protect nerve health, and improve quality of life.

Neuropathy is diagnosed by reviewing your symptoms, medical history, and doing a physical exam to check strength, reflexes, and sensation. Sometimes simple in-office tests, blood work, or nerve studies are used to confirm the problem and find the cause.

At home, you can do a lot to help manage neuropathy symptoms. Regular exercise is key — including strength training to keep your muscles strong, balance training to reduce fall risk, and cardiovascular exercise to improve circulation and nerve health. Eating a nutritious diet, staying well hydrated, and keeping your weight in a healthy range all support nerve function. If you have diabetes, keeping blood sugar under control is one of the most important steps. It also helps to protect your feet by checking them daily, wearing supportive shoes, and avoiding injuries you might not feel right away. Stress management, stretching, and getting good sleep all play a role as well. Together, these habits help calm symptoms, slow progression, and improve overall quality of life.

You should see a specialist if your neuropathy symptoms are getting worse, start affecting your daily activities, or aren’t improving with basic care. If you notice more numbness, burning pain, weakness, balance problems, or foot wounds that don’t heal, it’s time to get checked so the problem doesn’t progress.

There are a few different types of neuropathy. The most common is peripheral neuropathy, which affects the hands, feet, arms, and legs. Autonomic neuropathy affects nerves that control things like digestion, blood pressure, or bladder function. Proximal neuropathy causes pain or weakness in the hips, thighs, or buttocks, and focal neuropathy happens when one specific nerve is affected, like in the face, hand, or leg.

Diabetes related neuropathy can often be reduced or delayed by keeping blood sugar under control, staying active, eating healthy, managing weight, and taking good care of your feet.

If you have neuropathy, it’s best to avoid foods that can make nerve damage or inflammation worse. That includes processed sugars, refined carbs, and junk food that spike blood sugar, as well as fried and greasy foods that add inflammation. Too much alcohol can also damage nerves and should be limited. Sticking with whole, nutrient-rich foods instead of processed or packaged foods helps protect your nerves and keep symptoms from getting worse.

Neuropathy can make daily life harder by causing pain, numbness, or weakness that affects walking, balance, sleep, and even simple tasks like cooking or getting dressed. It can also raise the risk of falls or injuries you might not notice.

Yes, there are natural options that may help with neuropathy. Healthy habits like eating well, exercising regularly, keeping a healthy weight, and managing stress all support nerve health. Therapies such as red light therapy, nerve stimulation, balance training, and chiropractic care can also play a role. Chiropractic is especially helpful when neuropathy is linked to issues like spinal stenosis, since reducing pressure on the nerves can improve function and relieve symptoms. Supplements such as B vitamins may also support nerve repair. While these approaches aren’t a cure, they can reduce pain, improve mobility, and help protect your nerves.

Yes, neuropathy can cause permanent damage if the nerves are badly injured or the underlying problem goes untreated for too long. Once nerves are severely damaged, they may not fully repair themselves. That’s why it’s so important to catch it early, manage the root cause, and use treatments that protect nerve health. Even when some damage can’t be reversed, the right care can often slow it down, reduce symptoms, and help you live more comfortably.

A neuropathy appointment includes going over your symptoms and health history, followed by tests like a neuro-sensory exam, balance assessment, and a thermal image scan. We will also check strength, reflexes, and sensation, then review the results and outline treatment options to help manage your symptoms and improve function.

The number of appointments you’ll need really depends on how severe your neuropathy is, what’s causing it, and how your body responds to care. Some people start feeling better after a few weeks, while others need a longer plan to get lasting results. We will review your test results and create a personalized treatment plan so you know what to expect. The goal is to give your nerves the best chance to heal and to track your progress along the way.