For individuals with neuropathy, pain and discomfort can be a part of their daily life. Normal everyday activities can become difficult, if not impossible. Fortunately, many patients suffering from neuropathy have found relief with dry needle acupuncture. If you or someone you know suffers from neuropathy and is curious about dry needling, keep reading—because in today’s article, we’ll explore all you should know about how this revolutionary treatment can help!

What is Neuropathy?

The body is made up of two nervous systems: the central nervous system (consisting of the spinal cord and brain) and the peripheral nervous system (consisting of all other nerves in the body). Neuropathy is a term used to describe any damage to the peripheral nerve system, which is why neuropathy problems are often referred to as “peripheral neuropathy.”

Symptoms and Causes

The symptoms of neuropathy vary, and largely depend on the type of nerves being affected (sensory, motor, or autonomic), however, sufferers generally experience stabbing, burning, or tingling pain. Lack of coordination or even digestive problems can also result (particularly if the motor or autonomic nerves are affected). Often neuropathy is caused by injuries, infections, metabolic problems, exposure to toxic substances, or most commonly, diabetes.

How Dry Needle Acupuncture for Neuropathy Works

Dry needling works to address the myofascial trigger points (“knots”) in the muscle. A fine filament needle is inserted into the center of a myofascial trigger point, stimulating both the muscles and the surrounding nerve tissues. The muscle fibers that make up these painful knots are then encouraged to relax, and are able to take advantage of the oxygen-rich blood that results from needle insertion. Acidic chemicals and toxins are also flushed away from the affected muscle tissue, and the result is a reduction of pain and inflammation.

Dry Needling for Nerve Pain

Now that we know more about both neuropathy and dry needling, we can outline more information about how dry needling for nerve pain can help. It’s important to realize that dry needling doesn’t only affect muscles, but also the surrounding nerve tissue. It’s within these surrounding nerve tissues that natural pain relief occurs through beta-endorphins. Beta-endorphins are a type of neuropeptide that plays an important role in pain management because they create morphine-like effects, acting as our body’s natural pain and stress fighters.

It’s important to note that opioid receptors are found in the peripheral nervous system, which, as we previously outlined, is the nervous system that is affected by neuropathy. So it is within the peripheral nervous system that these beta-endorphins bind with the opiate receptors in the nerve synapses in order to reduce our perception of pain. One of the key benefits of dry needle acupuncture for neuropathy is that it increases these beta-endorphins while also decreasing cortisol. As a result, patients suffering from painful neuropathy often experience marked pain relief and feelings of overall relaxation following treatment.

Trust Dry Needle Pain Relief in Jacksonville, FL

If painful neuropathy symptoms are affecting your daily life or keeping you from the activities you love, dry needling can help. It’s important to find a physician that has experience using dry needling to treat neuropathic pain, especially if you are suffering from a compounding medical condition such as diabetes. At Dry Needle Pain Relief in Jacksonville, FL, we strive to offer the best dry needling services available in Northeast Florida. We offer treatments designed to address patients with a variety of concerns—from athletes seeking a boost in sports recovery, to seniors looking for arthritis relief, or even those seeking alternative pain management options for neuropathy or other conditions. To learn more about dry needle acupuncture for neuropathy, contact us today to book an appointment.