Scenic City Clinic of Chiropractic supports patients throughout Chattanooga and the surrounding tri-state area who are managing peripheral neuropathy, using nutrition testing, nerve-focused therapies, and a whole-person approach alongside your physician’s care. Peripheral neuropathy can have many different underlying causes, and our role is to help identify contributing factors and support your overall nervous system health as part of a coordinated care team, not to replace the medical management your condition may require.
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Understanding Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage or dysfunction affecting the peripheral nerves — the nerves that carry signals between the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body. When these nerves are damaged, the signals they carry can become disrupted, distorted, or lost entirely, leading to the numbness, tingling, burning pain, or weakness commonly associated with the condition, most often in the hands and feet.
Peripheral neuropathy isn’t a single disease — it’s a category of nerve dysfunction with many possible underlying causes. Some cases stem from a single identifiable factor, like a vitamin deficiency or nerve compression, while others are connected to chronic systemic conditions like diabetes. Because the underlying cause varies so much from person to person, an accurate diagnosis matters more than treating the symptom pattern alone.
Common Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy
- Diabetes — one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy in the United States
- Vitamin deficiencies — particularly B12, which plays a critical role in nerve health
- Autoimmune conditions — where the immune system mistakenly attacks peripheral nerves
- Chemotherapy and certain medications — which can be toxic to peripheral nerves
- Alcohol use — which can contribute to nerve damage over time
- Nerve compression — including conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome or spinal nerve compression from a herniated disc
- Infections — certain infections can directly affect peripheral nerve function
Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy
- Numbness or reduced sensation, often starting in the feet or hands
- Tingling or a “pins and needles” sensation
- Burning or sharp, stabbing pain
- Increased sensitivity to touch
- Muscle weakness
- Loss of coordination or balance
- In some cases, changes in blood pressure, digestion, or bladder function, if nerves controlling automatic body functions are affected
When to See a Physician
Peripheral neuropathy should always involve a physician as part of your care team, since it can be connected to serious underlying conditions that require medical diagnosis and management. See a physician for any new, progressive, or unexplained numbness, tingling, or weakness — especially if it’s spreading, affecting your balance, or accompanied by other symptoms such as unexplained weight loss or changes in digestion or bladder function. If you don’t yet have a diagnosis for your symptoms, we encourage you to pursue one alongside anything else we do together.
How Scenic City Clinic of Chiropractic Supports Peripheral Neuropathy Management
We don’t treat or cure the underlying diseases that cause peripheral neuropathy — that work belongs with your physician. What we can offer is support alongside your medical care, particularly when nutritional factors or nerve compression may be contributing to your symptoms:
- Nutrition and bloodwork testing — identifying nutrient deficiencies, such as low B12, that are a known and treatable contributor to neuropathy symptoms
- Spinal decompression therapy — when neuropathy-like symptoms are connected to nerve compression in the spine rather than a systemic condition
- BioScanSRT — a wellness assessment tool some patients use as an additional data point alongside their broader care plan, not as a replacement for medical diagnosis
Your specific combination of services depends on what’s actually contributing to your symptoms, which is why working with both our team and your physician matters. Patients report finding value in this coordinated, whole-person approach, though outcomes vary significantly depending on the underlying cause of neuropathy and how it responds to treatment. We’re careful not to promise a guaranteed result or to suggest that any of our services treat the underlying disease process — our job is to support your overall health as part of your broader care team.
What to Expect During Your Evaluation
Your evaluation includes a thorough conversation about your symptoms, when they started, and any diagnoses or medical history you’re already aware of, including diabetes, autoimmune conditions, or medications you’re taking. We’ll discuss whether nutrition testing or spinal decompression might be relevant to your specific situation, and we’ll be direct with you about when something is outside what we can help with and needs your physician’s involvement instead.
How Peripheral Neuropathy Is Diagnosed
Diagnosing peripheral neuropathy typically starts with a physician gathering a detailed medical history and performing a neurological examination, assessing reflexes, sensation, and muscle strength. Bloodwork is often used to check for underlying causes such as diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, or thyroid dysfunction. In some cases, nerve conduction studies or electromyography may be used to assess how well the peripheral nerves are functioning, and imaging may be recommended if nerve compression is suspected. Because so many different conditions can cause neuropathy, this diagnostic process is often more involved than for a single, straightforward injury.
Common Questions and Misconceptions
One common misconception is that all nerve pain and tingling in the hands or feet is the same condition with the same cause. In reality, peripheral neuropathy has dozens of possible underlying causes, and the right approach depends entirely on identifying which one applies to you. Two patients with very similar symptoms may need completely different care depending on whether their neuropathy stems from diabetes, a vitamin deficiency, or nerve compression.
Another common misconception is that nothing can be done for neuropathy once it develops. While some causes of neuropathy are more difficult to reverse than others, identifying and addressing a treatable underlying factor, such as a vitamin deficiency or nerve compression, can lead to meaningful improvement in some cases. This is part of why we place so much emphasis on identifying the actual cause rather than only addressing symptoms.
Why Choose Scenic City Clinic of Chiropractic for Peripheral Neuropathy Support
- Honest, coordinated care. We work alongside your physician rather than positioning ourselves as a replacement for medical management of the underlying cause.
- Nutrition-focused evaluation. Our nutrition and bloodwork services can help identify treatable nutritional contributors to neuropathy symptoms.
- Whole-person philosophy. We look at your overall health, not just the symptom pattern, when considering how we might be able to help.
- Multi-generational trust. Scenic City Clinic of Chiropractic has served the Chattanooga community for decades, with a family-rooted approach to patient care.
Peripheral Neuropathy FAQs
What is peripheral neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage or dysfunction affecting the peripheral nerves, which carry signals between the central nervous system and the rest of the body. It can cause numbness, tingling, burning pain, or weakness, most commonly in the hands and feet. For more detailed information, see the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke’s (NINDS) overview of peripheral neuropathy.
What causes peripheral neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy has many possible causes, including diabetes, vitamin deficiencies (particularly B12), autoimmune conditions, chemotherapy, certain infections, alcohol use, and nerve compression such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Identifying the underlying cause is an important part of managing the condition.
Can nutrition testing help identify causes of neuropathy?
In some cases, yes. Certain nutrient deficiencies, particularly vitamin B12, are a known and treatable cause of peripheral neuropathy symptoms. Bloodwork testing can help identify whether a nutritional factor may be contributing to your symptoms, as part of a broader evaluation that should also involve your physician.
When should I see a doctor about neuropathy symptoms?
See a physician for any new, progressive, or unexplained numbness, tingling, or weakness, especially if it’s spreading, affecting your balance, or accompanied by other symptoms. Peripheral neuropathy can have serious underlying causes that require medical diagnosis and management, such as diabetes or autoimmune disease.
Can spinal decompression help with neuropathy symptoms?
When neuropathy-like symptoms are connected to nerve compression in the spine, such as from a herniated disc or spinal stenosis, spinal decompression therapy may help relieve pressure on the affected nerve. This is different from neuropathy caused by systemic conditions like diabetes, which requires medical management of the underlying disease.
Is peripheral neuropathy reversible?
It depends on the cause. Neuropathy caused by a treatable factor, such as a vitamin deficiency or nerve compression, may improve once the underlying cause is addressed. Neuropathy from other causes, such as long-standing diabetes, may be managed but not fully reversed. A physician can help determine the likely course for your specific situation.
Schedule Your Evaluation in Chattanooga, TN
If you’re managing peripheral neuropathy and looking for support alongside your medical care, our team is here to help.
Scenic City Clinic of Chiropractic
7530 Goodwin Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421
(423) 402-4602