Diabetes
Diabetes is a common cause of peripheral neuropathy. Blood sugar management stays central to care.
Neuropathy Relief in Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Tingling, burning or numb feet can make stairs, uneven paths and a secure grip feel uncertain. We look at which nerves and abilities are affected, alongside the care your physician provides.
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- Care coordinated with your physician
The short answer
Neuropathy means nerve damage or dysfunction, most often in the feet, legs, hands or arms, causing tingling, burning, numbness or weakness. At True Performance in Rancho Santa Fe, CA, we review how it affects balance, grip and daily activity. Then we use peripheral nerve stimulation and chiropractic care in coordination with your medical team.
Overview
Why do my feet feel numb and unsteady?
It may start as mild pins and needles in your toes. Over time you feel less steady on uneven ground, avoid certain shoes or struggle to grip familiar objects.
Several conditions cause similar sensations, so the pattern matters: where it started, how it has spread and which abilities have changed.
What does care look like here?
We review your physician's findings, your current medical care and how the nerve changes affect walking, balance and hand use. Then we decide which conservative options fit.
Many plans include nerve stimulation through skin electrodes, with no needles, incisions or medication.
Understanding
What is neuropathy?
Neuropathy is damage to or dysfunction of the nerves, and its effects depend on which nerves are involved. Peripheral neuropathy affects nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, most often in the hands and feet. Diabetes is a common cause, along with injury, nerve compression, circulation problems and some nutrient deficiencies.
What is actually happening
Disease, pressure or injury damages a nerve.
Signals for touch, position or muscle control weaken or misfire.
Tingling, numbness, pain or unsteadiness follow.
Who this usually affects
- Adults with diabetes-related nerve changes
- People with a pinched or compressed nerve
- Anyone whose numb feet affect balance or walking
- People whose hand symptoms affect grip or typing
When it is something else
- Sudden weakness or rapidly spreading numbness: emergency care
- New nerve symptoms no physician has checked yet
- A foot sore or blister that is not getting better: medical care
The re-check
We track sensation, balance, sleep and hand function over your visits. If you are not responding, we change the plan or refer you back to your physician.
Which nerves can neuropathy affect?
Peripheral neuropathy affects the nerves of the arms, hands, legs and feet. Focal neuropathy involves a single nerve or a small group, often causing local pain, weakness or numbness.
Autonomic neuropathy affects nerves that run digestion, heart rate, sweating and bladder control, and cranial neuropathy can affect vision or facial strength. Those two types need medical care first.
Symptoms
Symptoms of neuropathy
- Tingling or pins and needles
- Burning, shooting or electric pain
- Numbness or reduced sense of touch
- Unusual sensitivity to light touch
- Muscle weakness, cramps or twitching
- Trouble gripping small objects
- Problems with balance or walking
- Poor sense of where your feet are
- Symptoms that begin in the toes or fingers
- Cuts or blisters that go unnoticed
Causes
Common causes
Pinched or compressed nerves
Pressure from nearby tissue, or an injury that stretches a nerve, can send tingling or weakness along its path into a hand or foot.
Circulation problems
Reduced blood flow can starve nerves of oxygen. A physician may need to separate circulation problems from nerve irritation.
Nutrient deficiencies
Low vitamin B12 and other deficiencies can affect nerves. Bloodwork shows whether one is involved, so supplements should not start on a guess.
Trauma or injury
A fall, collision or sports injury can stretch, compress or damage a nerve.
Our approach
How our care works
Our neuropathy care matches conservative options to the nerve pattern and the abilities affected, in coordination with your medical team. Care can combine peripheral nerve stimulation with chiropractic adjustments when a compressed nerve is part of the picture, and we track balance, grip and daily tasks as the plan runs.
Peripheral nerve stimulation
Controlled electrical signals reach selected nerve pathways through electrodes on the skin, starting at a low intensity. Sessions use ReBuilder and SunStim devices. See peripheral nerve stimulation for tingling and numbness.
Chiropractic care
When joint restriction or tissue tension presses on a nerve, adjustments and mobilization may ease that pressure. They do not replace medical care for disease-related neuropathy. Learn about chiropractic care for a pinched nerve.
Red flags
When to seek care
Some nerve changes need a physician promptly.
- Sudden weakness or loss of feeling
- Numbness or pain that is spreading quickly
- A foot blister, sore or cut that is red, warm or draining
- Loss of coordination or new trouble walking
If you notice any of these, contact your physician promptly, and go to the emergency room for sudden weakness.
Your clinician
Who plans your care
Dr. Jeff McWhorter, D.C., is a chiropractor whose practice focuses on functional neurology, concussion rehabilitation, and performance. He connects your exam findings with the tasks that have become harder: stairs, uneven paths, driving, typing or carrying things.
His background in neurological rehabilitation and balance training shapes a plan that tracks sensation, coordination and confidence, not just pain scores.
Visit
Getting here
Our office is at 18029 Calle Ambiente, Suite 507, in Cielo Village, Rancho Santa Fe, about two miles from Lake Hodges. If a family member drives you, they are welcome to join the first visit and hear the plan.
The first step
Schedule Your Neuropathy Evaluation
- 01Start with a complimentary 15-minute intro call
- 02Your first visit takes about 90 minutes, plus data and history gathering
- 03Bring your physician's findings and recent test results
Should I see a physician before neuropathy care here?
Yes. New, unexplained, worsening or widespread nerve symptoms should be checked by a physician, who can test for the type and cause. We review those results before recommending care.
Can chiropractic care help neuropathy?
It can help when joint restriction, tissue tension or mechanical pressure irritates a nerve. It does not replace medical care for neuropathy caused by diabetes or another disease.
What relief can I expect over time?
Results vary with the cause, the severity and how long the nerves have been affected. Care may focus on comfort, balance, coordination and daily tasks, and progress is not predictable.
How can I protect feet that have lost feeling?
Check your feet every day, wear shoes that fit well and have any blister, sore or redness seen early. Reduced feeling means an injury can go unnoticed.
Is neuropathy care covered by insurance?
We explain cost and payment options on your complimentary intro call, before you book an exam.
When neuropathy dulls the feeling in your feet, you may not notice pressure or injuries that lead to blisters and sores, as the NIDDK guide to peripheral neuropathy explains.
Feel steadier on your feet again
Start with a complimentary 15-minute call with our team.