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Has your hand ever felt numb? Have you ever felt tingling in your fingers? You probably thought it wasn't a big deal, and in many cases, it's not. But, those could potentially be signs of something serious going on in your body.
Neuropathy is the damage of one or more nerves in your body, which usually results in tingling, numbness, or weakness, and pain of the affected area. Neuropathies typically start in your hands and feet but can affect other areas of the body as well. These symptoms typically indicate a problem within the peripheral nervous system.
Symptoms include:
And these are only a few of the symptoms. But what makes these symptoms occur? How does neuropathy work?
What is the peripheral nervous system?
The peripheral nervous system is a web of nerves outside your brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). These two systems work together to control your body. The peripheral nervous system lays down the foundation for signals to travel throughout the body from your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
When neuropathy occurs, it essentially signifies the damage of nerve cells, called neurons. When neurons are damaged or destroyed, it affects how your body communicates. Neuropathy can affect a specific nerve or multiple nerves throughout the body, affecting your senses, motor skills, or body functions.
Neuropathy is extremely common, as it's believed between 25 to 30% of Americans alone are affected by neuropathy. The causes vary from autoimmune disorders and infections to trauma or diabetes (the most common). While the symptoms can range from mild to severe, such as sharp jabbing pains, or paralysis, there are ways to reduce these symptoms and regain control of your body.
Neuropathy led light therapy
Typically, the treatment for neuropathy doesn't treat the root issues; rather, they focus on the symptoms. However, light therapy does both. So, how does light therapy help neuropathy? Red light therapy uses the power of light to penetrate through the skin, stimulating cellular energy. In return, the body increases circulation, reduces inflammation, and provides pain relief to the areas applied. By increasing circulation, blood flow returns to normal, and symptoms reduce. One study found that red light therapy treatment improves cellular energy, allowing for quicker healing and results. Another study discovered that red light therapy reduces pain hypersensitivity and improves sensorimotor function for those with a mild spinal cord injury.
Those experiencing neuropathy can treat themselves using non-invasive and non-pharmacological methods through red light therapy. Instead, simply using red light therapy can reduce and eliminate painful and uncomfortable symptoms from neuropathy.
Luckily, Kaiyan Medical produces MDSAP-certified and FDA-approved light therapy products and devices for your own at-home treatment or even for your patients. We've worked hard to provide solutions for both patients and healthcare practitioners, catering to various needs. Whether you're looking to private label your own light therapy devices or for home use, contact our team, as we would love to help you through your light therapy journey.
