Core Life Chiropractic boasts a better than a 90 percent success rate in treating patients with painful neuropathy

By Mary Malik

For anyone struggling with peripheral neuropathy, Dr. Pooja Patel, founder of Core Life Chiropractic, offers non-surgical, non-invasive treatments to increase blood flow and naturally rejuvenate the nerves in the hands and feet—without shots or medications.

“Peripheral neuropathy occurs because nerves are damaged due to a lack of blood flow that provides nutrients and oxygen to the nerve cells,” Dr. Patel says. “This causes pain, numbness and other symptoms, making it difficult to walk, sleep and even function in daily life. Our proprietary and comprehensive education and treatment program utilizes up to eight different technologies to provide long-term relief to patients with even the most severely damaged nerves.”

Dr. Patel says there are over 100 causes, or triggers, of peripheral neuropathy, and all have one thing in common: a decrease in blood flow on the nerve cell level. This lack of circulation causes the blood vessels supplying the nerve to shrink, increasing the progression of symptoms.

“I used to have a lot of trouble going up and down the stairs. I always had to hold onto the railing because I was afraid to fall. Now, after a little over a month, my fear is gone, and I don’t even have to hold onto the railing.” —Mary W.

The main goals for neuropathy treatment at Core Life Chiropractic are to optimize the environment within the patient’s body to encourage nerve healing, increase blood flow, stimulate damaged nerves to reduce pain and improve balance, and decrease brain-based pain.

“The causes of neuropathy can include diabetes, liver and kidney disease, autoimmune disorders and chronic infections,” Dr. Patel says. “Chemotherapy treatments and other medications along with lifestyle choices like smoking are also among the triggers and can result in neuropathy symptoms. Whatever the cause, at Core Life Chiropractic we address neuropathy with a comprehensive treatment plan to put patients on a path to wellness and get them back to enjoying life again—pain-free.”

An initial consultation with Dr. Patel and her team begins with a thorough exam and evaluation to the determine the cause(s) and level of nerve damage.

“Many patients have been told their pain can only be addressed through medications like steroids and opiates, and that the nerve damage itself is beyond repair,” Dr. Patel says. “I begin by educating patients on how neuropathy affects the body and how the nerves can be healed through the treatments we offer. We see improvement in more than 90 percent of our patients, even those with permanent nerve damage.”

“I had severe neuropathy for over 17 years and tried everything without getting any better. All the medications did was take the edge off my pain. After coming here, I got off all my prescription medications and my life is 100 percent better! My neurologist is amazed.” —Linda K.

The initial neuropathy consultation and treatment plan at Core Life Chiropractic includes:

• One-on-one evaluation to discover the underlying cause of nerve damage, neuropathy/nerve education, and a 16-point numbness and neurological assessment.
• Nerve Re-education Therapy with Digital Electro-Therapeutic Stimulation (DETS), a therapy that re-educates the nerves and almost immediately results in reduced pain and numbness.
• Thermal Imaging Scan showing the level of decreased circulation and severity of nerve damage to assess post-treatment improvements.
• Vibration Therapy to improve balance, increase circulation and stimulate nerve fibers.

“After the initial consult and assessment, we can make recommendations for a complete treatment plan, which may include nutritional supplementation, chiropractic adjustments and additional therapies,” Dr. Patel says.

Other state-of-the-art treatments at Core Life Chiropractic include the Monochromatic Infrared Photo Energy (MIRE) treatment, a red-light therapy to stimulate healing and promote nerve growth, reducing pain and restoring sensation.

In cases of neuropathy caused by diabetes, poor nutrition, alcoholism and other issues causing severe inflammation, the pain can be difficult to address. Providing continuing education on lifestyle changes and ways to take an active role in their own long-term recovery is an important component of the treatment here.

“I believe in treating the body as a whole and working with patients to give them the tools necessary to build and retain a healthy lifestyle,” Dr. Patel says. “The ultimate goal is for lasting healing and pain relief through the treatments we provide, and we are seeing that every day.”

Common Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy

• Pins and needles sensation
• Numbness/Tingling in hands or feet
• Difficulty sleeping
• Imbalance or falling
• Sensitivity to, or inability to feel, hot and cold
• Decreased muscle strength and control
• Burning or stabbing pain

Core Life Chiropractic is located at 20134 Van Aken Blvd. in Shaker Heights. To schedule a consultation, call 216-675-1710 or check the website CoreLifeChiro.com.