Dr. Alvin Philipose DC/ Nitin Sawheny MD
Prolotherapy Injections Specialist Near Me in Oklahoma City, OK

405.848.7246
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Neuropathy

Neuropathy Treatment: A Oklahoma City, OK and Surrounding Areas Chiropractor’s Perspective

Neuropathy is one of the top common nervous system conditions. Stats has proven over 20 million Americans suffer from neuropathy today, and the number continues to rise. One of the main reasons for this is that 60% of people with diabetes suffer from diabetic neuropathy. With the diabetic population ever-increasing, this means the neuropathy population will also continue to increase.
To have a better understanding about neuropathy, it is best to begin with an overview of the nervous system. The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system. This is the control center of the body responsible for telling everything else how to function. These “messages” are relayed by the peripheral nervous system, which are the nerves that connect the spinal cord to all our muscles, glands, organs, and organ systems. There are different types of peripheral nerves that have different jobs to do. There are sensory nerves, which send information such as pain, touch, and temperature to the brain for processing. There are also motor nerves, which communicate signals from the brain to move muscles. If these nerves get damaged, it affects how those nerves function and their ability to communicate properly. Over time, this can be the root cause of many symptoms or health challenges that people face.
As previously mentioned, neuropathy can be secondary to medical conditions such as diabetes, but it can also be secondary to autoimmune conditions, inflammatory conditions, and even be caused by chemotherapy treatments. Nerves are like most tissues in the body, they need oxygen and nutrients to function properly. When they don’t get these things, they begin to wither and break down. This is what neuropathy is and it has a devastating effect on the quality of life of millions of sufferers. Some of the most common symptoms of neuropathy include pain, numbness, weakness, and balance issues, but it can also cause many other symptoms. Medical treatments for neuropathy usually amount to medications such as Gabapentin, injections/nerve blocks, and/or surgery. While these may help to the symptoms and is considered a “band-aid effect, they do not address the root cause of the problem. Ultimately, this results in people struggling for years and decades with no improvement to show for it.
At Venturis Clinic, we take a different approach to treating neuropathy. An approach that promotes healing from within by addressing the root cause of the issue. Our combined protocols address this multi-faceted problem to ensure that the body is in the proper state and environment to allow these nerves to heal. When this happens, true progress can be made, and quality of life can begin to be restored.

How We Treat Neuropathy in Oklahoma City, OK and Surrounding Areas

Consultation and Exam

As a new patient who comes to our office will start their journey the same way: with an in-depth consultation and examination. This is where you first meet Dr. Alvin Philipose and discuss the problems and challenges you have been facing. He will really listen to you and wants to discover just how much neuropathy has affected your life. This is also the time to tell Dr. Alvin Philipose about your medical history and any other conditions you may have. This is critical information that will help Dr. Philipose understand your condition and what may be the root cause of it.
After your initial consultation, Dr. Alvin Philipose will perform a detailed neurologic examination to determine where any sensory (feeling) or motor (movement) deficits may be. This is good baseline data to have for comparison purposes in future exams. The initial examination will also include a chiropractic examination in which he will check your spine for subluxation, a condition that can cause nerve interference and irritation. After this initial visit, you will return for a follow-up in which Dr. Alvin Philipose will review his clinical findings from your exam, any diagnostics performed or provided and will offer his recommendations for care.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Oklahoma City, OK and Surrounding Areas

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an effective therapeutic experience for Neuropathy. During a therapy session, you sit within a sealed hyperbaric oxygen chamber capsule and breathe an air mixture comprised of 95% pure oxygen. This highly oxygenated air is better for you than the typical air composition outside. Most importantly, the air within a hyperbaric oxygen chamber is specifically formulated to be devoid of toxins or pollutants, including heavy metals and chemicals. During your hyperbaric oxygen therapy session, you can kick back, relax, and simply breathe freely as you would normally do. You have the option to watch media on a device or screen within the chamber, read a book, listen to music, or simply relax. High-quality hyperbaric chambers like these at Venturis Clinic will allow you to experience a serene, effective treatment. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is safe, effective, and supremely comfortable. Over time with this type of therapy, you'll feel as though you can breathe more easily plus experience a range of other beneficial effects that the Hyperbaric Chamber offers.
Call to Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
405.848.7246
Ask about Digital Motion X-Ray Imaging
Offering variety of pain management solutions 

Chiropractic Care in Oklahoma City, OK and Surrounding Areas

A healthy nervous system is the key to a healthy life. The nervous system controls all other functions of the body. Chiropractic care is one of the best ways to take care of and optimize your nervous system. When treating neuropathy, it is ideal for the spine to have as little interference as possible. Subluxations in the spine can impact how well the spinal cord and nerves relay information to and from the brain. Chiropractors are the only experts in healthcare who are trained to identify and correct subluxations.
Additionally, chiropractors can adjust other joints in the body besides the spine, especially when it comes to neuropathy. The hands and feet are two of the most common areas where neuropathy symptoms affect people. Getting these adjusted by a chiropractor regularly can help provide a flood of nerve signals to the brain. This can help dilute pain and other neuropathy symptoms that travel the same nerve pathways back to the brain.

Nutrition and Supplementation

The treatments discussed thus far are all external by nature, meaning they come from outside the body. However, they are only half the battle. Nerves can only heal if they are in the proper internal environment and that is largely dictated by what we consume in our diet. The reality is that us Americans have a poor, pro-inflammatory diet that is high in sugar and low in nutrients. Inflammation is toxic to nerves and causes a lower pH balance in the blood (more acidic). This is especially harmful to nerves and blood vessels alike. A healthy internal environment is necessary to truly heal from this debilitating condition.
For this reason, it is suggested that patients participating in our neuropathy protocol consume a paleo-style diet that is high in protein sources and vegetables and low in carbohydrates and grains. This can decrease inflammation and create a more stable internal environment. Supplementing with nitric oxide is another great way to dilate blood vessels to get more blood flow to wilting nerves so they can receive the nutrients they need. Like any diet, it must be consistent, or it simply won’t work. It must become a lifestyle if a person is serious about addressing this condition in the right way.

Types of Neuropathy in Oklahoma City, OK and Surrounding Areas

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetes is one of the most common causes of neuropathy. Remember, nerves have their own blood supply that is necessary for receiving nutrients to keep nerves healthy. This requires the blood itself to be healthy and nourishing for the nerves to thrive. If blood is not healthy, such as in diabetes where blood sugar levels are high, this can cause damage to the nerves over time.
Diabetic neuropathy is most seen in the legs and feet and the most common symptoms are pain and numbness & tingling. It is not sufficient to treat only the neuropathy symptoms and hope they go away. To effectively heal diabetic neuropathy, you must help heal the root cause, which in this case is diabetes. Dietary and lifestyle changes must happen to help improve the health of the individual and help their blood sugar levels decrease and stabilize. If maintained, this can not only help heal the neuropathy but also ensure that it doesn’t return.

Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy

Cancer is one of the worst and deadliest conditions a person can have. It is commonly treated with some combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Unfortunately, a common side effect of some types of chemotherapy treatments is neuropathy. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy causes many of the same symptoms as other forms of neuropathy, and it has the potential to linger long after chemotherapy treatments have been stopped. Some of the more common chemotherapy drugs that cause neuropathy are thalidomide, cisplatin, docetaxel, as well as several others. Even if you are currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment, addressing the root cause of neuropathy, and treating it appropriately can help reduce neuropathy symptoms and increase overall function.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is the most common type of neuropathy that affects people. The peripheral nervous system is what connects the spinal cord to the rest of the body, so these nerves have the potential to be quite long. This means that symptoms can be felt in a variety of locations, though the most affected areas are the hands, fingers, feet, and toes. These symptoms can include pain, burning, weakness, numbness, and tingling. Peripheral neuropathy can also cause coordination and balance issues when it is affecting the feet. Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by infection, injury, or other medical conditions. For example, one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes. If you think you may have peripheral neuropathy, Ventures Clinic is ready to help you.

Proximal Neuropathy

Proximal neuropathy is a rare form of neuropathy that affects muscles in the upper part of the legs, buttocks, and hips. It can sometimes resemble sciatica in that it can shoot from the buttock region down into the legs, but normally has a different root cause than traditional sciatica. It typically presents with sharp, sudden pain in the hip or buttocks, but sometimes as the lower extremity pain starts to improve, it can cause similar symptoms in the upper extremities. Like peripheral neuropathy, one of the most common causes of proximal neuropathy is diabetes. Therefore, one of the best ways to help treat proximal neuropathy is lifestyle changes that can improve health and better control the diabetic condition.

Autonomic Neuropathy

The autonomic nervous system is a special part of our body’s nervous system that is responsible for controlling all involuntary functions of the body. Involuntary functions are the things your body does to thrive without you having to think about it. Examples of this would be breathing while you sleep, your heart constantly beating, and your stomach digesting food once you consume it. If you have damage to these nerves, as in autonomic neuropathy, your body may have a difficult time regulating some of these essential functions. Symptoms of autonomic neuropathy depend on which specific nerves are being affected. For example, if the nerves that control your heart are damaged, it is possible to experience symptoms such as blood pressure problems, rapid or slow heartbeat, fatigue, or lightheadedness.

Focal Neuropathy

Conditions like peripheral neuropathy tend to be the result of damage to multiple nerves in the body. In contrast, focal neuropathy is a condition in which a single, specific nerve is affected. One of the most common types of focal neuropathies is caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, in which one specific nerve, the median nerve, is being compressed. The median nerve travels through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Excessive use or damage can cause inflammation to develop within the carpal tunnel, which takes up space. When the median nerve is compressed due to lack of space, it can cause symptoms such as pain, numbness, weakness, and burning into the hand. This is known as nerve entrapment, and it is the most common cause of most focal neuropathies.
Call to Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
405.848.7246
Ask about Digital Motion X-Ray Imaging
Offering variety of pain management solutions 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is prolotherapy good for?

Many conditions respond well to prolotherapy, such as facet syndrome (back and neck arthritis), whiplash, joint sprains, degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, tennis elbow, sprains, chronic tendonitis, Ehler’s-Danlos Disease, Bulging disc, knee pain, shoulder pain Vagus nerve inflammation and more.

What are the risks of prolotherapy?

Theoretical risks of prolotherapy injections include soreness, infection or neurological (nerve) damage. Injections should be performed by trained physicians using universal precautions diagnostics examinations and tproper examinations. This results in very minimal side effects.

What is the average cost of prolotherapy?

Costs vary quite a bit from $150-$1500 dependent on type and contents of injections.

Is prolotherapy a permanent fix?

Prolotherapy is an all-natural, permanent treatment, as it relies on the body repairing itself to reduce pain. In contrast, pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications only provide temporary relief. Booster shots as well has wellness therapies including stretching, massage, chiropractic, dry-needling and strengthening will help maintain progress.

Who is a good candidate for prolotherapy?

More specifically, prolotherapy may be right for you if you experience any of the following: Damaged or lost tissue, especially surrounding the joints. If patients have tried various traditional treatments including prescription drugs, physical therapy, or steroids but seen minimal to no results, prolotherapy may be right for you.

Why does prolotherapy hurt so much?

A patient is generally sore for a couple of days after Prolotherapy. This is because the injections have to go through some muscles to get to the ligaments and tendons. To help the muscle soreness resolve itself sooner, dry needling and moist heat applied to the area is recommended.

Is prolotherapy better than cortisone?

Cortisone can cause tendon rupture, particularly of the achilles tendon. Prolotherapy is a proven orthopedic treatment to reduce pain and strengthen weakened joints without the negative side effects of cortisone.

What are the pros and cons of prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy is great for strengthening weak joints and creating heightened muscle functionality, such as increased movement and flexibility. However, there are some risks involved, for example it is a shot like any other so there could be pain or tenderness to the injection site.

What should you not do after prolotherapy?

Due to the numbness we ask that you refrain from any strenuous activities but to stay mobile. Continue to move affected area to decrease soreness and stiffness. You should avoid strenuous physical activity for 2 days following injections. You will experience some pain and soreness 2-5 days after your treatment. Do not take any anti-inflammatories, pain medications or steroids during treatments. This may inhibit your body’s ability to heal the affected tissue.

How long does prolotherapy take to heal?

Most ligaments and tendons heal within a period of 3 months; however, the majority of healing after a prolotherapy session occurs in the first two weeks.

How many prolotherapy sessions will I need?

Prolotherapy treatments vary from person to person and from injury to injury. Many patients have experienced some relief of their pain with only one session. The average person requires anywhere from 3-12 treatment sessions spaced about 3-6 weeks apart from each other.

How long does a prolotherapy injection last?

On average, patients experience one year of improvement and relief from prolotherapy. However, there is a huge variation and sometimes improvement lasts from three months to 15 years.

What is injected during prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy involves injections of a mild irritant into the injured part of your body. Most of the time the injection contains saline, dextrose (a type of sugar), and lidocaine, which is a numbing agent. Dr. Philipose custom tailors the injection, so the exact composition depends on your needs. These injections may include natural collagen, minerals, amino acids and other natural substances to accelerate healing compared to traditional prolotherapy.

Is prolotherapy better than surgery?

Prolotherapy is considered a viable alternative to surgery, and as an option to pain medications, cortisone and other steroidal injections. The Prolotherapy procedure is considered a safe, affordable option that allows the patient to keep working and/or training during treatment.

Can prolotherapy reverse arthritis?

One study with 90 adults with knee osteoarthritis involved some participants getting monthly prolotherapy injections of dextrose for 3 to 5 months. Those who received prolotherapy saw a significant improvement in pain, function, and stiffness scores.

Does prolotherapy regrow cartilage?

Prolotherapy is an injection of a non-biologic substance with localized effects for repairing connective tissue injuries of the musculoskeletal system. Recent studies in humans show that prolotherapy stimulates cartilage regeneration.

Are you sedated for prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy is a safe, cost effective injection technique used for treating musculoskeletal injuries and chronic pain in various parts of the body. It is noninvasive, has limited side effects and does not require sedation.

What does dry needling actually do?

Dry needling treats muscle tissue, and its goal is to reduce pain, inactivate trigger points and restore function. It rarely is a standalone procedure. Rather, it often is part of a broader physical therapy approach incorporating other traditional physical therapy interventions into treatment.

What is dry needling and does it hurt?

We use very thin filament needles. The initial feeling of the needle entering through the skin is very minimal; much less than a vaccination or having blood drawn. Once the needle reaches the muscle, the twitch sensation feels more like a deep cramp and doesn't last long (15-30 seconds).

How long does dry needling results last?

After dry needling, experiencing some slight soreness is normal, and you will typically note an improvement in your symptoms within one to two days. How long the benefits will last will vary per individual. The first few treatments will usually have a short length of relief spanning over several days.

How many sessions of dry needling do you need?

If treatment zones are found and the correct muscle groups are targeted, sub-acute conditions will improve after three – four consecutive sessions, with chronic injuries requiring five – six consecutive needling sessions.

Does dry needling remove knots?

Dry needle therapy resolves muscle knots by inserting a very thin needle directly into the trigger point. The knot responds to the interruption and relaxes immediately. Most patients agree that dry needling doesn't hurt in the way that you might think!

How deep do dry needles go?

Superficial dry needling involves inserting a needle at a depth up to 10 mm or into the subcutaneous tissue and may be combined with manipulation of the needle while in situ.

Does dry needling reduce inflammation?

The micro tears caused by the needle prompts the body's natural defenses to get to work, bringing nutrient-rich blood to the site and boosting tissue repair. Dry needling also helps to dissipate inflammatory mediators, those substances that gather in an area of inflammation.

Is dry needling good for arthritis?

Dry needling is an effective treatment in reducing pain from osteoarthritis because it increases blood circulation around the joint, thereby providing natural relief.

What exactly does a chiropractor do?

A chiropractor is trained to make sure your body is functioning as optimally as possible by using spinal manipulations and other therapies to relieve pain in your joints and muscles. These spinal adjustments will increase blood flow and nerve conductivity to the joints and muscles that are experiencing pain. They are taught philosophically to find and treat the cause rather than just the symptoms.

Is it healthy to go to the chiropractor?

Spinal manipulation and chiropractic care are generally considered safe, effective treatments for acute low back pain, the type of sudden injury that results from acute or chronic conditions such as strains, arthritis or disc injuries.

What are the benefits of chiropractic care?

• Improves neck pain.
• Reduces reliance on opioid pain relievers. 
• Eases back pain.
• Possible reduction of osteoarthritis symptoms. 
• Eases headache symptoms. 
• More affordable treatment for chronic back pain. 
• High satisfaction. 
• Reduces scoliosis symptoms.

What are the cons of seeing a chiropractor?

Spinal and joint manipulation has a chance to go wrong and may cause unwanted injuries. So it is important that you only have an appointment with an experienced chiropractor that performs the necessary examinations and diagnostics to ensure safe treatments. DO NOT ALLOW a physical therapist or any other untrained person try a manipulation especially without X-rays.

When should you go to a chiropractor?

Chiropractors are most sought after to treat neck and low back pain due to acute or chronic pain. If you experience back pain that lasts for more than a few days, consult a chiropractor for an assessment.

What cracks when you see a chiropractor?

During a back adjustment, your back undergoes quick, gentle stretching of the spinal facet joint, so you may hear a cracking or popping noise. This is caused by small pockets of air or bubbles, which are in the fluid that surrounds your joints.

Why do chiropractors want you to keep coming back?

Changing your posture, changing your spine's ability to move, changing your muscle health and structure take time. Months in fact. All muscles have memory and your body wants to go back to its old patterns instead of creating new healthy ones. That is why adjustments need to be repeated again and again

Is chiropractic care is ineffective?

Critics are skeptical mainly due to the fact that chiropractic care does not involve medications or any invasive surgeries. Some have associated this practice with some side effects and fatal complications in some cases resulting in death or stroke. It also goes against the medical philosophy of not prescribing medications. In recent years there has been a comparison that shows not only Chiropractic to be safe, but healthier and more successful than taking steroids and medications. There are also various techniques now that prevent any type of injuries due the gentleness of the adjustment.

Why do some chiropractors crack and others don't?

The noises you hear during chiropractic treatment depend on the technique used. For example, some techniques cause a cracking sound, and others don't, but both can be highly effective, depending on your needs. So, whether you hear an abundance of pops or none at all, you don't need to worry.
If you have tried multiple types of doctors and treatments but still hurting, you may not have found the cause. We can help!
Find Us
7917 N May Ave, Oklahoma City, 
OK 73120, USA
(405) 848-7246
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