Diabetes is one of the most common chronic conditions in the U.S., affecting around 40.1 million people of all ages, around 12% of the population. When most people think of diabetes, they usually just consider aspects such as a more restrictive diet and issues with insulin.
However, people struggling with diabetes often have to endure an additional devastating side effect: intense chronic nerve pain. This debilitating pain is diabetic neuropathy, a condition caused by nerve damage resulting from diabetes.
Patients dealing with neuropathy are offered medications and lifestyle changes. However, a growing body of work now suggests there may be another therapy that is non-invasive and effective in easing the pain and inflammation of diabetic neuropathy: shockwave therapy.
What is Diabetic Neuropathy
Neuropathy is a broad term for a condition that includes the damage and dysfunction of nerves in the peripheral nervous system (anything not involving the brain or spinal cord). Diabetic neuropathy appears when high blood sugar levels damage the nerves over time, with patients with a long history of diabetes at higher risk of developing the issue.
High blood sugar over time can damage the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the nerves, leading to their injury or death.
It affects around 50% of people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Patients with poor blood sugar control, high cholesterol, obesity, or who are older have an increased risk of developing neuropathy.
Patients with diabetic neuropathy can experience different types of symptoms or even be asymptomatic, depending on the type and the nerves damaged. People with peripheral nerve damage can experience tingling, sharp/stabbing pain, sensitivity, muscle weakness, and a loss of balance or coordination. Autonomic neuropathy can lead to digestive issues, blood pressure changes, and heart rate abnormalities. Proximal damage can cause severe pain in the hips and thighs and weakness in the leg muscles. Finally, focal neuropathy can cause sudden, severe pain, weakness, and even paralysis in specific areas, such as facial Bell’s palsy.
Currently, there is no way to fully reverse diabetic neuropathy, but early interventions have been shown to help prevent worsening conditions and complications. Physicians generally recommend tighter blood sugar control and lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet, exercise, and limited alcohol consumption. They also might prescribe medications to treat pain and other symptoms.
StemWave and Diabetic Neuropathy
StemWave therapy utilizes acoustic waves to stimulate the body’s healing process. The waves reduce the sensitivity of affected neural pathways, reducing the pain signals sent to the brain. StemWave also breaks down scar tissue that can compress nerves and improves blood flow, increasing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients and supporting damaged nerves. Additionally, chronic inflammation contributes to nerve damage and pain, and StemWave has been shown to lower pro-inflammatory cytokines and increase anti-inflammatory mediators. Patients have reported a reduction in swelling and pain, with long-term therapies helping regulate inflammation and supporting healing.
Both these factors contribute to increased tissue repair and long-term pain reduction.
Shockwave therapy has been shown to be effective in reducing pain for a wide variety of conditions and has a minimal risk of complications when properly implemented, making it an attractive treatment option for both physicians and patients.
Studies have not definitively shown that shockwave therapy can reverse nerve damage; however, they have demonstrated that it can ease the symptoms of neuropathy and reduce other factors that contribute to nerve damage.
The data regarding the effectiveness of StemWave therapy for diabetic neuropathy is still emerging since research has been limited to smaller and shorter studies. However, these studies have shown promise for sustained increases in patients’ quality of life and reductions in damage.
Final Thoughts
Diabetic neuropathy has a devastating effect on millions of people already struggling with their health, for while lifestyle changes like diet and exercise can help manage diabetes, they cannot undo the damage to their nerves. Medications can provide some relief, but their effectiveness varies, only provides moderate relief, and requires ongoing use.
In contrast, shockwave therapy, while more research is required, has demonstrated that it can provide real relief from pain and real recovery, reducing factors that cause the damage leading to the nerve pain so many people suffer from.
Rockwell Physicians has always sought to approach healthcare holistically. By including StemWave therapy in our services, we offer patients an effective alternative for pain management. We want to work with you with the intention of moving you from mere pain control to pain relief. StemWave technology presents a path to relief that genuinely improves overall health and well-being.
So, if you have been dealing with diabetic neuropathy and are looking for relief beyond medications and diets, contact Rockwell Physicians today. Shockwave therapy may be exactly the answer you have been looking for.