PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY ACUPUNCTURE · WATERLOO
Numbness, tingling, burning or cold sensations?
Whether it’s numbness in your feet, tingling in your toes or fingers, burning or unusually cold sensations, or nerve pain that makes walking and everyday activities uncomfortable, acupuncture may help reduce symptoms and help you feel more comfortable.
PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY CAN SHOW UP IN DIFFERENT WAYS
Peripheral neuropathy can feel very different from person to person. You might notice numbness or reduced sensation in your feet or hands, tingling or pins and needles, burning pain, or areas that feel unusually cold.
Some people notice it most at night, while walking, or when their feet are under the covers. For others, it’s simply there throughout the day.
Does this sound familiar?
Symptoms I commonly see:
• Numbness or reduced sensation in the legs and feet
• Tingling or pins and needles
• Burning or nerve pain
• Unusually cold sensations in the feet or legs
• Feeling like you’re walking around with thick socks on your feet
• Sensitivity or discomfort that makes walking or everyday activities harder
HOW ACUPUNCTURE MAY HELP
A targeted approach to peripheral neuropathy.
With peripheral neuropathy, I often place acupuncture needles directly in the feet and lower legs, where symptoms such as numbness, tingling, burning or cold sensations are occurring.
The goal is to stimulate the area and support local microcirculation — the tiny blood vessels that deliver blood, oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and nerves.
Because neuropathy can change gradually, I pay attention to the small things: changes in sensation, temperature, comfort, and how your feet feel from one treatment to the next.
Your treatment is adjusted along the way based on how your body responds.
14+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
You’re in experienced hands.
I’m Tara Akuna, a Registered Acupuncturist with over 14 years of experience helping people move with less pain and more ease.
I take the time to understand what’s bothering you, how it’s affecting your everyday life, and how your body responds to treatment.
My style is gentle, practical and personalized — with the goal of helping you get back to doing the things you love.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Neuropathy usually takes time.
Peripheral nerves tend to respond more slowly than the muscle and joint pain I treat in clinic, so I generally recommend starting with a series of 12 acupuncture treatments rather than judging your response after just one or two visits.
I usually recommend twice a week for the first four weeks, followed by once a week for another four weeks. Because neuropathy often benefits from more frequent treatment at the beginning, your second appointment in the same week is $85 instead of the regular $110 follow-up rate.
Why a longer course?
Research on acupuncture for diabetic peripheral neuropathy has looked at treatment as a course of care rather than an isolated treatment. One randomized controlled trial used 10 treatments over 10 weeks and found improvements in nerve-conduction measurements after treatment; the researchers noted these findings may indicate structural nerve regeneration.
Another randomized controlled trial used 12 acupuncture treatments over 8 weeks and found improvements in numbness and several measures of neuropathy symptoms, although nerve-conduction testing did not show meaningful changes in that study.
That’s one reason I like to give neuropathy treatment enough time before deciding whether it’s helping.
After 12 treatments, we’ll reassess changes in things like numbness, tingling, pain, temperature, sensitivity and function. From there, we can decide how best to space your treatments going forward, whether that means continuing weekly for a little longer or moving into a maintenance schedule.
IS ACUPUNCTURE RIGHT FOR YOUR NEUROPATHY?
You don’t have to just live with the symptoms.
Some people come in when numbness, tingling, burning or cold sensations first start becoming noticeable. Others have been living with neuropathy for months or years and are looking for another way to manage their symptoms.
Acupuncture may be worth considering if the sensations are persistent, becoming more noticeable, disturbing your sleep, or making walking and everyday activities less comfortable.
Not sure if acupuncture makes sense for you?
You’re welcome to get in touch before booking. I’m happy to let you know whether I think acupuncture is a reasonable option for what you’re dealing with.
READY TO FEEL BETTER?
Let’s get you back to doing what you love.
Initial appointments are $135.
Direct billing is available for many insurance plans.