Most people who develop peripheral neuropathy first blame something else, whether that’s poor circulation, normal aging, or a long day on their feet. By the time the burning, numbness, or electric pain in the legs and feet becomes constant, the actual cause (damage to the peripheral nerves themselves) has often been progressing for months or years. That misattribution is one of the reasons effective neuropathy treatment is so often delayed.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, about one-third to one-half of people with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy, and diabetes is only one of many causes. If you are dealing with nerve pain in your feet, persistent numbness, or unexplained neuropathy in your legs and feet, ProSpinal offers peripheral neuropathy treatment in Reno that goes beyond symptom management. We evaluate the type and source of your neuropathy and build a non surgical care plan designed to reduce nerve irritation, support circulation, and improve daily function.
Call ProSpinal at (775) 336-3472 to schedule your free consultation and find out whether structured neuropathy treatment may be right for your condition.
What Peripheral Neuropathy Is and Why It Happens
Peripheral neuropathy is not a single condition. It is a broad category of nerve disorders that affect the peripheral nervous system, the network of nerves that carries signals between the spinal cord and the rest of the body. When those nerves become damaged or irritated, the signals they transmit become unreliable, with sensations appearing where they shouldn’t and other signals failing to reach the brain at all. The result is the familiar pattern of burning, tingling, numbness, or sharp electric pain that most patients describe.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, more than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy have been identified, each with its own symptoms and likely course of progression. Understanding which type is present matters because treatment depends on it. Diabetic neuropathy is a different clinical picture than neuropathy following chemotherapy, and neither responds the same way as nerve symptoms caused by spinal compression in the lower back.
Common Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy almost always traces back to an underlying factor that damages or irritates the peripheral nerves. Identifying that factor shapes the entire care plan.
Conditions and exposures that commonly contribute to peripheral neuropathy include:
- Diabetes, which is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy in the United States
- Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy following cancer treatment
- Nutritional deficiencies, particularly vitamin B12 deficiency
- Autoimmune conditions, chronic alcohol use, or inherited neuropathies
- Physical injury or trauma to a peripheral nerve
- Idiopathic neuropathy, when no clear cause is identified after evaluation
- Lumbar nerve root compression that produces leg and foot symptoms resembling peripheral neuropathy
That final category matters. Patients sometimes arrive convinced they have peripheral neuropathy when the actual source is a compressed nerve root in the lower spine producing the same symptom pattern in the legs and feet. Our evaluation helps clarify the distinction.
Signs Your Symptoms May Be Peripheral Neuropathy
Not every case of foot pain or leg numbness is peripheral neuropathy. Certain patterns, however, are highly suggestive.
Consider scheduling a consultation if you experience:
- Burning or pricking sensations in the feet, particularly at night
- Numbness or reduced sensation in the toes, feet, or lower legs
- Tingling that begins in the feet and gradually moves upward
- Sharp, shock-like pain that comes and goes without obvious cause
- Loss of balance or unsteadiness, especially in low light
- Sensitivity to light touch, such as bedsheets or socks feeling painful against the skin
Peripheral neuropathy usually follows a length-dependent pattern, meaning symptoms appear first in the longest nerves of the body before progressing upward.
When Neuropathy Symptoms Require Medical Evaluation First
Most peripheral neuropathy responds to conservative evaluation and care. Certain symptoms, however, indicate a need for medical workup before any non surgical treatment begins.
Seek prompt medical evaluation if you experience:
- Rapid onset of severe numbness or weakness in the legs
- Loss of bowel or bladder control accompanying nerve symptoms
- Open wounds or non-healing ulcers on the feet, particularly with diabetes
- Signs of infection in the lower legs or feet
- Sudden weakness that affects walking
- Symptoms following recent chemotherapy that are rapidly worsening
Patients searching for a neuropathy specialist in Reno often arrive after months or years of being told there is little to be done, and our first job is to evaluate whether that assessment was complete. Our evaluation includes review of symptom history, sensory testing for light touch, vibration, and temperature, neurological screening for strength and reflexes, postural and movement assessment to identify whether spinal contributors are involved, and review of prior imaging or nerve testing such as EMG when available.
Non Surgical Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Options
When peripheral neuropathy involves nerve irritation, reduced circulation, or chronic inflammation around the affected nerves, conservative care can often reduce symptoms without surgery or additional medication. Our approach combines several modalities, applied selectively based on what your evaluation identifies, including Class IV deep tissue laser therapy, StemWave acoustic shockwave therapy, spinal decompression when a spinal source is contributing, and postural and movement guidance to reduce sustained nerve pressure. For patients with diabetes, we also include education on protective foot care.
How Class IV Laser Therapy and StemWave Support Neuropathy Symptoms
Our Class IV deep tissue laser therapy uses focused light energy to increase circulation, reduce inflammation, and support cellular metabolism in the affected nerves and surrounding tissue. A systematic review published in Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome and indexed through the National Library of Medicine found that low level laser therapy has a positive effect in controlling diabetic neuropathic pain, and a separate randomized clinical trial in BMC Geriatrics on older adults with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy reported no known adverse or side effects from deep tissue laser therapy.
Our StemWave therapy is a newer modality that uses focused acoustic shockwaves to penetrate deep into the tissue around affected nerves, stimulating circulation and supporting the body’s regenerative response. Sessions for both modalities are short, with no required downtime between visits. Individual response varies, which is why we evaluate candidacy before recommending a treatment series.
When Spinal Decompression May Be Considered
Spinal decompression is not the first treatment we recommend for true peripheral neuropathy. It plays a specific role in cases where evaluation identifies that a spinal source (lumbar nerve root compression, disc involvement, or radicular pain) is contributing to symptoms patients have attributed to peripheral neuropathy. Lower lumbar nerve roots travel directly into the leg and foot, and when those nerve roots are compressed, the resulting symptoms can closely resemble peripheral neuropathy.
Why Neuropathy Symptoms Worsen at Night
Many neuropathy patients notice their symptoms intensify after they lie down for the evening. According to National Library of Medicine, neuropathic pain has been characterized as superficial, deep-seated, or severe, unremitting pain with exacerbation at night.
Several factors contribute. Daytime activity and external stimulation distract from underlying nerve signals, while reduced circulation when lying still slows the clearance of metabolic byproducts around already sensitive nerves, and cooler nighttime temperatures can intensify sensitivity in damaged nerves. The result is that symptoms which felt manageable during the day become harder to ignore at night, fragmenting sleep and driving the daily cycle in the wrong direction. This is why rest alone rarely resolves neuropathy. Effective treatment targets the daytime patterns, circulation, and tissue health that influence how active the nerves become when you finally try to sleep.
Where to Find Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment in Reno
ProSpinal is located at 10635 Professional Circle, Suite B, in South Reno. We serve patients from Midtown, Damonte Ranch, Sparks, Double Diamond, Caughlin Ranch, and throughout Washoe County. Patients also travel from Carson City, Incline Village, and surrounding Northern Nevada communities for specialized non surgical neuropathy care.
If you have been searching for a neuropathy specialist in Reno for treatment of nerve pain in your feet and legs, our clinic focuses exclusively on non surgical, drug free pain relief. Every treatment plan is built around your specific findings, your medical history, and your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment
Patients dealing with neuropathy symptoms often want direct answers before scheduling. Each response reflects our conservative, evaluation first approach.
How Do You Stop Burning Feet at Night?
Nighttime burning is one of the most common complaints among neuropathy patients. Reducing it usually requires addressing several factors at once: the underlying nerve irritation, circulation in the lower legs, daytime activity patterns, and footwear. A structured treatment plan that combines in-office care with daily habits tends to produce more lasting change than any single intervention. We discuss specific strategies during your evaluation based on your symptom pattern.
Can Peripheral Neuropathy Be Treated Without Medication?
In many cases, conservative non surgical care can reduce symptoms and support nerve health without additional medication. Many patients use conservative care alongside their existing medical management with the goal of reducing reliance on symptom-only treatments over time.
How Long Does Neuropathy Treatment Take?
Treatment timelines depend on the underlying cause, severity, and duration of symptoms. Some patients notice meaningful improvement within a few weeks. More established cases involving longstanding nerve damage often require a longer structured plan. We set realistic expectations during your evaluation and reassess progress at each visit.
What If My Neuropathy Is Caused by Diabetes?
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy responds to a different treatment emphasis than other forms. Blood sugar management remains essential and is best handled by your primary care physician or endocrinologist. Our role is to address the symptom pattern of burning, numbness, and nerve pain through structured conservative care that complements your medical management of diabetes itself. We do not treat or modify diabetes.
Schedule Your Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Consultation in Reno Today
Living with neuropathy symptoms that disrupt your sleep, your balance, or your ability to stay active is not a permanent sentence. ProSpinal provides structured, non surgical care designed to identify the type and source of your nerve symptoms and address them directly, without additional surgery, injections, or medication.
Call ProSpinal today at (775) 336-3472 to schedule your free consultation and find out whether structured non surgical care can help you move forward with confidence.