Peripheral neuropathy
Care that is precise, unhurried, and grounded.
Evidence-Based Care · Flatiron, NYC
Peripheral neuropathy: burning, numbness, and balance changes
Peripheral neuropathy means nerves outside the brain and spinal cord are damaged or not functioning normally. Symptoms may include burning, tingling, numbness, electric pain, altered temperature sensation, weakness, or balance problems. Diabetes and chemotherapy are common causes, but vitamin deficiency, medication, autoimmune disease, alcohol, compression, and other conditions must be considered.
Which condition matches you?
Painful sensory neuropathy
Burning, pins and needles, electric pain, or painful sensitivity often begins in the toes and moves upward in a stocking pattern.
Numbness and balance change
Reduced sensation can make the ground feel uncertain and allow cuts, heat injury, or pressure sores to go unnoticed.
Focal or rapidly progressive symptoms
One-sided weakness, foot drop, rapid progression, or prominent autonomic symptoms may require urgent neurological evaluation.
Our approach
Less pain does not necessarily mean the nerve has healed
Neuropathic pain reflects abnormal signaling in injured or sensitized nerves. Acupuncture may change symptom intensity for some people, but it should not be described as regenerating nerves unless objective recovery is demonstrated. Cause-specific care, glucose management, oncology guidance, nutrition, medication review, and foot protection remain essential.
The evidence & the anatomy
Recent reviews report potential improvements in pain, tingling, and overall symptom burden for painful diabetic neuropathy and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Alongside cause-specific medical care, we track sleep, walking, balance, and participation in daily activities.
Burning pain
Numbness
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Chemotherapy
Diabetes
Balance
How we treat it — our 3-step protocol
Assess
We review medical diagnosis, distribution, weakness, balance, skin integrity, medications, glucose status, cancer treatment, and relevant testing.
Treat the structure
Acupuncture or electroacupuncture may be considered for symptom support, with oncology, bleeding, infection, and sensation precautions.
Close the loop
We follow sleep, walking, balance, pain interference, and daily foot or hand checks, not pain scores alone.
Start your recovery
References
- Wang C, Fan Y, Liang G, Wang Q, Gao H, Duan J. Acupuncture for the treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2024 Nov;57:101889. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2024.101889. Epub 2024 Jul 29. PMID: 39079232.
- Yeh ML, Liao RW, Yeh PH, Lin CJ, Wang YJ. Acupuncture-related interventions improve chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2024 Aug 19;24(1):310. doi: 10.1186/s12906-024-04603-1. PMID: 39160496; PMCID: PMC11334450.
- Lan L, Wang L, Sadeghirad B, Tang J, Liu Y, Couban RJ, Ma W, Busse JW. Acupuncture for the Management of Chronic Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2025 Apr 12;29(1):74. doi: 10.1007/s11916-025-01386-z. PMID: 40220243.