Micro-Vas Therapy
Pain and feelings of numbness, tingling, or burning can be debilitating. Experiencing these can be a sign of neuropathy and/or diabetic neuropathy, radiculopathy, or myofasical pain. One out of every two people with diabetes will suffer from diabetic neuropathy at some point in their life. Neuropathy is a disease or dysfunction of the nerves.
At NorthEast Spine and Sports Medicine, our experienced staff can diagnose and treat such conditions with plans that are custom tailored to each patient’s needs. One way we treat neuropathy is with Micro-Vas Therapy, which relieves pain non-surgically.
What is Micro-Vas Therapy?
Micro-Vas Therapy (also known as Micro-Vascular) is a form of physical therapy wound treatment commonly used to stimulate blood flow in feet. This is a treatment that is more so for patients who have chronic pain caused by poor blood circulation — pain that is so bad they have difficultly walking or standing for long periods of time. Common causes of poor blood circulation include: diabetes, smoking, being overweight, sitting for long periods of time, and even genetics.
You may have poor circulation and should contact a doctor if:
- You have swelling in your legs.
- Have wounds that never seem to heal.
- Get headaches often.
- Have cold feet.
- Experience numbness and/or cramping in your feet often.
Each Micro-Vas treatment lasts 20-40 minutes and is often painless for patients. Some patients have reported feeling a tingling sensation in their feet during treatment.
Treatment is done in our Jackson, Point Pleasant, Barnegat, Manchester, Aberdeen, Tinton Falls and Lakewood offices. During treatment, patients are seated comfortably with a Micro-Vas machine hooked up to them. The machine is generally hooked up to their thigh, calf, ankle, and foot. As we turn the machine up, blood flows through patients’ suffering areas. Patients typically begin experiencing relief after their fourth treatment.
Diagnosing Neuropathy
Typical to most doctors, as noted by Mayo Clinic, the doctors of NorthEast Spine and Sports Medicine diagnose neuropathy by:
1. Consulting with patients on their medical history including:
- Lifestyle behaviors
- Drinking/drug habits
- Family history as related to neuropathy
2. Giving patients a neurological exam that includes:
- Checking tendon reflexes
- Checking muscle strength
- Checking muscle tone
- Checking a patient’s ability to feel certain sensations
3. Giving patients a physical exam.
- Blood tests, imaging tests, nerve functioning tests, and a nerve biopsy may be required.
- Causes of neuropathy include: high blood glucose, smoking, alcohol use, nerve injury, and more.
To schedule a consultation, fill out our contact form or call the office.
