Peripheral neuropathy is one of those conditions that medicine struggles to offer much for beyond pain management. Patients are often left to simply live with it.
But living with it — the burning feet that wake you at 3am, the numbness that makes every step uncertain, the swelling that stops you walking any distance, the loss of independence that comes with all of it — is not a small thing.
It affects everything.
I treat peripheral neuropathy. It's one of the conditions I care most about, for reasons I'll explain below.
Two very different journeys
to the same condition
Peripheral neuropathy has many causes, but the two I see most often come from very different places — and each brings its own particular weight.
Diabetic neuropathy
A long-term consequence of blood sugar affecting nerve function — often starting in the feet, often progressing slowly. Many people have been managing diabetes for years before neuropathy becomes a significant problem. By the time they find me, they've often tried several things that haven't helped enough.
Chemo-induced neuropathy
You went through treatment. You got through it.
And then the neuropathy arrived — a side effect of the very drugs that helped you survive.
There's something particularly cruel about that.
Many CIPN patients feel their concerns are minimised, or are told to simply wait and see.
That's rarely satisfying when you can't feel your feet.
A PERSONAL NOTE
Why this condition matters to me
A few years ago, my mum developed peripheral neuropathy. She had burning feet that woke her in the night. She couldn't walk any real distance without her feet becoming red and swollen. She'd had to stop driving — and with it, a significant part of her independence had quietly slipped away.
I treated her weekly for several months before we began to notice a real difference. It wasn't quick, and I won't pretend otherwise. But we got there — and with some dietary changes alongside the acupuncture, her world started to open back up again.
"They've since moved away to the coast. And here's the part I'm most proud of: I taught my dad where to put the needles."
He's not a practitioner — he's just a husband who wanted to keep helping his wife. He does the regular treatments now, and I give her top-ups when I go to visit. That's not something I'd have done if I wasn't confident in the results. You don't hand something that important to someone else unless you trust it completely.
If you have a partner or family member who'd like to learn some basic techniques to support your treatment at home, that's something I'm happy to explore as we go. It's how my mum continues to be treated today — and giving the people who love you something active and useful to do can make a real difference to everyone involved.
It's also why PN patients get something a little extra from me. I know what this condition takes from people — not from a textbook, but from watching my mum, and from the look on my dad's face when things started to improve.
What people typically experience
Peripheral neuropathy presents differently for everyone, but these are the symptoms I most commonly see:
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Burning pain in the feet or hands
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Numbness or loss of sensation
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Tingling or pins and needles
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Feet or hands becoming red and swollen
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Difficulty walking or balance problems
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Sensitivity to touch or temperature
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Pain that worsens at night
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Muscle weakness in extremities
If your symptoms aren't on that list, it doesn't mean I can't help — it's worth a conversation.
How I approach treatment
My practice is guided by the Balanced Method — a refined system of acupuncture that focuses on identifying and treating the underlying pattern, not just the surface symptoms.
More than needles
Alongside acupuncture, I use electro acupuncture— the application of a gentle very low voltage/current — which is particularly effective for stimulating and moving stagnant Qi in the channels.
The current is dialled to each patient's comfort level, so the no discomfort is felt but the current is just perceivable.
Where appropriate, I also discuss dietary adjustments that can support the body's healing process from the inside.
Neuropathy is a systemic condition.
Treating it well means treating the whole picture.
Honest expectations
I won't tell you this is quick. Peripheral neuropathy — particularly long-standing diabetic neuropathy — takes time to respond.
Anyone who promises rapid results is probably overpromising.
What I can tell you is what the process typically looks like:
FIRST SESSION
Mostly conversation and thorough assessment — I want to understand your full picture. Treatment begins in the same session. You may notice some mild change in sensation, or simply feel more settled.
FIRST FEW WEEKS
Weekly treatment. We're looking for subtle shifts — improved sleep, slight reduction in burning intensity, better days mixed with the difficult ones. These early signals matter.
AFTER A FEW MONTHS
For patients who respond well, this is typically where more meaningful change becomes apparent. We adjust treatment as we go — there's usually more than one way to approach a case, and I'll try different things to find what works best for your body.
LONGER TERM
The goal is to reduce symptoms, improve quality of life, and support the body in maintaining those gains. Some patients continue with occasional maintenance sessions; others find they no longer need to.
I treated my mum for several months before we saw real change. That's the honest reality of this condition. But the change, when it comes, is meaningful.