Archive for category: Breakthrough Sessions

Let’s say you have a new patient who presents with

• Burning pain
• Sensitivity to touch
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Prickling sensation
• Weakness
• Difficulty walking
• Shooting pain in their muscles

For too long a time, they couldn’t figure out what was wrong with them.  They thought they were just tired or getting older or maybe coming down with something. 

Then they did some research and they think their symptoms may be some sort of neuropathy…

They’re not diabetic, they haven’t been through chemotherapy, they’ve never had shingles…

In fact, the only medical issue they have is high cholesterol and they’re taking statins.  And that can mean they may very well have is one of the fastest growing types of neuropathy…

Statin neuropathy.

And you can both be thankful they landed in your office.  As a NeuropathyDR® clinician, you probably have an excellent chance of recognizing, diagnosing and treating statin neuropathy.

What Is Statin Neuropathy?

Statin neuropathy[1] is nerve damage caused by exposure to cholesterol lowering medication.  By lowering cholesterol, statins also affect the cholesterol rich membranes that surround the nerves.  Prolonged exposure to statins can cause serious damage to the peripheral nerves. While that may not sound like a big deal, it can ultimately affect your patient’s

• ability to breathe
• ability of their heart to function properly
• ability to control many of their bodily functions

The Difficulty of Diagnosing Statin Neuropathy

Patients with statin neuropathy often present with very subtle pain or mild weakness.  Because their initial symptoms are fairly mild, it’s harder to pinpoint a diagnosis.  When symptoms are more pronounced and painful, there may be a lag time between the exposure to the toxin and the onset of significant symptoms.  The symptoms come on so gradually that it’s harder for the patient to give the clinician a clear picture of exactly when they started.

The difficulty in diagnosing statin neuropathy is one of the reasons that it is so important for them to consult a healthcare provider who specializes in treating neuropathy, like a NeuropathyDR® clinician.  Because this is your field of expertise, you are more likely to pick up on subtleties that will allow a faster diagnosis.  Faster diagnosis means faster treatment and that means less chance for permanent nerve damage.

What is the Treatment for Statin Neuropathy?

As a NeuropathyDR® clinician, your initial goal will be to confirm the diagnosis and then help your patient control their underlying medical condition and get off their statin medication[2].   

The next step is to devise a treatment plan.

One of the benefits to the statin neuropathy patient of being treated by a NeuropathyDR® clinician is your hands on approach and specialized training in treating their statin neuropathy.  You can advise them on the necessary safety precautions to avoid falls and potential injury caused by nerve deficits as well as providing nerve stimulation and manual manipulation of their skeletal system to get their body back into alignment and alleviate their nerve pain.

When you’re trained and ready to treat statin neuropathy patients, let us help you reach them.

For more tips on growing a successful chiropractic, physical therapy or pain management practice, and to download a FREE E-Book Copy of my 5 star Amazon “Living and Practicing by Design”, log on to http://perfectpracticeweb.com.

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