Pain & Musculoskeletal

Neuropathy Treatment in Greenville, SC

Peripheral neuropathy treatment in Greenville, SC. Dr. Hendry uses acupuncture and functional medicine to reduce numbness, tingling, and nerve pain. Call (864) 365-6156.

★★★★★
"Having Cancer and the side effects of the Medicine has made it difficult with the Joint Pain. However by receiving the treatments it has made my outlook and pain tolerable with the help of Dr. Hendry. Highly recommend this practice."

· April 2015 · Google Review

What Is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy patients typically describe one of two things: sensations that are muffled and unreliable — like wearing thick gloves or socks — or burning pain that gets worse at night and shocks that come without warning when weight hits the foot. Both reflect peripheral nerve damage: nerves outside the brain and spinal cord that have been compressed, starved of blood supply, directly damaged by a toxin, or attacked by the immune system. The cause matters enormously for treatment. Diabetic neuropathy requires blood sugar optimization alongside nerve support. Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy responds differently than idiopathic forms. B12 deficiency neuropathy resolves with repletion. Dr. Hendry co-authored research at Prisma Health on taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy specifically — one of the most treatment-resistant CIPN presentations — giving him clinical depth in this area that most Greenville-area practitioners don't have.

Common Symptoms

Numbness, tingling, or burning pain — especially in the hands and feet
Sharp, jabbing or electric shock-like pains
Extreme sensitivity to touch — even light contact is painful
Muscle weakness, particularly in the feet
Balance problems and difficulty walking
Feeling as though you're wearing gloves or socks when you're not
Loss of coordination and falls
Autonomic symptoms — blood pressure changes, digestive issues, sweating abnormalities

Root Causes: A Functional Medicine Perspective

Diabetic neuropathy — the most common form — results from chronic elevated blood sugar damaging the small blood vessels that supply peripheral nerves, depriving them of oxygen and nutrients. CIPN arises from chemotherapy agents that are directly toxic to nerve axons. Autoimmune neuropathies occur when the immune system attacks myelin sheaths or nerve axons directly.

Functionally, B12 deficiency (extremely common in patients taking metformin), B6 toxicity (from excessive supplementation), vitamin D deficiency, and heavy metal exposure can all cause or worsen neuropathy. Reducing inflammation, optimizing blood sugar regulation, and ensuring adequate neurotropic nutrients creates the metabolic conditions for nerve regeneration — a slow but real process.

How We Treat Neuropathy at IHP

Dr. Hendry co-authored research on acupuncture for taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy at Prisma Health, giving him particular expertise in this area. Electroacupuncture — which applies mild electrical stimulation through acupuncture needles — has been shown to improve nerve conduction velocity, reduce pain scores, and improve sensation in peripheral neuropathy patients. It appears to promote nerve regeneration by increasing nerve growth factor (NGF) expression and improving microcirculation in the nerves.

For diabetic neuropathy, Dr. Hendry's functional medicine approach addresses blood sugar regulation, insulin sensitivity, and the mitochondrial dysfunction that underlies nerve cell damage. Combined with acupuncture, this approach provides both symptomatic relief and disease modification — slowing neuropathy progression.

Dr. Hendry's Approach

I co-authored research on taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy at Prisma Health — one of the most difficult-to-treat CIPN presentations. When a patient comes in with chemotherapy neuropathy, I'm applying a protocol developed in a clinical research context, not working from general principles. For metabolic neuropathies — diabetic, B12-related, idiopathic — I approach each through the functional medicine lens: identify the actual mechanism, identify the modifiable drivers, and determine what combination of electroacupuncture and targeted supplementation gives the best realistic chance of functional nerve improvement.

Treatments We Use for Neuropathy

Frequently Asked Questions About Neuropathy

Peripheral nerves can regenerate slowly — typically 1–2 mm per day. The degree of recovery depends on the type and severity of nerve damage. Early intervention gives the best prognosis. Even in advanced neuropathy, significant symptom improvement is often achievable through acupuncture and functional medicine.
Yes. Dr. Hendry has specific research experience with CIPN. Multiple clinical trials support acupuncture as effective for reducing the numbness, pain, and balance problems caused by chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, often enabling patients to maintain normal chemotherapy doses.
Diet is critical for diabetic neuropathy — blood sugar control is the most important factor in preventing progression. Anti-inflammatory diets, adequate protein, and targeted supplementation (B12, alpha-lipoic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine) support nerve health across all neuropathy types.
Electroacupuncture passes a mild electrical current through acupuncture needles, creating a stimulation pattern similar to TENS but more targeted. For neuropathy, this electrical stimulation appears to more powerfully promote nerve regeneration and reduce central pain sensitization than manual needling alone.
Yes. Acupuncture is safe during active chemotherapy and is increasingly used as a concurrent supportive therapy at major cancer centers. Dr. Hendry will coordinate with your oncology team to ensure treatment is appropriate and timed safely around your chemotherapy cycles.

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