Neuropathy Treatment in Novato
Neuropathy treatment in Novato, CA focused on the spinal and mechanical factors behind numbness, tingling and burning, coordinated with your doctor. Book today.
Chiropractic care for neuropathy
Get to the root of your neuropathy
Also known as: Peripheral Neuropathy, Nerve Pain, Numbness and Tingling
If you're dealing with numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness — especially in your hands, feet, or legs — you may be experiencing peripheral neuropathy. Our neuropathy treatment in Novato, CA starts with Dr. Douglas DeSalvo evaluating the mechanical and spinal factors that can compress or irritate nerves, then building a drug-free care plan aimed at easing your symptoms. Chiropractic doesn't treat every cause of neuropathy, but it can address structural contributors that are easy to overlook.
Symptoms of neuropathy
- ✓Numbness or reduced sensation in the hands, feet, or legs
- ✓Tingling or a "pins and needles" feeling
- ✓Burning or shooting pain along a nerve pathway
- ✓Muscle weakness or loss of coordination
- ✓Sensitivity to touch — even light contact feels painful
- ✓Balance problems or unsteady walking
- ✓Symptoms that worsen at night or with prolonged sitting
Common causes
- Spinal nerve root compression from a disc bulge or restricted joint
- Diabetes — the most common systemic cause of peripheral neuropathy
- Chemotherapy or medication side effects
- Nutritional deficiencies (especially B vitamins)
- Repetitive compression or entrapment (carpal tunnel, thoracic outlet)
- Poor circulation and vascular disease
- Inflammatory or autoimmune conditions
Our approach
How we treat neuropathy in Novato
- Step 1
Thorough exam and screening
We review your full health history, perform neurological and orthopedic testing, and screen for red flags that require medical co-management. You get an honest assessment of what chiropractic can and can't address for your specific situation.
- Step 2
A clear, personalized plan
You leave the first visit knowing exactly what we found, which mechanical contributors we can address, and what a realistic care plan looks like — including when and how to coordinate with your medical provider.
- Step 3
Gentle treatment & nerve-support rehab
We combine gentle adjustments aimed at easing spinal nerve compression, spinal decompression when indicated, and corrective exercise to support mobility and healthy movement.
The basics
Understanding neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is damage or dysfunction of the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. It can cause numbness, tingling, burning pain, or muscle weakness — most often in the hands and feet, though it can affect other areas. Causes range from systemic conditions (diabetes is the most common) to nerve compression from the spine or surrounding tissues, nutritional deficiencies, medication side effects, and more. The experience varies widely — some people feel a constant burn, others a sharp electric sensation, and others simply lose feeling gradually over time.
Chiropractic care focuses specifically on the mechanical contributors — spinal joint restrictions, disc problems, and compressed nerve roots that amplify or mimic neuropathy symptoms. Patients with diabetic neuropathy, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, or other systemic causes are best served by a coordinated approach: chiropractic addresses the structural load on the nervous system while their medical team manages the underlying condition. We screen carefully on your first visit, and if your case requires medical co-management, we'll say so clearly and help coordinate that care.
One visit. Real answers. A plan made for you.
Reserved for new patients: an unhurried first visit with Dr. DeSalvo himself. Your one-on-one consultation, comprehensive exam, muscle and nerve function assessment and first treatment, plus a care plan designed around you, all for $97.
What your New Patient Special includes
- A one-on-one consultation with Dr. DeSalvo
- A comprehensive exam
- A muscle & nerve function assessment
- Your first treatment
- A customized care plan, built around your goals
New patients only, one per person. X-rays are not included. If you choose to continue care, your care plan and its pricing are discussed with you up front. Not available for automobile-accident or personal-injury cases. Read the full New Patient Special disclaimer.
Types of neuropathy we address
Not all neuropathy has the same origin, and your care plan depends on what’s actually driving your symptoms. At DeSalvo Chiropractic in Novato, we focus on the mechanical and spinal contributors while coordinating with medical providers for systemic causes:
- Spinal nerve root compression — disc bulges, restricted joints, or postural changes that compress a nerve root and produce numbness, tingling, or weakness. Often overlaps with pinched nerve or sciatica symptoms, and is commonly managed with adjustments and spinal decompression.
- Nerve entrapment syndromes — peripheral nerves compressed at tight points in soft tissue, such as the wrist in carpal tunnel syndrome, the thoracic outlet, or the piriformis. Manual therapy and corrective exercise aim to ease pressure along the nerve pathway; when symptoms travel down the arm, see our arm pain page.
- Diabetic neuropathy (co-managed) — the most common systemic cause. We address mechanical and spinal factors that can compound symptoms and encourage healthy, movement-based rehab, always in coordination with your managing physician or endocrinologist.
- Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (co-managed) — post-treatment nerve sensitivity in hands and feet. We focus on gentle movement, joint mobility, and comfortable activity — never pushing beyond your tolerance or interfering with your oncology team’s plan.
- Neuropathy with back pain — when nerve symptoms in the legs arise alongside back pain, addressing the lumbar spine may ease both at the same time.
Your exam tells us which pattern applies to you — and whether you need additional medical involvement. We’re straightforward about both.
When to see a chiropractor in Novato
Neuropathy symptoms deserve early attention. Consider booking an exam if you notice:
- Numbness, tingling, or burning in your hands, feet, or legs that lasts more than a few days
- Weakness or clumsiness in the hands or feet
- Symptoms that started or worsened alongside back pain or neck pain
- Nerve symptoms following an injury, car accident, or sudden onset of back problems
- Neuropathy you’ve been told is “just” diabetes or age — a mechanical contributor may be amplifying it
Seek urgent medical care (not chiropractic first) if you experience sudden or severe loss of sensation, inability to walk, loss of bladder or bowel control, or neuropathy following trauma or infection. For all other cases, we’re here to evaluate the structural picture and build a plan around what we can safely address.
What to expect at your first visit
Your first appointment is about 45–60 minutes, and starts with a careful evaluation before any treatment:
- Listen to your story — when symptoms started, which areas are affected, what makes them better or worse, your medical history, and any diagnoses you’ve already received.
- Examine thoroughly — neurological, orthopedic, and movement testing to identify spinal or mechanical contributors and flag anything that warrants medical co-management.
- Explain what we found — in plain English: what chiropractic can address for your case, what it can’t, and what a realistic care plan looks like.
- Start care when appropriate — if our exam confirms a mechanical contributor and you’re a good candidate, many patients receive their first gentle treatment the same day.
You’ll leave knowing exactly where you stand — no pressure, no guesswork.
Drug-free neuropathy relief — without medication or surgery
Medications for neuropathy can reduce pain signals, but they don’t fix mechanical nerve compression or restore joint mobility. Surgery is rarely the first answer for spinal contributors. Chiropractic care offers a targeted, drug-free path for the structural side of neuropathy — easing compression at the nerve root, improving joint motion, and encouraging healthy movement through rehab — while coordinating with your medical team for the systemic side. For patients in Novato and across the North Bay, a coordinated plan that covers both sides is usually the most sensible approach. We’ll always be honest about what falls within our scope and what requires additional care.
Why Novato-area patients choose DeSalvo Chiropractic
Patients from Novato and across Marin County choose us because we take neuropathy seriously — and we’re honest about what we can and can’t do. Dr. DeSalvo performs a thorough neurological and orthopedic screening on every neuropathy case, identifies mechanical contributors that can be easy to overlook, and builds a clear, time-bound care plan. When your neuropathy has a systemic component — diabetes, chemotherapy, or another medical condition — we coordinate with your provider rather than working in isolation.
Ready to find out if a spinal or mechanical contributor is amplifying your symptoms? Our New Patient Special makes your first visit easy, and you can book an appointment online in under a minute.
Why choose chiropractic
Chiropractic care vs. the typical neuropathy routine
| Comparison factor | Chiropractic Care | Pain Meds & Surgery |
|---|---|---|
| Addresses mechanical contributors | ✓Targets spinal and joint compression | ✕Does not address structural causes |
| Drug-free & non-invasive | ✓Always | ✕Rarely |
| Risk of side effects | ✓Minimal | ✕Higher (meds, surgery) |
| Personalized to your case | ✓Custom care plan | ✕One-size-fits-all |
| Coordinates with medical care | ✓Yes — when warranted | ✕Seldom communicated |
| Builds long-term function | ✓Rehab and movement included | ✕Seldom addressed |
Treatment options
Services we use to relieve neuropathy
Chiropractic Care
Gentle, precise chiropractic adjustments in Novato, CA that restore motion to restricted joints and relieve back pain, neck pain, and headaches at the source.
Learn more →Spinal Decompression
Spinal decompression in Novato, CA — gentle, non-surgical traction to ease pressure from herniated discs, sciatica, and chronic back or neck pain. Book an exam.
Learn more →Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy in Novato, CA — corrective exercise, manual therapy, and rehab that rebuild strength and help keep back, neck, and shoulder pain from returning.
Learn more →Related conditions
Other conditions we treat in Novato
Patient reviews
What our Novato patients say
“I had a great experience at DeSalvo Chiropractic! Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and professional, and I felt comfortable from the moment I walked in. They took the time to listen to my concerns and made sure I understood what they were doing throughout my visit.”
“Great chiropractic service! The staff was friendly and professional, and I felt comfortable throughout my visit. The treatment was helpful, and I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for quality chiropractic care.”
“I am an avid tennis player with the usual tennis injuries and Dr. Desalvo has helped me play again without pain!”
What causes peripheral neuropathy?
The most common cause is diabetes, but neuropathy can also stem from spinal nerve compression, nutritional deficiencies, chemotherapy, medication side effects, repetitive-use entrapment (like carpal tunnel syndrome), or inflammatory conditions. Our exam helps identify whether a mechanical or spinal factor is contributing — which is what chiropractic can directly address.
Can a chiropractor help with neuropathy?
Yes, when the neuropathy has a mechanical or spinal component — such as a compressed nerve root from a disc bulge or restricted joint. Chiropractic adjustments and spinal decompression are aimed at easing that pressure. For systemic causes like diabetes or chemotherapy, chiropractic works best alongside medical management, not as a replacement.
Can chiropractic cure neuropathy?
No — and we won't claim that. What we can do is identify and address structural contributors, and build a plan of movement, adjustments, and decompression when appropriate to help you function as comfortably as possible. Patients with diabetic or chemo-induced neuropathy typically need ongoing medical co-management as well.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on what's driving your neuropathy, how long you've had it, and your overall health. After your exam, Dr. DeSalvo gives you a specific, time-bound care plan with a clear endpoint — not open-ended treatment.
Will my insurance cover neuropathy treatment?
We accept many major insurance plans and offer affordable self-pay options. Share your insurance details and we'll verify your benefits before your first visit so there are no surprises.
Is chiropractic care safe for neuropathy patients?
Yes, with proper screening. We review your full health history and only recommend treatment we're confident is appropriate for your condition. If a different or co-managed approach is safer, we'll tell you directly.
What is the difference between neuropathy and a pinched nerve?
A pinched nerve typically involves mechanical compression at a specific point — often in the spine or a tight muscle — and often responds to conservative chiropractic care. Peripheral neuropathy is broader nerve dysfunction that may or may not have a spinal cause. Both can produce numbness and tingling, and our exam helps distinguish between them. See our pinched nerve page for more detail.
How does neuropathy relate to sciatica?
Sciatica is one form of nerve compression — the sciatic nerve is irritated or compressed, usually from a disc or piriformis issue, and sends pain down the leg. Peripheral neuropathy is a distinct condition, though the symptoms can overlap. We treat both, and your exam will clarify which applies to you. See our sciatica page.
Do I need a referral or imaging before my first visit?
No referral is needed in California. Most new patients don't need imaging before their first visit — we screen for red flags during your exam and order imaging only when it will change your care plan.
Can neuropathy be related to back pain?
Yes. Lumbar disc problems and spinal nerve compression can cause neuropathy-like symptoms in the legs and feet, often alongside leg pain. Addressing the underlying back pain and spinal mechanics may ease nerve symptoms at the same time.
What should I do if my neuropathy is getting worse?
Worsening or rapidly progressing neuropathy warrants prompt evaluation — both chiropractic and medical. If you also have loss of bladder or bowel control, significant muscle weakness, or symptoms after trauma, seek urgent medical care. For everything else, book an exam so we can identify what's driving the change.