ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.- (November 20, 2019) – People who experience chronic numbness, prickling or burning pain in their feet are not alone. Nearly 20 million people have some form of peripheral neuropathy and deal with daily pain in their feet and legs. Dr. Joubert Desulme, D.C. founder of Welcome Home Family Chiropractic and Wellness Center, is among the first medical practitioners in St. Petersburg to provide relief with Near Infrared therapy (NIR), cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a painless, drug-free, prescription-free and non-invasive treatment for peripheral neuropathy symptoms.

               Current treatment relies heavily on prescription medications. Dr. Desulme’s primary objective is to help his patients find the relief they need without pain pills, no matter what their symptoms and diagnoses.

               “Peripheral neuropathy disrupts communication between the affected nerves and the brain,” said Dr. Desulme. “Muscle movement becomes impaired and it can affect hands and arms, as well. Taking drugs eases the symptoms, but only temporarily. Most of my patients are wary of taking too many pain relievers and it impacts their ability to live their daily lives.”

               The effects of NIR had been studied for 20 years before Dr. Thomas Burke, a physiologist achieved the Nobel Prize in 1998 with a team of researchers and scientists. They determined NIR energy enhances the release of nitrous oxide in the bloodstream, by using infrared light to stimulate skin and dilate blood vessels, opening them up. This leads to increased blood flow and oxygen supply. 

               A common cause of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes, but it can also be inherited or result from cancer treatments, an injury or infection.  Uncontrolled high blood sugar damages nerves and interferes with their ability to send signals, leading to diabetic neuropathy. High blood sugar also weakens the walls of the small blood vessels that supply the nerves with oxygen and nutrients.

“We see a lot of people with diabetes suffering from neuropathy,” said Dr. Desulme. “After a 20-minute treatment during which infrared light energy releases nitric oxide to smooth and relax muscle cells, my patients report a higher comfort level and improvement within the first week.” 

Dr. Desulme recommends a minimum of three sessions per week for 8-12 weeks for maximum improvement and then a regular schedule of maintenance treatments to sustain the improved ability to walk pain free. “People are so surprised and happy to find relief after spending time and money on ineffective supplements or prescription drugs,” said Dr. Desulme. “Our goal is for our patients to live an optimum health through preventive medicine.”

Health Light NIR therapy manufactured by Energia Medical of Connecticut is one of many methods of treatment for chronic pain.  Welcome Home Family Chiropractic and Wellness Center has a “No Wait” policy and accepts most insurance plans. Patients are evaluated and educated about their conditions – everything from neck and shoulder pain and headaches to lower back pain and sports injuries—and understand the treatment every step of the way. Dr. Desulme and his team teach patients how to adopt a healthy lifestyle and improve their overall health. 

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