Helping Your Body Heal: The Vizuri Way

Part 01 / Nerve Health

Burning, Tingling, or Numb Feet? What Your Nerves May Be Telling You

Maybe your toes feel as though they have fallen asleep, even when you have been moving around. Perhaps your feet burn when you settle into bed, or you find yourself watching the ground more carefully because you do not feel quite as steady as you used to.

These changes can be easy to explain away. A long day. Uncomfortable shoes. Getting older.

At Vizuri Health Center, we encourage you to pay attention when something feels different. Persistent numbness, tingling, burning, or changes in balance deserve a closer look. Understanding what is happening is the first step toward making informed decisions about your care.

What is peripheral neuropathy?

Your peripheral nerves connect your brain and spinal cord with the rest of your body. Some help you feel touch, temperature, and pressure. Others help your muscles move. When peripheral nerves become damaged or stop working properly, the resulting condition is called peripheral neuropathy.¹

That term describes a problem with nerve function; it does not, by itself, tell us why the problem developed. This distinction matters. Two people can both describe burning feet and need very different care.

We believe a helpful conversation begins with more than naming the symptom. We also need to consider its pattern, its effect on your daily life, and the possible conditions behind it.

Neuropathy does not always feel like pain

Burning and electrical sensations often get people's attention. Reduced sensation can be quieter. You may feel as though you are walking on padding, notice that your socks seem bunched up when they are not, or struggle to tell exactly where your feet are positioned.

Symptoms can include tingling, numbness, unusual sensitivity to light touch, weakness, and difficulty with balance. The combination depends on which nerves are affected.¹ Something that feels strange rather than painful can still be worth evaluating.

Think about how these changes influence your choices. Are you avoiding uneven trails? Holding the railing more tightly? Cutting a shopping trip short? Those details help communicate the real impact of your symptoms, even when a pain score does not capture it.

Why finding the cause matters

Diabetes is a common cause of peripheral nerve damage, but neuropathy also occurs in people who do not have diabetes. Possible contributors include certain vitamin deficiencies, medication effects, heavy alcohol use, autoimmune conditions, kidney disease, and injuries or pressure affecting nerves. Sometimes, a cause remains unknown despite investigation.²

This is why we do not recommend choosing a treatment based on a symptom checklist alone. A person with a nutritional deficiency needs that deficiency addressed. Someone with a medication-related problem needs a discussion with the prescribing clinician. Other findings may call for specialist evaluation.

At Vizuri, our interest in whole-person health means taking the broader story seriously. We want to understand what may be contributing and where our care can fit within the support you need.

Could the problem be coming from somewhere else?

Tingling does not automatically mean a widespread neuropathy. A compressed nerve near the spine can also cause radiating pain, numbness, or weakness. For example, cervical radiculopathy involves a nerve root in the neck and may produce symptoms into an arm or hand.³

The location and distribution of symptoms provide clues, but they do not establish a diagnosis on their own. Whether symptoms affect one side or both, follow a particular path, or change with position can help guide the examination.

Bring a simple description to your visit: where symptoms begin, when they occur, how long they last, and what makes them better or worse. You do not need perfect medical language. Your observations are useful.

What an evaluation can help clarify

An assessment typically includes a health history and examination. Depending on the findings, additional testing or referral may be appropriate. Blood tests, nerve conduction studies, and other investigations answer different questions; no single test explains every case.^{1, 2}

We also encourage you to bring a medication and supplement list, along with any previous test results. Tell us about changes in walking, sleep, work, and the activities you enjoy. Together, these pieces help build a clearer picture.

A meaningful next step should leave you understanding what is known, what still needs clarification, and what options make sense for you.

When to act sooner

Sudden one-sided numbness or weakness, especially with facial drooping or trouble speaking, calls for dialing 911 immediately.⁵ Rapidly worsening weakness also needs urgent medical attention. If you have reduced feeling in your feet, a new wound or signs of infection should be assessed promptly.^{2, 4}

For ongoing symptoms, you do not need to wait until they become severe to start the conversation.

Start with understanding

At Vizuri Health Center in Williston, we offer a neuropathy program and believe education is an essential part of care. We want you to feel comfortable asking questions and clear about your next steps.

If burning, tingling, or numbness is changing how you live, contact our team to schedule an evaluation. We can help you explore whether our neuropathy services are appropriate or whether another type of evaluation should come first.

In the next article, we will look at the question many people ask next: Can damaged nerves heal, and what should a thoughtful treatment plan include?

Sources & further reading

National Library of Medicine. Peripheral Nerve Disorders. Read source
MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Peripheral Neuropathy. Read source
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Cervical Radiculopathy (Pinched Nerve). Read source
NIDDK. Diabetes & Foot Problems. Read source
CDC. Signs and Symptoms of Stroke. Read source

Why a Good Night’s Sleep is Important

and How to Get There

Here’s an unfortunate irony: We all need a good night of sleep more than ever to effectively cope with the challenges of these often-stressful times. However, research shows that an increasing number of people are experiencing sleep disturbances since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even in pre-pandemic times, the importance of sleep in maintaining our mental and physical health is often overlooked, and as much as 43% of the population say they don’t get enough sleep. Below are healing steps toward a good night’s sleep which will yield excellent health benefits.

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.”
Irish proverb

Stages Of Sleep And How They Support Good Health

We tend to take sleep for granted without fully realizing the complex processes taking place. Through the course of the night, you go through several stages of sleep, each with its own purpose. Generally speaking, sleep is divided into two stages:

Rapid eye movement (REM)

Typically occurring after the first 90 minutes of sleep, this is the stage when you’re more likely to have vivid dreams. Your eyes move quickly (hence the name) and your heartbeat raises. Many people experience temporary muscle paralysis. REM sleep supports memory, mood, and cognitive function, and some studies have connected a lack of REM sleep with a reduced coping ability. Interestingly, the amount of REM sleep we get each night tends to decline with age.

Non-rapid eye movement (NREM)

NREM is further broken down into three stages:

NREM 1: the first stage of sleep, which is a very light sleep.
NREM 2: about half of a typical night’s sleep is spent in this stage, which is slightly deeper than NREM 1.
NREM 3: this is the deepest stage of sleep, during which heart rate, breathing, and other bodily processes slow down. It can be hard to wake someone up from NREM 3. It’s primarily at this stage that your body performs the restorative functions of sleep, including strengthening the immune system and repairing tissue.

Consequences Of Poor Sleep

The long-term impact of poor sleep extends far beyond feeling a bit groggy the next day. Some consequences include:

Hormonal imbalances. Poor sleep can throw numerous hormones off balance in the body, and vice-versa. Proper sleep is important for hormones to function effectively and many depend on the sleep-wake cycle such as cortisol, leptin and ghrelin which are regulators of stress, hunger and fullness.

Difficulties with weight maintenance: One study found that people who routinely get less than seven hours a night of sleep are over 40% more likely to be obese. One factor that plays a role is that sleep helps balance the levels of ghrelin (the hormone associated with hunger) and leptin (the hormone associated with feelings of fullness).

Reduced cognitive function: Concentration, memory, and problem-solving are all negatively impacted by poor sleep. (That’s why the effects of driving while sleep-deprived is very similar to driving under the influence of alcohol.)
Lowered immunity: Poor sleep lowers your immunity to common viruses. Initial studies also suggest adequate sleep improves your response to the COVID-19 vaccine, but more investigation is needed here.

Heightened risk for cardiac problems: Not getting enough sleep raises your risk for heart disease and high blood pressure. Conversely, however, getting more than nine hours on average also increases your risk. The sweet spot appears to be between seven and nine hours a night.

More vulnerability to mental health struggles and social problems: A lack of sleep not only makes you more vulnerable to depression, it can also impact social skills like empathy and trust.

Are You Unknowingly Sabotaging Your Sleep?

As the list above suggests, sleep problems can impact all areas of health. However, it’s difficult to tackle sleep problems when you’re tired. Of course, when we’re tired, we reach for caffeine and don’t have the energy to adopt better lifestyle habits, creating a never-ending cycle. It’s important to identify areas in your life you can adopt simple changes and following simple healing steps toward a good night’s sleep is valuable.

Many factors can negatively impact sleep, including:

Stress
Caffeine
Poor nutrition
Sedentary lifestyles
Blue light from electronic devices
Medical problems like restless leg syndrome
Chronic pain
Hormone imbalances

Protecting Your Sleep

Watch: “The Powerful Effects of a Good Night’s Sleep” with Dr. Bill

So how can we prevent these common sleep disruptors from impacting our health? The following tips can help you take a more proactive approach to getting a good night’s sleep.

Make sleep a priority

This simple mind-shift can have a big impact. After all, sleep isn’t just something you fit in when you’re not too busy, but an essential function of maintaining good health. As mentioned, aim for 7 – 9 hours of restful sleep a night and prepare for sleep in a routine fashion so that it becomes more of a priority for you (more on that below).

Create a sleep-friendly environment

Treat your bedroom like a sanctuary, and avoid doing other things in there, particularly if they are work-related. Keep the temperature moderate (cooler is better), and reduce noise as much as possible. If you have a lot of environmental noise, try a white noise machine.

Maintain a consistent and restful routine

Your body likes regular hours for sleep. We’re often programmed to stay up later and sleep in on the weekend, but maintaining a regular schedule and protecting your circadian rhythm is better in the long run. You should be able to wake up naturally without setting an alarm – if it takes several repeats of the snooze alarm, adjust your bedtime to an earlier time.

It’s difficult to switch from our fast-paced waking lives to a restful state conducive to sleep. Honor this transition by avoiding stimulating activities right before bed in favor of more restful activities like reading or having a warm bath.

Avoid blue-light emitting devices

The light emitted from electronic devices is composed of blue wavelengths. This light can slow the production of melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone. Think of it this way: your eyes associate the blue light of daytime with wakefulness, and as that light fades as the day ends, they send a signal to produce more melatonin.When a device also emits blue light, your eyes are tricked into thinking it’s the middle of the day. Minimize this effect by avoiding LED screens for two to three hours before bedtime. On a similar note, try not to keep your phone beside your bed. (If you use it for the alarm, simply buy an alarm clock.) This can prevent the urge to check notifications and will also reduce EMF (Electromagnetic Frequencies) exposure emitting from your device. Studies are ongoing, but research shows that daily occupational EMF exposure may be associated with poor sleep quality.

Minimize sleep disruptors like caffeine and alcohol

Caffeine can keep you awake even if you consume it as much as six hours before bedtime, so avoid anything with caffeine well before you plan to sleep. Similarly, avoid foods that give you heartburn, if you are prone to it. Although alcohol can put you to sleep faster, its effects are short-lived, and it shortens REM sleep, resulting in more disruptions to sleep and poor sleep quality.

Treat chronic pain and other conditions that can affect sleep

Work with your healthcare practitioner if chronic pain is keeping you up at night. If you have chronic sleep difficulties, ask about determining if you have sleep apnea, a common condition in which people experience difficulty breathing while sleeping.

Exercise during the day

Exercise is one of the most helpful things you can do to improve sleep. Avoid overtraining, which can lead to insomnia, and don’t exercise vigorously too late. Many people find some light stretching or yoga in the evening helps with sleep. Try an inversion yoga pose like “legs up the wall” to help get your body in a restful and relaxed state.

Balance your hormones

Did you know that a hormonal imbalance can cause your sleep to suffer? Fluctuations of thyroid, testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, progesterone, melatonin and/or growth hormone can all cause sleep difficulties. For example, an imbalance of estrogen can cause waking in the night, night sweats as well as trouble getting to sleep due to increased cortisol. Find out if your hormonal imbalances are keeping you up or waking you up by scheduling a consultation and getting proper testing from a qualified healthcare practitioner. We can help!

Try meditation

Meditation can help train your mind and body’s relaxation response. You can find meditations specifically geared towards sleepiness on many mindfulness apps, or even YouTube.

Don’t overlook the importance of sleep in your overall health. Incorporating these healing steps toward a good night’s sleep is an easy step in the right direction. If your sleep is not restoring your body daily, you can be setting your day up for a roller coaster of issues. Need help ensuring your body is balanced and functioning properly? Contact us and book a consultation. We can help determine the root cause of your health issues and put you on a plan to help you be restored, vibrant and resilient.

Sources

Chattu VK, Manzar MD, Kumary S, Burman D, Spence DW, Pandi-Perumal SR. The Global Problem of Insufficient Sleep and Its Serious Public Health Implications. Healthcare (Basel). 2018;7(1):1. Published 2018 Dec 20. doi:10.3390/healthcare7010001

Partinen M, Holzinger B, Morin CM, Espie C, Chung F, Penzel T, Benedict C, Bolstad CJ, Cedernaes J, Chan RNY, Dauvilliers Y, De Gennaro L, Han F, Inoue Y, Matsui K, Leger D, Cunha AS, Merikanto I, Mota-Rolim S, Nadorff M, Plazzi G, Schneider J, Sieminski M, Wing YK, Bjorvatn B. Sleep and daytime problems during the COVID-19 pandemic and effects of coronavirus infection, confinement and financial suffering: a multinational survey using a harmonised questionnaire. BMJ Open. 2021 Dec 13;11(12):e050672. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050672. PMID: 34903540; PMCID: PMC8671846.

Medic G, Wille M, Hemels ME. Short- and long-term health consequences of sleep disruption. Nat Sci Sleep. 2017;9:151-161. Published 2017 May 19. doi:10.2147/NSS.S134864

Peever J, Fuller PM. Neuroscience: A Distributed Neural Network Controls REM Sleep. Curr Biol. 2016;26(1):R34-R35. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2015.11.011

Krause AJ, Simon EB, Mander BA, et al. The sleep-deprived human brain. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2017;18(7):404-418. doi:10.1038/nrn.2017.55

Benedict C, Cedernaes J. Could a good night’s sleep improve COVID-19 vaccine efficacy?. Lancet Respir Med. 2021;9(5):447-448. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(21)00126-0

Dorrian J, Centofanti S, Smith A, McDermott KD. Self-regulation and social behavior during sleep deprivation. Prog Brain Res. 2019;246:73-110. doi: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2019.03.010. Epub 2019 Apr 10. PMID: 31072564.

Blume, Christine et al. “Effects of light on human circadian rhythms, sleep and mood.” Somnologie : Schlafforschung und Schlafmedizin = Somnology : sleep research and sleep medicine vol. 23,3 (2019): 147-156. doi:10.1007/s11818-019-00215-x

Liu H, Chen G, Pan Y, Chen Z, Jin W, et al. (2014) Occupational Electromagnetic Field Exposures Associated with Sleep Quality: A Cross-Sectional Study. PLOS ONE 9(10): e110825. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0110825

Healing Steps Toward a Good Night’s Sleep