St. Augustine Spine Center

Call 904-429-7750

Dr.Erin Bailey Dr.Tyler Albrecht



Frequently Asked Questions About Our Peripheral Neuropathy Program


  • What is the St. Augustine Spine Center peripheral neuropathy program?

    At St. Augustine Spine Center we have developed a highly successful, drug-free program utilizing multiple therapies to relieve your symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Our program incorporates Class IV Laser Therapy, vibration therapy, balance training, soft tissue mobilization, and nutritional support. With this multi-faceted approach, we are able to customize the program to your individual needs and achieve the most effective results in relieving your symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.

  • During each painless treatment, laser energy increases circulation, speeds up cellular energy production, and draws water, oxygen, and nutrients to the damaged area. This creates an optimal healing environment that helps to reduce pain, inflammation, burning, tingling, and numbness, and improves the ability to feel sensations.

  • Laser Therapy, or “photobiomodulation”, is the use of specific wavelengths of light (red and near-infrared) to create therapeutic effects. These effects include improved tissue healing, pain reduction, increased circulation and decreased inflammation.

  • Laser Therapy has been widely utilized in Europe by doctors, physical therapists and nurses as far back as the 1970’s. Now, after FDA clearance in 2002, Laser Therapy is being used extensively in the United States.

  • Yes. There are thousands of published studies demonstrating the clinical effectiveness of Laser Therapy. Among these, there are more than one hundred rigorously controlled, scientific studies that document the effectiveness of Laser therapy for many clinical conditions.

  • Peripheral Neuropathy occurs when nerves in the extremities are damaged or destroyed. This interrupts the normal communication between the brain and the skin, muscles and other parts of the body. This condition predominately affects the peripheral limbs (legs, feet, arms, and hands). Typical symptoms include numbness, burning pain, tingling, pins and needles, leg-cramping, freezing, prickling, and sharp electric-like pain.

  • Nerve damage can be caused by diabetes, oxygen deprivation, reduced blood flow, toxins, and certain vitamin deficiencies. In some cases the cause may be unknown.

  • The cost depends on your insurance coverage, as well as the severity of the nerve damage in your particular case. The doctor will need to evaluate your condition to determine if you are a candidate for the treatment, and then determine the amount of treatment necessary for your case.

  • Different types of insurance cover different costs associated with the therapy. We will be happy to check that for you during your first appointment so you know your exact benefits before beginning treatment.

  • Absolutely! We can provide several flexible payment plans to accommodate most people's needs.

  • Your neuropathy pain may be significantly reduced or possibly eliminated without serious side effects or potential dependency on medication in as little as six weeks. More severe cases typically require longer treatment.

  • Peripheral Neuropathy is often an effect of another condition. Once your symptoms have been minimized the management of those risk factors will determine the need or frequency of follow-up visits to ensure that you maintain your symptom relief.

  • Side effects are few and uncommon. Occasionally patients will briefly feel soreness or increased sensitivity before pain reduction.

  • Most patients describe feeling mild soothing warmth.