Autoimmune & Hereditary Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment
Helping people with peripheral neuropathy
Comprehensive Consultation & Sensory Assessment
Patients who complete our programme experience significant clinical improvement
What Is Autoimmune & Hereditary Peripheral Neuropathy?
Not all peripheral neuropathies develop because of diabetes, chemotherapy, or an unknown cause. Some occur because the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy nerve tissue, while others are inherited through changes in the genes that affect how peripheral nerves develop and function.
Autoimmune peripheral neuropathies include conditions such as Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), Guillain-Barré syndrome, vasculitic neuropathy, and neuropathy associated with autoimmune diseases such as lupus or Sjögren's syndrome. In these conditions, inflammation damages the nerves or their protective myelin sheath, disrupting normal nerve signalling.our quality of life while complementing the medical care you're already receiving.
Hereditary neuropathies, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), are caused by inherited genetic changes that affect the structure or function of peripheral nerves. Although these conditions cannot currently be cured, many people benefit from treatments that help manage symptoms, preserve mobility, and maintain independence.
At What's Good - Wellness by Design, we work alongside your neurologist, rheumatologist, family physician, and other healthcare providers to complement your existing medical care. Our goal is to help reduce symptoms, improve function, and support your quality of life while complementing the medical care you're already receiving.
Signs & Symptoms of Autoimmune & Hereditary Peripheral Neuropathy
Autoimmune and hereditary peripheral neuropathies can affect people in different ways depending on the specific condition, the nerves involved, and how advanced the disease has become. Some symptoms develop gradually over many years, while others appear more quickly during periods of active inflammation.
Common symptoms include:
• Numbness or reduced sensation
• Muscle weakness in the hands, feet, or legs
• Difficulty walking or climbing stairs
• Poor balance or feeling unsteady on uneven ground
• Frequent tripping or falls
• Hand weakness or reduced grip strength
• Difficulty with fine motor tasks such as buttoning clothing, writing, or opening jars
• Muscle cramping or fatigue
• Reduced ability to feel heat, cold, or pain
• Symptoms that interfere with work, hobbies, or everyday activities
For many people, the greatest challenge is gradually losing confidence in their body, not just the pain and discomfort. Activities that were once second nature, such as walking the dog, hiking, gardening, golfing, carrying groceries, or playing with grandchildren, may begin to feel more difficult as strength, sensation, and balance change over time.
Although hereditary and autoimmune neuropathies have different underlying causes, they often affect daily life in similar ways. While the underlying condition may not be reversible, many of the symptoms affecting your everyday function can often be improved. That's why we take the time to understand how your condition is impacting you as an individual so we can develop a personalized treatment plan that complements your existing medical care and helps you maintain your function, independence, and quality of life.
Why Do Autoimmune and Hereditary Neuropathies Develop?
Although autoimmune and hereditary neuropathies often produce similar symptoms, they develop for very different reasons. Understanding the underlying cause helps explain why your treatment plan is designed to complement the care you're already receiving from your medical team.
Autoimmune Peripheral Neuropathy
In autoimmune peripheral neuropathies, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy peripheral nerves or the protective myelin sheath that surrounds them. This inflammation disrupts the normal transmission of nerve signals, leading to symptoms such as pain, numbness, weakness, and balance problems.
Conditions such as Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), Guillain-Barré syndrome, and neuropathies associated with autoimmune diseases like lupus or Sjögren's syndrome can all affect the peripheral nervous system in different ways. While medical treatments such as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), corticosteroids, or other immunosuppressive medications help manage the underlying immune response, many people continue to experience ongoing nerve symptoms that affect their quality of life.
Hereditary Peripheral Neuropathy
Hereditary peripheral neuropathies are caused by inherited genetic changes that affect how peripheral nerves develop, function, or repair themselves. One of the most well-known hereditary neuropathies is Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), although there are many different inherited forms of peripheral neuropathy.
Because these conditions are genetic, current treatments cannot change the underlying cause. However, many people benefit from therapies that help manage symptoms, support mobility and balance, maintain function, and improve quality of life. Our goal is to complement your existing medical care by helping you stay as active, independent, and functional as possible.
A Patient Case Study: Patty Gets Back to Visiting Her Family
This case study is based on a real patient treated at What's Good - Wellness by Design. The patient's name and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy.
Patty had been living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease Type 2 (CMT2) for years. As her condition progressed, walking became increasingly difficult. Foot drop affected her balance, climbing stairs became exhausting, and persistent knee pain made even short outings uncomfortable. Because she lived in a bungalow, Patty managed reasonably well at home.
However, the steps leading into her children's homes and the entrance to her church became daunting obstacles. She found herself thinking twice before visiting her grandchildren or attending Sunday services because she wasn't sure she could safely manage the stairs.
During her Comprehensive Consultation and Sensory Assessment at What's Good - Wellness by Design, we evaluated how her neuropathy was affecting her balance, mobility, and overall function.
After determining that we could help Patty, we developed a personalized treatment plan combining acupuncture, ATP Resonance Frequency Therapy, functional nutrition, and lifestyle recommendations alongside her ongoing medical care.
Over the following months, Patty experienced a gradual reduction in her symptoms. Her knee pain became less intense, she felt steadier on her feet, and climbing stairs became more manageable. She also noticed that the cold winter months no longer triggered the severe joint pain she had come to expect each year. As her confidence improved, she was able to spend more time visiting her children and grandchildren and returned to attending church more regularly without feeling as limited by her condition.
Although Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease remained part of Patty's life, it no longer defined everything she could do. While treatments cannot change the underlying genetic condition, many people benefit from therapies that help reduce symptoms, improve function, and support independence and an active lifestyle.
Finding the Right Treatment Starts with the Right Assessment
Not every autoimmune or hereditary peripheral neuropathy affects people in the same way, and not every patient will benefit from the same treatment approach. Your specific diagnosis, the extent of nerve damage, your overall health, your current medical treatment, and how your symptoms affect your daily life all influence what improvements may be possible.
That's why every patient at What's Good - Wellness by Design begins with a Comprehensive Consultation and Objective Sensory Assessment before treatment recommendations are made. Our sensory assessment measures how well the nerves in your hands and feet are functioning, allowing us to establish a baseline before treatment begins and objectively monitor changes in nerve function at regular intervals.
This assessment allows our team to:
• Understand how your neuropathy is affecting your daily life.
• Measure the extent of sensory loss.
• Determine whether you are likely to benefit from treatment.
• Develop a personalized treatment plan based on your diagnosis, symptoms, and goals.
• Objectively track your progress throughout your programme.
One of the things that sets our approach apart is our commitment to honesty. If we believe treatment is unlikely to provide meaningful benefit, we'll tell you. If we believe there is potential for improvement, we'll explain what outcomes we believe are realistic and how we'll measure your progress along the way.
Our goal isn't simply to recommend treatment. It's to help you make an informed decision based on objective findings and realistic expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Our goal is not to cure these conditions or replace conventional medical care. Instead, we work alongside your healthcare team to help reduce symptoms, improve function, maintain mobility, and support your quality of life.
Absolutely. Our care is designed to complement the treatment you're already receiving. We encourage patients to continue working closely with their neurologist, rheumatologist, family physician, and other members of their healthcare team.
In many cases, yes. We complete a thorough health history before beginning treatment and tailor our recommendations to your diagnosis, medications, and overall health. We are happy to communicate with your medical team whenever appropriate.
Current treatments cannot change the underlying genetic cause of hereditary neuropathies. However, many people benefit from therapies that help manage symptoms, improve balance, support mobility, and maintain function, allowing them to remain active and independent for as long as possible.
No. Our care is designed to complement, not replace, the care provided by your neurologist, rheumatologist, family physician, or other specialists. We believe the best outcomes come from working together as part of your healthcare team.
Some herbs may interact with prescription medications, which is why we complete a detailed medication review before making any recommendations. If herbal medicine is appropriate for your situation, we will ensure it is selected with your existing treatment plan in mind.
We repeat objective sensory assessments throughout your programme to monitor changes in nerve function over time. We also evaluate changes in your symptoms, mobility, balance, and confidence.
Acupuncture is covered under many extended health benefit plans, although coverage varies between providers and policies. We recommend checking your individual plan for details.
Take the First Step Toward Better Nerve Health
Living with an autoimmune or hereditary peripheral neuropathy doesn't mean you have to stop looking for ways to improve your quality of life.
The first step is understanding how your condition is affecting your nerve function and whether our integrative approach may help you achieve your goals.
During your Comprehensive Consultation and Sensory Assessment, we'll evaluate your nerve function, review your medical history and current care, and determine if our peripheral neuropathy programme can help you. If treatment is appropriate, we'll explain what improvements may be possible and develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your individual needs.
Book your Comprehensive Consultation and Sensory Assessment today and discover what's possible.