Microvas Therapy to Treat Peripheral Neuropathy

Particularly widespread among diabetics, peripheral neuropathy is a condition in which the nerves that transmit signals between the brain and parts of the body, such as the hands and the feet, are damaged. This damage can cause pain and a loss of sensation as well as occasional functional difficulty, according to MedlinePlus. An increasingly popular treatment for neuropathy is MicroVascular Therapy (MVT), a patented physical medicine modality that is also known as MicroVas.

Causes of Neuropathy

• Although diabetes is a major cause of neuropathy, the nerve damage characteristic of the condition can develop as a result of other metabolic or systemic disorders and diseases, such as dietary deficiencies, particularly a diet low in vitamin B12; chronic alcohol abuse; cancer; and uremia caused by kidney failure. Other causes include exposure to toxins; certain medications; extreme pressure on a nerve for a protracted time; reduced oxygen and blood flow; and such infections as lupus, Lyme disease, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. While MVT does not address the root causes of neuropathy, such as diabetes, it does promote increased blood flow---and with it oxygen---that can help damaged nerves to heal and regain normal function.

How MVT Works

• MicroVas Technologies Inc., which holds the patent for the treatment method that bears its name, explains that MVT has been successful in the treatment of not only neuropathy but also chronic low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, sports injuries, pressure ulcers, ischemic rest pain and wounds that are otherwise slow to heal. The company describes MVT as a "FDA 510-K registered, non-invasive vascular treatment device that delivers electromagnetic energy to targeted areas within the human body." MVT's electronic impulses stimulate circulation in the capillaries, tiny blood vessels closer to the skin surface, which in turn increases the flow of healing oxygen to nerves and muscles that have been damaged.

MVT Equipment

• The heart of the MVT treatment system is a relatively small rectangular shaped machine that generates the electronic impulses that are the core of this therapy. These impulses are transmitted through wires to small carbon emitter pads that are applied to the body in pairs in areas where neuropathy is a problem. The technology behind MVT was originally developed in the 1980s by U.S. military researchers as a method to treat hypothermia in Navy SEALS.

Effectiveness

• Although studies of MVT's effectiveness in the treatment of neuropathy are thus far limited, MicroVas Technologies cites one study in which 57 patients with neuropathy received MVT treatment. Of those 57, all but one reported the return of some sensation after therapy, while 27 reported that full sensation had returned. On the pain front, 24 patients reported that their pain was eliminated completely, while 95 percent reported at least some reduction in pain.

Who Should Avoid MVT?

• MicroVas Technologies is quick to point out that MVT is not appropriate for all patients. Avoid MVT if you are taking blood-thinning medications, have a pacemaker, are pregnant or are the recipient of a transplanted organ. The therapy is also contraindicated for children under the age of 4.