Pain Condition
Neuropathy
By Dr. Anthony J. Gordon, Doctor of Acupuncture | Last reviewed September 2026
Your feet burn at night, your toes tingle or feel numb, or it feels like you are walking on cotton or pebbles. It may have started with diabetes, chemotherapy or without a clear cause. Neuropathy changes how nerves send signals, and acupuncture is widely used to help calm the burning, tingling and pain.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (516) 597-5400. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks.
Overview
Understanding Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is damage or dysfunction of the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. It usually starts in the feet and can spread up the legs and into the hands. Common causes include diabetes, chemotherapy, vitamin B12 deficiency, alcohol, thyroid problems, autoimmune conditions and some medications. Sometimes no cause is found.
Symptoms include burning, tingling, pins and needles, numbness, sharp or electric pain, sensitivity to touch and balance problems. Numbness can also make it harder to notice injuries to the feet, which is especially important with diabetes. Sometimes nerve compression elsewhere, such as in the back or at the ankle, adds to symptoms.
Your physician or neurologist identifies the cause and manages treatment. Dr. Gordon combines acupuncture with treatment of any muscle or compression contributors.
Neuropathy at a Glance
Also called
Peripheral neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, nerve pain
Common causes
Diabetes, chemotherapy, B12 deficiency, alcohol, thyroid, autoimmune conditions
Common symptoms
Burning, tingling, numbness, electric pain, balance problems
Where it starts
Usually the feet, sometimes spreading to the legs and hands
Important
Check your feet daily for injuries if you have numbness
The Gap in Care
What Tests Check, and What They Can Miss
Neuropathy care focuses on the underlying cause and medications. Symptom relief options beyond medication, and nerve compression that adds to symptoms, are often less explored.
What routine testing is looking for
- Blood sugar and diabetes control
- Vitamin and thyroid levels
- Nerve conduction studies
- Medication side effects
What often keeps symptoms going
- Nerve compression in the back or at the ankle
- Calf and foot muscle tension
- Balance and gait changes
- Sleep disrupted by nighttime burning
- Circulation and activity
These are assessed with a neurological screen and nerve tracing.
Signs & Symptoms
Does This Sound Like You?
Symptoms vary from person to person. These are the patterns Dr. Gordon sees most often.
Burning feet
Burning, especially at night.
Tingling or pins and needles
Tingling in the feet or hands.
Numbness
Reduced feeling in the feet or hands.
Electric or stabbing pain
Sudden sharp or shooting pains.
Walking on cotton
Feeling like you are walking on cotton or pebbles.
Balance problems
Feeling unsteady, especially in the dark.
Root Causes
The Four Drivers Dr. Gordon Looks For
Most people have more than one of these in play. Finding which one leads makes treatment more efficient.
Nerve damage
Diabetes, chemotherapy and other causes affect the nerves, managed by your physician.
Nerve compression
Compression in the back, leg or ankle can add to symptoms.
Muscle tension
Calf and foot muscle tension can increase pressure on nerves.
Sensitization
Ongoing nerve pain increases nervous system sensitivity.
Your First Visit
How Dr. Gordon Evaluates Neuropathy
The initial evaluation runs 60 to 75 minutes. You leave with a clear picture of what is driving your symptoms, a written plan, a realistic timeline, and in most cases your first treatment.
Records and history review
Dr. Gordon reviews your diagnosis, nerve testing, blood work, medications and medical history.
Neurological screen
Dr. Gordon checks sensation, strength, reflexes and balance.
Nerve tracing
Dr. Gordon checks for compression along the nerves in the back, legs and feet.
Foot and skin check
Dr. Gordon checks the feet for any areas of concern.
Plan and coordination
A clear plan, plus communication with your physician, orthopedist or physical therapist when that helps your care.
When to see a physician first
- Weakness that is spreading or getting worse quickly
- A foot or hand wound that is not healing, especially with diabetes
- Numbness in the saddle area or loss of bladder or bowel control
- Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, face drooping or trouble speaking
- Signs of infection in the foot: redness, warmth, swelling or fever
- Falls or new trouble with balance
If you have any of these, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency department.
Bring to your first visit
Records
Recent lab results, imaging reports and specialist notes. These can also be faxed ahead.
Treatment history
A short list of what you have tried and what did or did not help.
Clothing
Something comfortable and loose fitting.
Treatment
How Dr. Gordon Treats It
These are the tools Dr. Gordon uses most often for neuropathy, chosen from your exam findings.
Primary approach
Orthopedic Dry Needling
Dr. Gordon has used dry needling for more than 18 years. Treatment releases calf, foot and leg muscles that may be compressing nerves, used carefully with neuropathy.
See all servicesNerve focus
Neuro-Functional Acupuncture
Acupuncture and electro-acupuncture protocols commonly used for burning, tingling and numbness from neuropathy.
See all servicesBetween visits
Foot Care & Team Coordination
Foot care, balance and activity guidance, coordinated with your physician, neurologist or podiatrist.
Referring provider? Contact the clinicWhat to Expect
A Typical Recovery Arc
Visits 1 to 3
Find the main driver
Dr. Gordon confirms which muscles and nerves are behind your symptoms and starts calming the most reactive areas. Many people notice early changes between visits.
Visits 4 to 8
Lower the baseline
Day-to-day symptoms ease, flares become shorter and less frequent, and normal routines start to feel more manageable.
Visits 9 to 12 and beyond
Build resilience
Visits are spaced out as improvement holds. You leave with a maintenance and early-flare plan.
Most patients are seen weekly or every other week during active care. Individual results vary with how long symptoms have been present and how reactive they are. Progress is reassessed at every visit.
Not sure how to describe it? Put your pain or discomfort into words before your visit
"I've known Dr Gordon for many years. I have many health issues and can honestly say he always takes my ailments seriously and does extensive research to find and help my problems."
Susan Miele, Google Review
Neuropathy Questions
Answers About Neuropathy
Still unsure whether this is the right fit? Reach out before you book and Dr. Gordon will talk through your history with you.
Acupuncture is widely used for neuropathy symptoms such as burning and tingling. Results vary from person to person.
Yes, with care. Dr. Gordon uses sterile single-use needles and checks your feet. Let him know about any wounds.
Yes. Please share your oncology history and coordinate with your care team.
No. Continue as prescribed and discuss any changes with your physician.
Many people try eight to twelve sessions and track changes in symptoms.
Nerve pain often feels worse at rest when there are fewer distractions.
Before You Book
General Questions
The clinic is an out-of-network practice. The initial evaluation is $300 and follow-up visits are $250. After each visit you receive a detailed superbill to submit to your PPO plan for possible reimbursement. FSA and HSA cards are accepted, and the clinic can run a complimentary benefits check before your first appointment. The check is a courtesy, so please confirm your coverage with your plan. See Insurance & Fees for details.
The first evaluation is 60 to 75 minutes and usually includes treatment. Follow-up visits run 45 to 60 minutes.
Yes. Call (516) 597-5400 or send a message through the contact page. This is especially helpful if your case is complex and you want to understand the approach before committing to a full evaluation.
1508 Union Turnpike, Suite 133, North New Hyde Park, NY 11040, with free parking on site. The clinic is an easy drive from Manhasset, Great Neck, Garden City, Lake Success, Floral Park and Mineola. Early morning, evening and weekend hours are available.
Most people feel a quick muscle twitch or a deep ache that lasts a few seconds. That twitch is a normal sign the trigger point is releasing. Mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours afterward, similar to a hard workout, is common. Depth, angle and stimulation are adjusted to your comfort.
Both use the same fine, sterile, single-use needles. Dry needling targets specific trigger points and tight bands in muscle based on your exam. Neuro-functional acupuncture targets nerve pathways, often with gentle electrical stimulation, to calm nerve sensitivity. For neuropathy, Dr. Gordon commonly uses both.
When performed by a trained, licensed provider with detailed knowledge of anatomy, it has a strong safety record. Tell Dr. Gordon if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system so he can plan accordingly.
About Dr. Anthony J. Gordon
Dr. Anthony J. Gordon is a Doctor of Acupuncture licensed in New York and board certified. He holds ASE certification in intrapelvic and extrapelvic dry needling, along with advanced certifications in Functional Dry Needling and Neuro-Functional Acupuncture. With more than 18 years of clinical experience and over 3,000 complex cases treated, he focuses on pelvic, spinal and orthopedic conditions that have not responded to standard care, and works closely with each patient's physicians and physical therapists.
Read Dr. Gordon's full bioBook an Evaluation for Neuropathy
Book an evaluation with Dr. Gordon and explore acupuncture for your neuropathy symptoms.
Early morning, evening and weekend appointments available. Free on-site parking.
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