Neuropathy

Last updated: April 2025 If you have a numbing sensation in your hands, feet, or other parts of the body, or suffer from sharp stabbing pain, read on. You may have a peripheral nervous system condition known as neuropathy. Treatment for neuropathy often focuses on anti-inflammatory drugs. These work by interrupting pain pathways in order to relieve discomfort and prevent further nerve damage. But this doesn’t always address the numbness or tingling. Nor may it resolve the underlying problem. Irrespective of where it originated, pain affects the nerves. According to a 2016 study published in the Journal of Pain Research, neuropathic pain adversely affects about 15 percent of the US population. However, red light therapy is intended to treat neuropathy and has resulted in many success stories. RLT is a natural therapeutic method that shows great promise in clinical trials in restoring nerve functioning and relieving the symptoms of neuropathy.

Light therapy’s origins are in the healing properties of natural sunlight. Today, scientists are well aware that the body is highly reactive to light. They have furthermore discovered that each wavelength of light has unique effects on the human body. The term 'red light therapy' is used to refer to red and NIR light. Wavelengths of light are measured in nanometers. According to world-renowned red light therapy expert Michael Hamblin, red wavelengths range from about 600nm to 700nm, and NIR wavelengths range from about 770nm to 1200nm. Research has shown that there is an ideal wavelength range for health benefits. In red wavelengths, it is from 630nm to 660nm. In near-infrared wavelengths, it is from 810nm to 850nm. This is what is known as the 'therapeutic window.' It is the range in which R and NIR+ light has the most therapeutic benefit for humans. Red and NIR wavelengths have been shown in numerous clinical trials to be effective for pain relief, reducing inflammation, and increasing local blood circulation, which can help speed up healing. For treating neuropathy, we'll focus more on NIR light therapy. Because of its longer wavelengths, it can penetrate deeper into the body’s tissues. While red light wavelengths can access the nerves, NIR light is more powerful for treating underlying conditions. Although near-infrared light is part of the infrared spectrum, its effects on the body are different from mid-infrared and far-infrared wavelengths. NIR light absorbs into the skin and stimulates the cellular metabolism. In contrast, mid-infrared and far-infrared heat up the water content in the body, which means there is potential for heat damage. This can limit their usefulness in treating neuropathy.

Red light therapy uses medical-grade light-emitting diode bulbs to deliver concentrated wavelengths of red and/or near-infrared light to your skin. It uses LEDs. Red light therapy stimulates the production of energy within cells that are exposed to the light, which sparks a positive ripple effect in a process similar to how plants convert sunlight into energy during photosynthesis. The primary fuel of human cells is adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is produced by tiny organelles inside cells known as mitochondria. When light photons are soaked up by mitochondria, ATP production increases, which has a powerful stimulating effect on the cells in the body part being treated. Red light is best known for its rejuvenating effect on the skin. It is widely used to treat fine lines and wrinkles, hair loss, and chronic skin disorders like psoriasis. Three mechanisms are primarily responsible for these effects: increased cellular energy, increased blood flow, and increased collagen and elastin production. Because near-infrared wavelengths absorb deeper into the body – and can even penetrate bone – they can treat a huge variety of acute and chronic conditions, without side effects. For example, NIR light: • Promotes muscle recovery from intense exercise and/or injury • Relieves inflammation and pain in joints and muscles • Stimulates healthy bone growth • Accelerates wound healing • Stimulates formation of new capillaries, which enhances blood flow • Reduces oxidative stress in the brain and may assist in treating traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinsin’s disease.

Light therapy, specifically red light therapy (including red/NIR wavelengths) shows promise in treating peripheral neuropathy in the feet, hands, and other parts of the body. Red light therapy uses several mechanisms to treat this debilitating condition: • Reducing chronic inflammation which may contribute to oxidative stress in nerve cells. • Managing pain due to peripheral nerve damage. • Stimulating the production of Schwann cells and fibroblasts, which can lead to healthy nerve regeneration. • Increasing cellular energy production, which allows cells to function at their best and successfully repair and replicate. While it should not be considered a cure for neuropathy, red light therapy can be used in conjunction with conventional treatments to ease symptoms and potentially restore peripheral nervous system health.

Treating constant pain or numbness from neuropathy is fairly straightforward – if there is a clear cause. Retraining the body in proper biomechanics can often relieve pressure on nerves, relieve neuropathy pain, and restore normal functioning. Treatment goals for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy focus on slowing the progression of diabetes, relieving pain, managing complications such as muscle weakness, and restoring function and mobility. Treatment is more complicated, however, when there is a more complex underlying condition such as chronic inflammation that contributes to neuropathy pain. To experience long-term relief, the underlying condition must be treated. Red light therapy doesn’t replace these conventional treatments. Rather, it enhances the body’s ability to heal itself.

The mechanism of relieving pain using near-infrared light primarily relies on stimulating the body’s healing mechanisms through increased cellular energy and reduced inflammation. A 2017 study co-authored by Hamblin examined the biological effects of infrared radiation. The study revealed that nerve cells respond well to the bio-stimulating effects of NIR light. Pain Relief Numerous studies have found that red light therapy has a beneficial pain-relieving effect. In several scientific papers, Hamblin has emphasized the treatment’s effectiveness at reducing inflammatory pain. During a 2014 study by Iranian researchers, rats were divided into three groups, one of which was exposed to both 660nm red light, and 980nm low-level laser therapy for two weeks. Compared with the rats that were not treated, the treatment group showed improvement in neuropathic pain. Nerve Regeneration It’s not easy for the body to regrow nerve cells, but research has shown that it is possible. If the nerve cell itself is still alive, nerve fibers have a chance to regenerate, which can restore more normal nervous system communications and sensory function. Reduced Inflammation Many medical conditions and disorders are caused by chronic inflammation. If this is the cause of neuropathic pain, the first step toward relief is treating the inflammation. In 2010, researchers from Japan published a study showing that red/NIR LED light therapy could promote nerve regeneration by reducing inflammation. Increased Blood Flow An important finding during a 2017 study was that red light therapy stimulates the production of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide contributes to vasodilation (the dilation of blood vessels), which decreases blood pressure and increases blood flow. Stimulated Production of Schwann Cells and Fibroblasts Red light therapy stimulates the production of Schwann cells (cells of the peripheral nervous system) and fibroblasts (cells in connective tissue). This has been shown to reduce inflammation and support restoration of normal nerve cell functioning. Schwann cells also form the myelin sheath, which is a protective layer that forms around nerves. Increased Cellular Metabolism At the root of many chronic disorders lies a condition called mitochondrial dysfunction. Stimulating energy production within the cells is key to optimal health in all of the body’s systems.

Due to the dearth of studies specific to light therapy’s effect on neuropathy, it should not be considered a cure. Yet because of its clinically proven ability to reduce inflammation, light therapy can assist with the healing process of regenerating damaged nerves and in promoting pain relief. One study that focused on pain relief (non-neuropathic) was published in the journal Practical Pain Management in 2012. Study participants reported from 40 to 100 percent reduction in pain, often within hours of treatment.

People who suffer from neuropathic pain are often delighted to learn that they can safely treat their pain at home with a red light therapy device. If you decide to purchase a red light therapy device, be sure to purchase one of high quality and avoid small handheld devices. A Combination of Red and Near-Infrared Wavelengths Today, you can get medical-grade, FDA-registered LED light therapy devices that emit red light, NIR light, and a combination of both. Red light can stimulate nerve health in and just under the skin, such as in fingers and the soles of the feet. NIR light works on nerves that are deeper in the body. Consistency: Results Take Time The greatest benefits of red/NIR light therapy come with time since the modality works on a cellular level. Nerve cells require time to repair themselves or regenerate. Treatment Time and Frequency You can apply red/NIR light therapy to treat pain or numbness on any part of your body with short sessions of just 10 to 20 minutes at a time, three to five days per week.