- • Neuropathy care is a course of treatment, not a single visit — most plans run roughly eight to twelve sessions.
- • Early visits focus on sleep and night-time burning; later visits focus on sensation, balance and steadier walking.
- • Dr. Kim Windschauer, AP reviews progress with you along the way and will tell you honestly if acupuncture isn't helping.
Why neuropathy needs a course of care
Nerves in the feet and hands change slowly. A single acupuncture visit can take the edge off a bad night, but lasting change in burning, tingling and numbness comes from repeated treatment over several weeks, the same way physical therapy works on a joint.
That's why we talk in terms of a course of care rather than an appointment. When you come in for neuropathy, Dr. Kim maps out a plan with you and sets a point along the way where you both look at the results and decide whether to keep going.
Weeks one and two: settling the worst of it
The first visits usually target what keeps you awake. For many patients that's the burning that starts once the feet warm up under the covers, or the electric jolts that arrive out of nowhere.
Treatment in these first weeks tends to be gentle and frequent — often twice a week. Some people notice they're sleeping through more of the night before they notice anything about sensation.
Weeks three to five: sensation and steadiness
This is where changes in feeling tend to show up: a patch of skin that was numb starts registering the floor again, or socks stop feeling like they're bunched up when they aren't.
We also start paying attention to balance. When the soles of the feet report back more accurately, walking on grass, gravel and uneven parking lots gets less alarming.
Weeks six to eight: holding the gains
By this stage visits usually spread out. The goal shifts from producing change to holding it, and to finding the smallest amount of treatment that keeps you comfortable.
Some patients finish here. Others with long-standing or progressive neuropathy stay on a maintenance rhythm — perhaps once or twice a month — because that's what keeps their nights quiet.
What to expect at your visit
Your first appointment is a conversation before it's a treatment. Dr. Kim asks about how the symptoms started, what your medical team has already found, what medications you take, and what a bad night looks like for you.
Treatment itself is quiet. Fine needles are placed in the legs, feet, hands or arms, and you rest for a stretch of time in a warm room. Most people find it relaxing; plenty fall asleep. Wear loose clothing that rolls above the knee and eat something beforehand.
Getting here from around Tampa Bay
The clinic is at 3001 Executive Drive in Clearwater, just off US-19, with parking at the door — which matters when walking is uncomfortable.
Patients come from Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Oldsmar, Largo, Seminole, Pinellas Park, St. Petersburg and across the bay from Tampa. If you're travelling a distance, we can often group visits so a longer drive covers more of the plan.
When to call
If numbness is spreading, if you've developed a sore on a foot you can't feel, or if weakness is new, speak to your physician first — those need medical assessment, not acupuncture.
Otherwise, call 727-490-6060 or use the contact page and tell us what you're dealing with. Dr. Kim will give you a straight answer about whether this is something she can help with.
Frequently asked
How often will I need to come in for neuropathy acupuncture?+
Most neuropathy plans start at roughly twice a week for the first two to three weeks, then spread out as symptoms settle. Dr. Kim sets the rhythm with you at your first visit and adjusts it based on how you respond.
Will acupuncture interfere with my neuropathy medication?+
Acupuncture is generally used alongside the care your physician has prescribed, and we ask for your full medication list so nothing is done in the dark. Never stop or change a prescription on your own — that's a conversation for the doctor who prescribed it.
How will I know if it's working?+
We track the things you actually notice: how many nights the burning wakes you, whether numb areas are shrinking, and how steady you feel walking. If there's no meaningful change by the review point in your plan, Dr. Kim will say so.
Does acupuncture for neuropathy hurt?+
The needles are far finer than the ones used for injections, and most patients describe a dull heaviness or warmth rather than pain. Tell us right away if anything feels sharp; placement is easily adjusted.
Related pages at Acupuncture of West Florida
- Neuropathy treatment in Clearwater — Full details on how we approach nerve symptoms
- Peripheral neuropathy care — Symptoms, causes and what treatment involves
- Our Clearwater clinic — Address, map and parking
- Book a consultation — Tell us what you're experiencing and we'll call you back
Talk to Dr. Kim
Book a consultation call. Honest answer whether we can help.
Book Consultation727-490-6060