Author:
John Stephens
Date Of Creation:
25 January 2021
Update Date:
29 June 2024
Content
Neuropathy affects the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system plays a role in controlling body movements, senses and autonomic functions such as blood pressure and sweating. If nerves are damaged, many symptoms may appear depending on the type of nerve. Neuropathy of the feet affects 2.4% of the population, and 8% of people over 55 have it. Diabetes is the leading cause of neuropathy, but it can be inherited or caused by infection, trauma or other illnesses. Therefore, it is important that you talk to your doctor about treatment options.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Adjusting living habits
Walk often. Try to walk outside at least 3 times a week, or practice exercises that are safe and comfortable for you. You can consult your doctor about the right exercise regimen. Exercise is a way to increase blood circulation and nourish damaged nerves. Walking habits can lower blood sugar levels and make it easier for you to control your diabetes. Neuropathy will decrease if the diabetes is well controlled.
- If you are having trouble finding time to exercise, remember that you can take advantage of the odd jobs to be more active. For example, you can clean the house, play with your dog, or wash the car yourself. All of these activities help blood circulation.
Declaim food. Fill a pot with warm water, add ¼ cup Epsom salt for each cup of warm water. Remember that the water temperature should not exceed 38 degrees C. Soak your feet in the basin so that the water covers both feet. The warmth of the water can help you relax and forget the pain in your feet. Besides, Epsom salt contains magnesium with a muscle relaxation effect.- If your foot becomes infected or swollen, consult your doctor before soaking in Epsom salt.
Avoid or reduce your consumption of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is toxic to the nerves, especially when they are damaged. You should limit your alcohol intake to 4 cups spread evenly per week. Some types of neuropathy are caused by alcoholism, so you should abstain from alcohol if you have a neurological problem. Stopping alcohol can ease symptoms and prevent further damage.- If you have a genetic alcohol addiction in your family, you should probably abstain from drinking alcohol entirely. Consider quitting alcohol completely to stay safe and healthy.
Drink evening primrose oil. This natural oil is extracted from a wild flower and sold in pill form. Ask your doctor about specific dosages of evening primrose oil supplements. Studies have shown that the fatty acids present in evening primrose oil can ease symptoms of neuropathy. These fatty acids work to improve nerve function.- Other good sources of beneficial fatty acids (GLAs) are borage oil and black currant oil.
Try acupuncture. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese treatment that uses needles to pierce certain points of the body. The stimulation of these points causes the body to release endorphins, a hormone that is known to help relieve pain. The acupuncturist will put 4-10 needles into the acupuncture points on the body and leave it there for about 30 minutes. You will need 6-12 sessions of therapy over a 3 month period.
- Check the reliability of your acupuncturist before making an appointment. Make sure all acupuncture tools and needles are sterile to prevent blood-borne diseases.
Consider complementary and alternative treatments. In addition to acupuncture, you can try meditation and use low-intensity transdermal (TENS) nerve stimulation therapy to ease symptoms of neuropathy. The TENS procedure uses a small battery pack to charge transducers placed around painful areas. The probes and batteries create electrical circuits through which electrical current will flow and stimulate the sore area. Studies have shown TENS to be effective in treating some neuropathic pain, although more research is needed.
- For meditation, you can try walking meditation, sitting meditation, qigong or tai chi. Studies have demonstrated the pain relief effects of regular meditation practice.
Part 2 of 3: Applying medical treatments
Take medication with prescription. There are many drugs for treating neuropathy. Your doctor will focus on controlling the disorders that cause neuropathy, which in turn will help relieve symptoms and improve the function of the nerves in the legs. You may be prescribed the following drugs:
- Amitriptyline: Originally an antidepressant, amitriptyline is also effective in treating neuropathy. You will start with the lowest dose, 25 mg per day, and then gradually increase the dose to 150 mg per day. Always take the medicine before bed. You will not be prescribed this medication if you have a history of suicide.
- Pregabalin: This pain reliever is often indicated for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. You should start with the lowest possible dose and increase your dose as recommended by your doctor. The maximum dose is 50 - 200 mg orally 3 times a day. The maximum dosage can be gradually increased to 600 mg / day; dosages above this level are ineffective.
- Duloxetine: This medication is often prescribed by a doctor to treat pain related to diabetic neuropathy. The initial dosage is 60 mg / day orally. This dosage may be doubled, and the doctor will check the effectiveness of treatment after 2 months. You can double the dose, but levels above 60 mg / day are rarely more effective, and can actually cause other problems.
- Combination therapies: Your doctor may recommend a combination of drugs, such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), venlafaxine, or tramadol. This combination of drugs may yield better results in treating neuropathy than with just one drug.
Use opioid pain relievers as directed by your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe a long-acting opioid group pain reliever to treat neuralgia. This is usually decided on a case-by-case basis, as the side effects include: drug dependence (addiction), drug tolerance (the medication will decrease in effectiveness over time), and headache.
- Immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclophosphamide may also be prescribed to treat a form of chronic neuropathy (immune disorder neuropathy) that may be resistant to other treatments.
Talk to your doctor about surgical options. Depending on the cause of your neuropathy, your doctor may recommend a nerve compression surgery. This surgery releases pressure that is pressing on the nerves and allows them to function properly. Nerve compression surgery is usually done to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, but certain types of genetic neuropathy that cause problems in the feet and ankles can also be treated with this surgery.
- Amyloid peripheral neuropathy can be treated with liver transplantation, since this form of neuropathy is caused by metabolic problems in the liver.
Part 3 of 3: Improving health
Add more vitamins to your diet. If you don't have diabetes and other systemic illnesses, it's possible that your neuropathy is caused by a deficiency of vitamins E, B1, B6, and B12. However, you should consult your doctor before taking vitamin supplements. The doctor will need to diagnose the cause of the neuropathy before recommending a patient to take supplements or medications.
- To get more vitamins from a healthy diet, eat plenty of green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, and liver.
Control diabetes. Neuropathy usually develops many years after a patient is diagnosed with diabetes. Good diabetes control can prevent or prevent neuropathy, but it is often not possible to fully recover once the disease has developed. The doctor will focus on diabetes control and pain relief from neuropathy.
- It is important that you control the level of glucose in your blood. Blood glucose levels should be 70-130 mg / dL fasting and less than 180 mg / dL 2 hours after breakfast. You should also keep your blood pressure at a stable level.
Prevents formation of wounds and sores. The feeling in the foot with a neuropathy is usually worse, so you are more susceptible to injury, such as cuts, punctures or abrasions. Always wear indoor and outdoor socks or shoes. Repeated injuries to the foot can easily lead to ulcers that are difficult to heal. You should have regular visits to have the doctor check your feet.
- Wear comfortable and well-fitting footwear, such as strapless sandals, but avoid shoes, sandals or flip flops that are less likely to protect the foot. Tight shoes can interfere with blood flow to impactful spots on the foot and lead to ulcers.
- Keep the nail length moderate. This will prevent ingrown toenails. You need to be careful when manicuring. Don't use a knife to avoid accidentally cutting your toe.
Keep established sores clean. Wash the sore area with warm salt water. Pour a little salt water into a sterile gauze pad and rinse the dead tissue on the sore, then dry and cover with a sterile gauze pad. Be careful to change the bandage 1-2 times a day and when it gets wet. If the sores stink, see your doctor right away, as the stench is a sign of infection and can be very serious.
- Tell your doctor right away if you have sores. Small sores can be easily treated with antibiotics, but large sores can be very difficult to heal, even having toes or feet removed.
Pain control. Neuropathic pain has many different degrees. For mild or moderate pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen (400 mg) or aspirin (300 mg) 2-3 times a day.
- Don't forget to take anti-stomach ulcers because pain relievers like ibuprofen often irritate your stomach. For example, you can take 150 mg of ranitidine twice daily before meals.
Treat underlying causes. Neuropathy caused by kidney, liver, or endocrine diseases can be treated with the treatment of the underlying disease. Nerve compression syndrome or other local problems can be improved with physical therapy or surgery.
- You should always check with your doctor when you have a neurological problem and before taking any supplements.
Advice
- Neuropathy can be acute or chronic. Acute illness should be examined immediately.
- You can reduce symptoms by increasing hydration or by wearing pressure socks.
