Peripheral neuropathy is a term that could refer to a wide range of medical conditions affecting the peripheral nervous system.
Each of these conditions might have different underlying causes and symptoms. Therefore, peripheral neuropathy treatments might differ depending on the exact form of neuropathy.
Understanding peripheral neuropathy and the goals of treatment
Peripheral neuropathy is the most common type of neuropathy, characterized by damage or dysfunction of nerves in the peripheral nervous system. You might experience symptoms like sharp nerve pain, unpleasant sensitivity, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or paralysis, and difficulty coordinating movement and motor functions.
These symptoms might appear in the limbs, organs, and torso, and it’s possible to experience other symptoms depending on where the neuropathy manifests, like problems with digestion or circulation and bladder issues.
The ultimate goal of neuropathy treatment is to treat the underlying issue that causes neuropathy.
However, this is not always possible because neuropathy might be a symptom of some chronic diseases, or the nerve damage might be permanent. In these cases, treatment efforts are usually focused on reducing symptoms.
Treating the underlying causes of neuropathy
There’s a broad range of peripheral neuropathy causes. Some of these might be as simple as a swollen muscle pressing on the nerve, while others might be incurable chronic diseases like arthritis.
Whenever possible, doctors will try to cure or treat the underlying issue. In some cases, this might entirely heal neuropathy. Otherwise, it could reduce its effects on your daily life.
Compression or irritation of the nerve
A common cause behind neuropathy is physical irritation of the nerves. Inflammation, swollen tissues, or bone deformities might compress the nerves. In these cases, healing the inflammation, resting, or surgically correcting the bone deformities might resolve the effects of neuropathy.
Nutritional deficiencies
Another easily treatable cause behind neuropathy might be nutritional deficiencies, like low vitamin B12, copper, or vitamin B6 levels. These can be remedied by changing your diet and taking additional supplement or vitamins for neuropathy.
Diabetes
Diabetes is another common underlying issue that might lead to peripheral neuropathy. While diabetes has no known cure yet, keeping a proper diet, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight might all help reduce the symptoms and the effects of diabetic neuropathy.
Other underlying causes with available treatment options
In addition to these underlying issues, there are other less common causes for neuropathy. Let’s take a look at some of them and their possible treatment options.
- Infections – Antibiotics or antiviral drugs
- Autoimmune disorders – DMARDs, immunosuppressants, or immunoglobulin treatments
- Medication-induced neuropathy – Changing certain medications or reducing dosages
- Toxins and chemical exposures – Chelation therapy, antitoxins, avoiding further exposure, taking protective measures
Peripheral neuropathy pain relief
Nerve pain is one of the most common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Regardless of whether the neuropathy is acute or chronic, pain management is essential for any neuropathy treatment plan.
Traditional painkillers
When it comes to painkillers, we have multiple options, depending on the source and severity of the pain. Analgesics, like paracetamol, can reliably relieve lesser acute pains. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can treat pain and inflammation at the same time. Steroid-based injections might come in handy when dealing with chronic inflammatory pains. And opioids might be prescribed for more severe pains.
The upside of these medicines is that they provide reliable neuropathic pain treatment. The downside is that they often come with potential side effects.
Natural pain remedies
Natural pain remedies might not be as potent as traditional drugs, but they usually have fewer side effects.
Capsaicin, extracted from chili peppers, is a well-known natural painkiller that can help ease pains locally. Boswellia is another natural, herbal-based remedy that could help relieve lesser pains. Certain essential oils, like lavender, might also offer some pain relief.
Drug-free pain management options
If you want to avoid the side effects of traditional drugs or supplement them with methods that don’t interfere with other medications, then you could explore these drug-free pain relief options.
Temperature therapy
Heat and cold therapy are proven and reliable methods to ease pain without significant side effects. Heat therapy can help ease swollen or overused muscles, and cold therapy can numb pain and reduce inflammation.
Physical therapy
Gentle stretches, low-impact exercises, and massages might help ease mild pains and improve circulation. Yoga, tai-chi, and swimming are excellent forms of exercise when dealing with chronic pains.
Drug-free pain patches
Another drug-free, non-invasive pain management method that you could try is our Freedom pain patch. These patches use unique vibrotactile technology to communicate directly with the nervous system and relieve pain.
Treating other symptoms of neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy might come with additional symptoms and issues related to the functions of the affected nerves.
- Physiotherapy or assistive devices can effectively address muscle weakness or paralysis.
- Erectile dysfunction and digestive issues might call for additional medications.
- Loss of balance and coordination can benefit from specialized exercises and balance training.
- Cognitive impairments associated with peripheral neuropathy may require cognitive rehabilitation programs and memory-enhancing techniques.