Neuropathy is a disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system, the set of nerve ganglia and nerves that control the body's movements, sensations, and automatic functions, such as blood pressure and sweating. If the nerves are damaged, a variety of different ailments can occur, depending on the type of nerve affected. 2.4% of the population and 8% of those over 55 suffer from foot neuropathy. The main cause is diabetes, but genetic factors, infections, other diseases or trauma can be responsible for other factors. For this reason it is important to work with your doctor to find the right treatment.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Making Lifestyle Changes
Step 1. Walk regularly
You should take outdoor walks at least three times a week; alternatively, do physical activity that is safe for you and does not create discomfort; you can ask your doctor to recommend an appropriate exercise regimen. Movement improves blood circulation and regenerates damaged nerves. Walking lowers blood sugar in general and helps keep diabetes under control; by successfully managing diabetes, neuropathy also subsides.
If you are having trouble finding time for physical activity, remember that you can take small steps to keep yourself active; for example, you can clean the house, play with the dog or wash the car by hand. These are all initiatives that help blood circulation
Step 2. Take foot baths
Fill a tub or bathtub with hot water and add 50g of Epsom salts for every 250ml of water; make sure the temperature does not exceed 37 ° C. Put your feet in the water and immerse them completely, the heat released by the foot bath should relax you and distract you from the pain; in addition, Epsom salts contain magnesium, which helps to relax the muscles.
If you have an infection or your feet are swollen, consult your doctor before taking a salty foot bath
Step 3. Reduce or avoid alcohol
It is a toxic substance for the nerves, especially if they are already damaged; you should limit your consumption to a maximum of four drinks spread over a week. Some forms of neuropathy, in fact, are caused by alcoholism; if you suffer from this disorder, you need to eliminate alcohol. Stopping drinking can relieve symptoms and prevent further damage.
If there are cases of alcoholism in your family, you shouldn't drink at all; consider quitting completely, to stay safe and healthy
Step 4. Get evening primrose oil
It is a natural oil extracted from a wild flower and is available in pill form; ask your doctor to tell you the correct specific dose to take as a supplement. Studies have shown that the fatty acids in this oil can relieve symptoms of neuropathy, as well as improve nerve function.
Other sources of beneficial fatty acids (gamma linolenic acid) are borage oil and black currant oil
Step 5. Try acupuncture
It is a practice of traditional Chinese medicine which consists in inserting small needles in specific points of the body; stimulation of these points promotes the release of endorphins in the body, thus relieving pain. The acupuncturist inserts four to ten needles into specific places on the skin and leaves them in place for about half an hour to an hour. It will take six to twelve sessions over three months to see results.
Before making the appointment, make sure that it is a qualified acupuncturist and regularly registered in the register of doctors who practice this practice; he also checks that the clinic and needles are thoroughly sterilized to avoid the risk of blood-borne diseases
Step 6. Consider other possible alternative and complementary therapies
In addition to acupuncture, you can try meditation and low-intensity TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) to relieve symptoms of neuropathy. The procedure consists of using a small battery-operated device to power the probes positioned around the area where you feel pain; the probes and the battery emit slight electrical impulses to stimulate the suffering area. Studies have found that TENS is effective for treating certain types of neuropathic pain, although more research is needed.
As for meditation techniques, you can try meditating by walking or sitting, Qi Gong or Tai Chi; some studies have shown that the pain subsides thanks to this practice performed regularly
Part 2 of 3: Medical Treatments
Step 1. Take prescription medications as directed by your doctor
There are several types of medicines to treat this ailment; The doctor focuses primarily on managing the underlying disease responsible for neuropathy, trying to reduce its symptoms and thus improve nerve function in the feet. He may prescribe you:
- Amitriptyline: This drug, originally used to treat depression, can effectively manage neuropathic pain. You should start with a low dosage, 25 mg per day, gradually increasing it to 150 mg / day; always take it before going to bed. Amitriptyline cannot be prescribed to people who have experienced suicidal tendencies in the past.
- Pregabalin: This is a sedative usually prescribed to relieve pain associated with peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes. You should start with the lowest possible dosage and increase it according to the doctor's directions; the maximum dose is 50-100 mg, to be taken three times a day orally. Over time, the maximum dosage can reach 600 mg / day, but beyond this amount it is not effective.
- Duloxetine: Again, the drug is usually prescribed for pain associated with diabetic neuropathy. The initial dosage is 60 mg to be taken orally; over time, it can be doubled and the doctor evaluates the results after two months. Although it is possible to take 120 mg per day, in reality it is very rare that a higher dose leads to further benefits, while side effects are frequent.
- Combination therapies: Your doctor may advise you to take different classes of drugs, such as tricyclic antidepressants, venlafaxine, or tramadol. all together can offer better results than taking a single medicine.
Step 2. Take prescription opioids
Your doctor may consider prescribing these long-acting active ingredients to treat pain related to neuropathy; usually the decision is determined by the individual situation, as there may be side effects such as addiction, tolerance (when the active ingredient becomes less effective over time) and headache.
Doctors may also prescribe immunosuppressive agents, such as cyclophosphamide, to treat a type of chronic (dysimmune) neuropathy that may be resistant to other types of treatment
Step 3. Talk to your doctor about surgery
Based on the underlying cause of the neuropathy, he or she can evaluate the possibility of undergoing decompression surgery. The procedure relieves the pressure on the compressed nerves so that they can function normally again. Decompressive surgery is often done for carpal tunnel syndrome, but it also offers benefits in certain cases of hereditary neuropathy that causes foot and ankle problems.
Amyloid peripheral neuropathy can be treated with a liver transplant, as this type of disorder is caused by liver metabolic problems
Part 3 of 3: Improve your health
Step 1. Add more vitamins to your diet
If you don't have diabetes and don't suffer from other obvious systemic disorders, the neuropathy could be due to a deficiency in vitamins E, B1, B6, and B12. However, talk to your doctor before taking supplements, as they must diagnose the cause of the disorder before recommending drug or other therapy.
To get more vitamins from a healthy diet, eat plenty of green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, and liver
Step 2. Check for diabetes
Neuropathy typically develops many years after the condition is diagnosed; by keeping it under control, you can prevent or stop neuropathy. Once it has developed, however, it is not possible to completely reverse the situation; the physician should therefore focus on managing diabetes and limiting the pain caused by neuropathy.
It is important to regularly monitor the level of glucose in the blood; when it is normal, it has a value of 70-130 mg / dl on an empty stomach and below 180 mg / dl two hours after breakfast. Also be sure to keep your blood pressure under control
Step 3. Prevent the formation of ulcers and lesions
You probably have reduced tactile sensitivity in your feet due to neuropathy; However, this makes you more prone to injury, such as cuts, stings or scrapes. Always wear socks or shoes, whether you are indoors or outdoors; frequent foot injuries can easily develop into ulcers, which are difficult to heal. You should also ask your doctor to examine your feet when you go to his or her office for your usual visits.
- Wear comfortable footwear, such as a pair of open heel slippers, but avoid shoes, sandals, or flip flops, as they offer little support. Tight shoes can impair blood circulation where pressure is applied, and ulcers can form as a result.
- Keep your toenails at the appropriate length to prevent ingrowning just be careful not to run the risk of possible cuts. To do this, be sure not to use scissors.
Step 4. Keep any ulcers that have already formed clean
Wash the area with warm salty water; take a piece of sterile gauze, wet it with some saline and use it to clean the dead tissue on the ulcer. Afterwards, dry the skin and cover the lesion with a sterile bandage; be sure to change the bandage once or twice a day or even more often if it gets wet. If you smell a bad smell coming from the ulcer, go back to the doctor right away, as this is a clear sign of infection, which can be serious.
Immediately inform the doctor that you have ulcers. If they are small, they can be cured easily with medications and antibiotics, while if they are large they may heal with difficulty. Sometimes it is even necessary to amputate the fingers or toes
Step 5. Get the pain under control
The severity of the pain caused by neuropathy can vary widely; if it is mild or moderate in your case, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers. You can take 400 mg of ibuprofen or 300 mg of aspirin two or three times a day.
Don't forget to take anti-septic medicines, as analgesics, such as those described above, can irritate the stomach; for example, you can take 150 mg of ranitidine twice a day before meals
Step 6. Undergo treatments to cure the underlying condition
Neuropathy caused by kidney, liver or endocrine problems can be managed by addressing the original cause; if you have a pinched nerve or localized problems, you can find relief with physiotherapy or surgery.
Always contact your doctor to discuss the neuropathy you are experiencing and before taking any type of supplement
Advice
- The disease can be acute or chronic; in the first case, an immediate medical examination is required.
- You can relieve symptoms by increasing hydration or wearing graduated compression stockings.
