Ways to Treat and Manage Neuropathy

Neuropathy involves many conditions that affect your peripheral nervous system nerves. The peripheral system includes all nerves in your body excluding those in your brain and spinal cord. Neuropathy can be caused by many factors, including type 2 diabetes, certain autoimmune diseases, tumors, genetic disorders, and vascular problems. Common symptoms of neuropathy Brooklyn include pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, and loss of function. Most neuropathy conditions are incurable, but treatments target the underlying cause, managing symptoms and preventing further damage. Here are effective ways you can manage neuropathy.
Lifestyle changes
Certain lifestyle modifications can help treat and manage neuropathy. An improved diet combined with vitamin therapy can help treat neuropathy caused by vitamin deficiency. Avoiding alcohol can stop and improve nerve damage caused by alcohol abuse. For diabetic neuropathy, managing blood sugar levels can help prevent further nerve damage. Exercise can help strengthen your muscles, improve your mental and general health.
Medications
Pain relievers
Over-the-counter pain medications like aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen can help relieve pain. If you have severe pain, your doctor can prescribe other drugs like opioids such as tramadol and oxycodone. Doctors prescribe opioids when other pain relievers are ineffective. You only use them for a short period because long-term use can lead to dependence and addiction.
Anti-seizure medications
Anti-seizure drugs like gabapentin and pregabalin, used to treat epilepsy, can help alleviate nerve pain. These medications can lead to side effects like drowsiness and dizziness, but your doctor can help you manage them.
Topical treatments
Capsaicin cream can help improve peripheral neuropathy symptoms. The cream contains a certain substance found in hot pepper. You may experience skin burning and irritation after application, but the effects lessen over time. Lidocaine patches, which you apply around the affected area, can help ease the pain.
Antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline, doxepin, and nortriptyline can help alleviate pain. These medications interfere with brain and spinal cord chemical processes that make you feel pain. If your peripheral neuropathy pain is caused by diabetes, serotonin, and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, duloxetine can be beneficial.
Therapies
Physical therapy
Physical therapy can help restore or retain strength and prevent muscle cramping and spasms. Hand or foot braces, a cane, a walker, or a wheelchair can help in movements.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation involves your doctor delivering a small electric current on your skin to interrupt nerve messages. The procedure takes about thirty minutes. Your doctor may recommend you get one treatment session daily for about a month for effective results.
Plasma exchange and intravenous immune globulin
Plasma exchange and intravenous immune globulin can be beneficial if you have inflammatory issues. They help suppress immune system activity. Plasma exchange involves your provider removing your blood and extracting antibodies and other proteins. Then the provider returns the pure blood to your body. Immune globulin therapy involves receiving high protein levels that function as antibodies.
Surgery
Although rare, some forms of neuropathy may require surgery. Surgery may involve removing tumors causing pressure on your nerves.
Schedule an appointment at Zephyr Medical for neuropathy treatment to prevent further nerve damage.