Living with peripheral neuropathy can be an eye-opening experience.
It often begins insidiously with tingling feet, then progresses to numbness, burning sensations, and even sharp, shooting pains that run up and down the legs or arms.
It’s common for patients to note that their symptoms are often worst at night – when they are trying to rest their nerves by elevating their legs.
If you are searching for ways to manage the peripheral neuropathy treatment and nerve pain, you are not alone.Many Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Glendale and Peoria residents are seeking treatment options for ways to reduce neuropathy symptoms and regain mobility.
The good news is that there are a number of ways to treat peripheral neuropathy depending on the underlying cause(s), ranging from medical intervention to lifestyle modifications and other therapeutic options. Let’s explore these in more detail.
Understanding Peripheral Neuropathy and How It Affects Your Nerves
Peripheral neuropathy involves damage to sensory, motor and autonomic nerves found throughout the body outside of the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system carries information from your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body. This system controls many essential functions including breathing, heartbeat, and digestion.
When these nerves are damaged or dysfunctional, patients often present with a range of uncomfortable sensations affecting their bodies. The most common peripheral neuropathy symptoms include:
• Tingling and/or pins and needles
• Burning sensations
• Numbness in feet or hands
• Shooting pains and sharp, electric-like sensations
• Increased sensitivity to touch
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty with balance and coordination
Symptoms can range from mild to severely debilitating– and can have a significant impact on a patient’s ability to do everyday activities ranging from working out to sleeping through the night.
How Do You Get Peripheral Neuropathy? Understanding the Causes
A thorough understanding of the underlying cause of peripheral neuropathy is essential in developing an effective treatment plan. The condition can have a wide range of potential underlying causes– from nutritional deficiencies and diabetes to infections, autoimmune conditions, injuries and more.
This is why it is extremely important to consult your doctor about any unusual numbness, tingling, burning or weakness you may be experiencing. The cause of your condition must be determined and treated for you to effectively manage your symptoms.
Medical Treatment for Peripheral Neuropathy
Medical treatment for peripheral neuropathy is tailored to the underlying cause, severity of symptoms and specific nerves affected. Your physician may recommend a combination of treatment options including:
Treating the Cause of Neuropathy
When possible, treatment is aimed at addressing the underlying medical problem contributing to your condition. Some patients may present with unrelated conditions that must be managed or surgically corrected. Others may require specialized treatment or even a referral to a neurologist.
Medications to Treat Neuropathy Symptoms
There are a number of FDA-approved medications that can help reduce uncomfortable nerve sensations. These drugs work in unique ways to target the malfunctioning nerves responsible for your symptoms.
A qualified healthcare professional can help review the potential risks, benefits and side effect profiles of these medications and help you decide if they are right for you.
Physical Therapy and Mobility Support
Patients suffering from neuropathy often have impaired mobility. Physical therapy can be an invaluable tool in helping these patients regain their independence.
Mobility assistance devices such as canes or walkers may also be recommended for patients with balance or coordination problems. For many of our Arizona patients, maintaining their ability to be active and independent is a top priority.
Natural Treatment Approaches for Peripheral Neuropathy
While a “natural” cure is not usually recommended for medical conditions that require professional intervention, there are a number of therapeutic lifestyle modifications that can help manage peripheral neuropathy symptoms.
Let’s explore some of these treatment options.
Exercise: The Importance of Staying Active
Getting regular physical activity is extremely important for your overall health and well-being. That being said, exercise plays a unique role in treating peripheral neuropathy. A properly-designed exercise program can help reduce your discomfort while improving your balance, coordination and overall mobility.
That doesn’t mean you have to join a commercial fitness center and invest in a expensive exercise equipment. Exercise can be as simple as a daily walk around the neighborhood or even swimming laps at the local community center. The key is to get your body moving.
Of course, if your neuropathy symptoms are severely impacting your balance or mobility, it is important to speak with a healthcare professional before beginning any new exercise program.
Eat a Healthy Diet
What you put into your body matters. A healthy, well-balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins can have a major impact on your health. Proper nutrition is especially important in patients with peripheral neuropathy because many of these patients must take medications or follow specialized diets.
Rather than browsing the internet for unproven information, be sure to consult a qualified dietician or your private physician before making any drastic dietary changes. Serious nutritional deficiencies should be diagnosed and treated by a healthcare professional.
Foot Care: Essential for Patients with Numbness
Proper foot care plays an essential role in any treatment plan for patients experiencing numbness or loss of sensation in their feet or toes. Since these patients cannot feel normal sensations, it is critical that they inspect their feet on a daily basis for any injuries.
A simple foot care routine can make all the difference:
• Examine your feet daily for cuts, sores or irritation
• Always wear properly-fitting shoes
• Avoid walking barefoot when possible
• Wash and dry your feet on a regular basis
• Report any unusual swelling, rashes or sores to your physician immediately
For Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler and the greater Phoenix area residents, this can be especially critical if you spend a lot of time on your feet or working around the house. Small cracks or abrasions can often be overlooked by patients suffering from numbness– increasing the risk of infection and other complications.
Sleep Hygiene: Dealing With Nighttime Symptoms of Neuropathy
Most patients with neuropathy will tell you that their symptoms are often worst at night. Burning, tingling or shooting pains can often make it challenging to fall asleep– and disrupt your sleep patterns. Chronic lack of sleep is unhealthy and can also make your symptoms feel more intense the next day.
It is important to practice good sleep hygiene and make sure you are getting the proper amount of rest each night. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional about your nighttime symptoms and how they can be effectively managed. In some cases, adjustments to your current treatment plan could result in dramatic improvements in your nighttime discomfort.
Are There Any Innovative Therapies for Treating Peripheral Neuropathy?
There are a number of alternative, non-surgical therapies for patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy, depending on the underlying cause. The most suitable treatment option will depend on your diagnosis, symptoms and personal preferences. Some patients are interested in less-invasive options for managing their pain and discomfort while others may require medication, physical therapy or even a referral to a specialist.
This is why it is so important to consult a qualified physician about your symptoms and concerns. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to treating peripheral neuropathy.
Living With Peripheral Neuropathy in Arizona
Neuropathy can severely impact your quality of life. You may find yourself avoiding your regular after-work walks or even standing for long periods of time due to burning, tingling or numbness in your lower extremities.
Simple housework can become a challenge when your feet are constantly bothered by uncomfortable sensations. For Scottsdale, Tempe, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria and Phoenix, Arizona residents, the outdoors are always an option for staying active. But neuropathy can make it challenging to stay active and do the things you love.
The goal of any treatment plan is to help you manage your symptoms while addressing any underlying conditions that may be contributing to your discomfort.
When To Call the Doctor About Peripheral Neuropathy?
If you are experiencing any unusual numbness, tingling, burning sensations, or weakness, it is important to consult a qualified healthcare professional about your symptoms. Most physicians agree that patients should seek medical intervention if they have any of the following symptoms:
• Numbness and/or tingling
• Burning sensations
• Sharp, shooting pains
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty walking or balancing
• Any changes in sensation in your hands/feet
If your symptoms appear suddenly, are extremely severe or rapidly progressing it is vital that you see a doctor as soon as possible.
Finding the Right Treatment Plan for Chronic Neuropathy
Living with peripheral neuropathy can often be a long process. The most successful treatment plans often involve multiple approaches. The first step in managing your condition is identifying the underlying cause of your symptoms. From there, your physician can help determine which treatment options might be right for you.
If you are searching for peripheral neuropathy treatment options in Arizona, don’t waste your time trying to guess which treatment might work. Get your symptoms properly diagnosed by a qualified professional and then consult your physician about your treatment options.
Take the First Step Toward a Complete Neuropathy Treatment
Tingling, numbness and burning sensations can be a distressing experience that impacts your ability to do everyday activities. But you don’t have to suffer in silence.
If you are experiencing any uncomfortable nerve sensations it is important to get your symptoms properly diagnosed by a qualified healthcare professional. The right plan can make all the difference in managing your symptoms and improving your quality of life.
