Treatments include antidepressants such as amitriptyline, pain relievers such as oxycodone, anti-seizure medications, and pain-relieving creams. It is also important to treat the underlying condition. Surgical treatment may be recommended for people with nerve damage due to nerve injury or compression. Mobility aids, such as a cane, walker, or wheelchair, may be helpful.
For pain, the doctor may prescribe painkillers. Treatment of peripheral neuropathy may include treatment of any underlying cause or symptoms. Treatment may be more effective for certain underlying causes. For example, making sure diabetes is well controlled can help improve neuropathy or at least prevent it from getting worse.
Blood vessels narrow and less oxygenated blood can pass through them. Without proper blood circulation, you may experience increased numbness and pain from peripheral neuropathy. Eliminating smoking habits can help improve symptoms. Let this motivate you to make positive changes.
Regular exercise can help fight pain and improve your overall health. Being active can lower blood sugar, which in turn can reduce or slow nerve damage. Exercise also increases blood flow to the arms and legs and reduces stress. These are all factors that help reduce discomfort and pain.
Meditation techniques can help people struggling with the symptoms of neuropathy overcome their pain. It can help reduce stress, improve their coping skills, and decrease the intensity of pain. Taking a mind-body approach is a non-invasive technique that gives you more control over your condition. Peripheral neuropathy causes pain, typically in the hands and feet.
Learn about simple exercises you can do at home to treat peripheral neuropathy pain. Early diagnosis and treatment of peripheral neuropathy is important, because peripheral nerves have a limited ability to regenerate and treatment can only stop progression, not reverse damage. If the underlying cause of neuropathy can be treated and cured (such as neuropathy caused by vitamin deficiency), neuropathy may also be reversed. If the underlying cause of neuropathy cannot be treated, the goal is to control the symptoms of neuropathy and improve your quality of life.
Ultimately, your treatment will be determined by the cause of the nerve damage, as well as the symptoms of the neuropathy you develop. The effective prognosis and treatment of peripheral neuropathy largely depends on the cause of nerve damage. Just as neuropathy (also called peripheral neuropathy) is not just a condition, nor is there a single treatment option that is best for all forms of this group of health problems. If neuropathy is caused by a treatable condition, managing the condition may cause the neuropathy to stop or prevent it from getting worse.
Talk to your doctor before trying these treatments if they might interfere with your ongoing treatment.