Regular exercise, such as walking three times a week, can reduce the pain of neuropathy, improve muscle strength, and help control blood sugar levels. Gentle routines such as yoga and tai chi can also help. Walk, exercise releases natural pain relievers called endorphins. Exercise also promotes blood flow to the nerves in the legs and feet.
Researchers believe that regular exercise can create a lasting expansion of the blood vessels in the feet, nourishing damaged nerves to return to health. Start with a daily walk, gradually increasing the pace and distance. The most important treatment for neuropathy in the feet is to stop nerve damage. There are several different treatment options for peripheral neuropathy.
However, the most common and effective treatment is the use of anticonvulsant drugs such as gabapentin and pregabalin. Another effective treatment is the use of certain tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, doxepin, duloxetine, and nortriptyline. These medications help relieve neuropathic pain by interfering with the chemical processes in the brain and spinal cord that cause pain. Soaking your feet in warm water is a great way to relieve pain and stress while promoting healthy blood flow.
If your feet are swollen, soaking your feet in cold water can help reduce swelling. You can enhance a warm foot bath with Epsom salts, herbs and essential oils, which can also stimulate relaxation of the muscles of the feet. You can soak your feet at home in the bathtub or invest in a foot spa at home so you can enjoy regular baths. Some foot spas even come with massagers that can also stimulate blood flow and relieve foot pain.
Treatment of peripheral neuropathy depends on the cause. Some common treatments include physical therapy, surgery, and injections to increase nerve pressure. Other treatments focus on reducing pain and discomfort with over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or aspirin. If your case is in the early stages, your podiatrist will first recommend conservative measures to reduce pain.
This includes better diabetes management, pain medication, physical therapy, gypsum, acupuncture, and message. For severe cases or cases that do not respond to a conservative approach, surgery may be the next option.
