Peripheral neuropathy occurs when you peripheral nervous system, which sends information from your brain and spinal cord to your arms and legs, is damaged. When this occurs in your feet, your lower extremities may not be getting the messages they need, like that they are cold or need to contract to move. People with peripheral neuropathy usually describe a tingling, burning or stabbing pain in their feet. Fortunately, in many cases there are treatment options for your peripheral neuropathy related symptoms to provide you some relief. Show REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT Causes of Peripheral NeuropathyIn America, the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes. This is because the condition can lead to nerve damage when it is not properly managed. Other causes of peripheral neuropathy include family medical history, obesity, high blood pressure, kidney disorders, chronic inflammation, injury, medication, infections and aging. Patients who have peripheral neuropathy are at risk of developing further complications, such as Charcot foot, if the lower extremities are not properly monitored or taken care of. Prevent further complications by scheduling an appointment with the board certified podiatrists at Certified Foot & Ankle Specialists to diagnose your condition, treat your symptoms and address the underlying cause of your nerve damage. Peripheral Neuropathy Treatments – Conservative OptionsFoot neuropathy treatment is aimed at relieving pain and restoring sensation to improve the patient’s function and quality of life. There is no cure for peripheral neuropathy but proper treatment will slow progression and address your symptoms. If the cause of the foot neuropathy is known, then treatment of the underlying cause may provide relief. Unfortunately, 33% of the time podiatrist do not know what causes the neuropathy and must treat only the symptoms. If your case is in the early stages, your podiatrist will first recommend conservative measures to decrease your pain. These includes managing diabetes better, pain medications, physical therapy, casting, acupuncture and message. For severe cases, or cases that aren’t responding to a conservative approach, surgery many be the next option.  Peripheral Neuropathy SurgeryIn many cases, there is found to be nerve entrapment related to the foot neuropathy, which is responsible for the pain or numbness. This is determined primarily by physical exam but can be confirmed, but not ruled out, with nerve conduction studies. In these cases, if the patient is a good surgical candidate, nerve surgery on the foot, or peripheral neuropathy surgery, may relieve pain and restore normal sensation. In peripheral neuropathy surgery, the nerves in the foot and leg are decompressed or freed of surrounding pressure which in turn results in less pain and improved sensation. Nerve surgeries on the foot are outpatient procedures and recovery is relatively quick. Success rates of this type of foot neuropathy treatment, using nerve surgery on the foot and leg, have been reported at 90% for relief of pain and 70% for return of normal sensation. PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHYThe surgeons at Certified Foot and Ankle Specialists are experts at providing treatment for foot peripheral neuropathy, either conservatively or with surgery if needed. Treatment may be more successful for certain underlying causes. For example, ensuring diabetes is well controlled may help improve neuropathy, or at least stop it getting worse. Treating the underlying causeThere are many different causes of peripheral neuropathy, some of which can be treated in different ways. For example:
Some less common types of peripheral neuropathy may be treated with medicines, such as:
But the underlying cause may not always be treatable. Relieving nerve painYou may also require medicine to treat any nerve pain (neuropathic pain) you're experiencing. Unlike most other types of pain, neuropathic pain does not usually get better with common painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, and other medicines are often used. These should usually be started at the minimum dose, with the dose gradually increased until you notice an effect. Higher doses may be better at managing the pain, but are also more likely to cause side effects. The most common side effects are tiredness, dizziness or feeling "drunk". If you get these, it may be necessary to reduce your dose. Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience drowsiness or blurred vision. You also may become more sensitive to the effects of alcohol. The side effects should improve after a week or two as your body gets used to the medicine. But if your side effects continue, tell a GP as it may be possible to change to a different medicine that suits you better. Even if the first medicine tried does not help, others may. Many of these medicines may also be used for treating other health conditions, such as depression, epilepsy, anxiety or headaches. If you're given an antidepressant, this may treat pain even if you're not depressed. This does not mean the doctor suspects you're depressed. The main medicines recommended for neuropathic pain include:
There are also some additional medicines that you can take to relieve pain in a specific area of your body or to relieve particularly severe pain for short periods. Capsaicin creamIf your pain is confined to a particular area of your body, you may benefit from using capsaicin cream. Capsaicin is the substance that makes chilli peppers hot and is thought to work in neuropathic pain by stopping the nerves sending pain messages to the brain. Rub a pea-sized amount of capsaicin cream on the painful area of skin 3 or 4 times a day. Side effects of capsaicin cream can include skin irritation and a burning sensation in the treated area at the start of treatment. Do not use capsaicin cream on broken or inflamed skin, and always wash your hands after applying it. TramadolTramadol is a powerful painkiller related to morphine that can be used to treat neuropathic pain that does not respond to other treatments a GP can prescribe. Like all opioids, tramadol can be addictive if it's taken for a long time. It'll usually only be prescribed for a short time. Tramadol can be useful to take at times when your pain is worse. Common side effects of tramadol include:
Treating other symptomsIn addition to treating pain, you may also require treatment to help you manage other symptoms. For example, if you have muscle weakness, you may need physiotherapy to learn exercises to improve your muscle strength. You may also need to wear splints to support weak ankles or use walking aids to help you get around. Other problems associated with peripheral neuropathy may be treatable with medicines. For example:
In some cases, you may need more invasive treatment, such as:
Alternative and complementary therapiesAs peripheral neuropathy can be a very painful and troublesome problem that may only partly be relieved by standard treatments, you may be tempted to try other therapies. These may include:
But while some people may find these helpful, the evidence for them is not always clear. Speak to a doctor before trying these treatments in case they could interfere with your ongoing treatment. Can foot neuropathy be cured?Usually a peripheral neuropathy can't be cured, but you can do a lot of things to prevent it from getting worse. If an underlying condition like diabetes is at fault, your healthcare provider will treat that first and then treat the pain and other symptoms of neuropathy.
What is the most effective treatment for neuropathy?The main medicines recommended for neuropathic pain include: amitriptyline – also used for treatment of headaches and depression. duloxetine – also used for treatment of bladder problems and depression. pregabalin and gabapentin – also used to treat epilepsy, headaches or anxiety.
What triggers neuropathy in your feet?Peripheral neuropathy can result from traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems, inherited causes and exposure to toxins. One of the most common causes is diabetes. People with peripheral neuropathy generally describe the pain as stabbing, burning or tingling.
What can I put on my feet for neuropathy?If you have neuropathy in the feet, the most common symptoms are numbness, tingling, and weakness in the affected area. You may also experience sharp pain, or a burning, throbbing, or stabbing pain.. NerveRenew cream.. MyoMed P.R.O.. Frankincense & Myrrh neuropathy rub.. |
How do you treat neuropathy in the feet
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