Burning pain. Numbness. Tingling sensations. Diabetic neuropathy can be a devastating companion for those with diabetes. But what happens if this condition is left...
What is Neuropathy?
There are over 100 known causes of neuropathy, and over 20 million Americans suffering from neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy is caused by damages to the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is what is sends messages to and from the spinal cord and brain, to the rest of the body. When the PNS suffers damage, it sends mixed signals to the central nervous system, causing the painful symptoms of neuropathy and disorientating your body.
If left untreated, neuropathy will progress. Often starting in the toes or fingers, and progressing to legs or arms.
Symptoms of Neuropathy
Common symptoms of neuropathy include:
- Loss of coordination
- Extreme sensitivity to touch
- Numbness and tingling
- Difficulty sleeping
- Ulcers and slow wound healing
- And so much more
Common Treatments for Neuropathy
Despite the devastation that neuropathy causes millions of America a year, there is no cure for neuropathy. In fact, most of the common treatments for neuropathy are designed to cover the symptoms of neuropathy, not to treat the affected nerves.
Medication
There are several types of medications that are commonly prescribed for neuropathy sufferers. But the difficult truth is there are no medications that slow down or reverse neuropathy. The medications that are prescribed for neuropathy are “off label, meaning most of the time these are actually anti-convulsants or antidepressants which only serve to reduce nerve pain as a secondary effect.
These drugs often produce horrible side effects too, including dizziness, drowsiness, addiction, reduced coordination, memory loss, anger and depression… even suicidal feelings.
Electrical Stimulation
A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or a TENS unit is a battery-operated device that is often recommended for neuropathy pain. The TENS unit numbs the affected areas for a temporary relief, instead of actually treating the affected nerve pathways.
Alternative Approaches
There are also alternative approaches to treating neuropathy symptoms. A few of those include:
- Acupuncture - A traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is the act of strategically placing long and thin needles in through your skin to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue.Though commonly used for pain relief acupuncture has not been proven to provide lasting relief.
- Topical painkillers - Increasingly popular, you can find topical painkillers in most drugstores. Usually they contain capsaicin, a painkiller derived from chili peppers. While they can provide temporary relief for the painful symptoms of neuropathy, they are not designed to reverse the symptoms of neuropathy.
- Massage - Massage therapy can be used to improve blood flow, relax muscles, and temporarily ease pain and discomfort.
Conclusion
While the American healthcare system is great at treating acute conditions like a broken bone or an asthma attack, they are not well equipped for treating chronic illness like neuropathy. Instead of treating neuropathy, the common medications and treatments recommended are designed to cover the symptoms.
At Momentum Health Neuropathy Center, we believe you deserve long-lasting freedom from neuropathy symptoms. And because my team has seen case after case of victory, healing, and changed lives - we’re thrilled to be in your corner to see you succeed as well.
Stop covering your symptoms and start rebuilding your nerves.
Call my team of experts today and start getting back to you!
