What is Neuropathy?
There are over 100 known causes of neuropathy, and over 20 million Americans suffering from neuropathy.
What is Neuropathy?
There are over 100 known causes of neuropathy, and over 20 million Americans suffering from neuropathy. Neuropathy is a chronic condition causing nerve damage leaving people to live with chronic discomfort and pain. It feels like chronic numbness, tingling, burning pain , electric-shocks, especially in the feet and hands.
Peripheral neuropathy is caused by damages to the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is what 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.
What causes neuropathy to get worse?
Just as there are 100s of causes of neuropathy, there are many lifestyle factors that can cause your neuropathy symptoms to worsen. Let's discuss a few of the more common factors.
Poor Nutrition
There are foods that can increase inflammation within your body. When inflammation is increased, your neuropathy symptoms can become more intense and more difficult to endure. Think of it this way, if your body is too busy fighting off and regulating the inflammation that you consumed, your body has no chance to start healing the nerves that are causing your neuropathy symptoms. You can learn more about what foods to avoid in my blog post "5 Foods to Avoid with Neuropathy".
Stress
Stress is a normal part of life, you feel it at work, when you are managing your finances, and even during your daily commute. While a little bit of stress is normal and healthy, chronic stress has been shown to lead to inflammation.
To learn more about the impact of stress on your health and to learn healthy stress management techniques, check out my blog.
Medication
DIPN, or Drug-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy is one of the leading causes of lasting nerve damage. The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy lists the following as some of the more common drugs that can cause neuropathy:
- Anti-alcohol drugs (Disulfiram)
- Anticonvulsants: Phenytoin (Dilantin®)
- Cancer medications (Cisplatin)
- Vincristine
- Heart or blood pressure medications (Amiodarone)
- Hydralazine
- Perhexiline
- Infection fighting drugs (Metronidazole, Flagyl®, Fluoroquinolones: Cipro®, Levaquin®)
- Nitrofurantoin
- Thalidomide
- INH (Isoniazid)
- Skin condition treatment drugs (Dapsone)
Note this is not a recommendation to stop or lessen medication without the guidance of your primary doctor.
Conclusion
While making key lifestyle changes can improve your neuropathy and stop the progression, it may not be enough to give you the relief that you deserve.
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'd love to be in your corner and help you succeed as well.
Call my team of experts today and start getting back to you!
