Do you have weakness, numbness, or a tingling sensation in your hands or feet? This could be caused by nerve damage, which is also known as neuropathy. Neuropathy can lead to a variety of symptoms, depending on the type of nerves damaged.
Damage to your peripheral nervous system creates peripheral neuropathy, which causes symptoms such as: ankle/foot pain, inflammation in joints, numbness and pain in the extremities, or even an inability to sleep. This can be caused by a variety of conditions or external influences, such as diabetes mellitus or injury. Coping with peripheral neuropathy can seriously affect your daily life, however there are natural treatments that can help manage or reduce the pain and discomfort associated with peripheral neuropathy.
- Exercise - Regularly exercising promotes several health benefits, such as lowered blood sugar, improved muscle tone, and it reduces pressure on the peripheral blood vessels. This can help those at risk or who are currently suffering from neuropathy.
Diet - A few cases of neuropathy can be linked to vitamin deficiencies. You can supplement certain vitamins in your diet to improve your nerve health, such as vitamin B. Vitamin B-12 can improve the protective coating on your nerves. Vitamins B-6 and B-1 can also improve nerve health and ease the pain felt from neuropathy.
You can also change the way you eat. Eating antioxidant-rich foods and foods high in fiber can help reduce inflammation and supply the body with the rich nutrients it needs. You can also limit sodium, saturated/trans fats, and alcohol to maximize the benefits of a healthy diet.
- Meditation - Anything that can help your mind and body relax, thereby reducing stress, can help manage neuropathic pain. There are many noninvasive meditation techniques that can help you cope with stress and pain: yoga, tai chi, and stretching.
- Quit Smoking - Smoking negatively affects blood circulation. This can increase numbness and pain due to your blood vessels narrowing from a lack of oxygenated blood. It can even further damage done to the peripheral nerves due to the narrowed blood vessels. Quitting smoking can improve blood flow and overall health.
- Alternative Medicine - There are a few options, such as acupuncture and chiropractic treatments, that some have found success with in managing their neuropathy. However, it should be noted not much research has been conducted in how alternative medicines impact neuropathy. It is recommended these treatments are discussed with a doctor first and done in conjunction with a more traditional treatment.
While this list highlights lifestyle changes you can make today, there are other all-natural, noninvasive treatment options you may discuss with a doctor. Regenerative medicine is a medical treatment shown to relieve neuropathic pain, and potentially heal damaged tissues.
There is another treatment, platelet-rich plasma injections, that has also shown promise in managing neuropathy. If you are interested in learning more about these treatment options, you may contact our office at (214)221-2525 for a free consultation.