Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathy

Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathy

The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can be treated and in some instances the neuropathy can be cured. Your physician will need to do tests to determine the cause of your neuropathy. Whatever has caused the damage to your peripheral nervous systems needs to be treated to prevent further damage and to hopefully lessen your current symptoms.

In addition to addressing the underlying problem (which may be diabetes, toxins, medication, etc), your physician can try different medical solutions for addressing your symptoms. Depending on what your symptoms are, these solutions could include anti-depressants, seizure medication, pain relievers or a lidocaine patch. It may seem strange to be given a medication such as an anti-depressant as a treatment of peripheral neuropathy, but many drugs have been found to help with more than one type of problem. Be sure to take into account when you are considering medication whether the side effects are worse than the actual symptoms of the peripheral neuropathy and check into whether or not you are just treating the symptoms, and the damage continues to grow.

While medication is often what first comes to mind, other avenues of treatment are being explored and having very successful results. One such avenue is using vitamins and nutritional supplements to help ease your symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Others avenues of treatment include anodyne therapy (which increases circulation and decreases pain), stretching and strengthening exercises, balance exercises, microsurgery, and massage.

When you and your physician are discussing treatments, be sure to inquire about the alternatives of of vitamins, nutritonal supplements, surgery, and types of physical therapy which could be as affective or possibly more affective than strong medications. This is your health and quality of life being discussed. Don't leave any stone unturned in your search for relief.

Untreated Peripheral Neuropathy

If left untreated, peripheral neuropathy can evolve from a tingling in your appendages to complete numbness and burning pain. The pain can become so debilitating that you will not be able to sleep well and you could potentially become unable to walk or otherwise function. Ignoring the pain can lead to further and irreversible nerve damage. Quick action can result in you living the way you chose not the way the damage dictates.