Peripheral neuropathy is a nerve disorder that plagues nearly 25-30% of Americans. Peripheral neuropathy is the result of damage to the peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. These nerves are responsible for sending communication signals between your brain and the rest of your body. Damage to the peripheral nerves disrupts these signals leading to symptoms of nerve damage often in the hands and feet (though it can affect other parts of the body as well). Common symptoms of nerve damage are weakness, numbness, tingling, and pain in the affected body parts.
Peripheral neuropathy can be caused due to traumatic injuries, exposure to toxins, inherited diseases, and most commonly, diabetes. Most people with nerve damage describe symptoms that feel like a stabbing, burning pain or tingling. Though there is no cure for neuropathy, most symptoms can be managed by treating underlying causes and by using medications and supplements.
What Is the Fastest Way To Cure Peripheral Neuropathy?
Prevention
Currently, there is no cure for neuropathy but there are treatment options available to manage neuropathy symptoms. Prevention is the best way to avoid neuropathy altogether. Managing health conditions that put you at risk for neuropathy (such as diabetes, alcoholism, or rheumatoid arthritis) can help prevent neuropathy from developing. Your lifestyle choices may also play a role in prevention of peripheral nerve damage. Avoiding alcohol, participating in regular exercise, and eating a diet rich in nutrients will help to maintain healthy nerve cell function.
Treatment
Treating peripheral neuropathy most often consists of medications and therapies. If no underlying cause of neuropathy is identified, treatment is aimed at managing symptoms.
Medications
● Pain relievers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken for mild pain symptoms while more severe pain may be treated with prescription painkillers. However, medications like oxycodone and tramadol should be prescribed with care as they can lead to dependency issues.
● Antidepressants are frequently prescribed for their ability to disrupt the chemical processes in your brain and spinal cord that cause you to feel pain. Common antidepressants prescribed for neuropathy include amitriptyline, doxepin, and nortriptyline. Other antidepressant medications such as Cymbalta, Effexor XR, and Pristiq increase the feel-good hormones serotonin and norepinephrine, which can help to ease pain in patients with diabetic neuropathy. Common side effects of antidepressants include weight gain, nausea, constipation, drowsiness, dizziness, and dry mouth.
● Anti-seizure medications such as gabapentin and pregabalin originally developed to treat epilepsy have been shown to improve neuropathy symptoms. Side effects of these medications can be drowsiness and dizziness.
● Topical creams like capsaicin cream may provide some relief for those suffering with peripheral neuropathy. Capsaicin cream contains a substance found in hot peppers, which may be too harsh on some people’s skin. Side effects of capsaicin cream include light burning and slight skin irritation. Lidocaine patches are another topical treatment used for treating neuropathy symptoms. Side effects of lidocaine may include dizziness, drowsiness, and numbness at the site of the patch.
Therapies
● Physical therapy can help patients who suffer from muscle weakness. Physical therapy may help improve movement inhibited by neuropathy symptoms.
● Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) involves placing electrodes on the skin to deliver a light electric current at varying frequencies to relieve pain. TENS treatment is recommended to be applied for 30 minutes daily over the course of a month.
● Surgery may be recommended to relieve pain from neuropathy caused by pressure on nerves. Neuropathy caused by nerve pressure imposed by tumors, for example, may be relieved with surgery to remove the tumor.
● Plasma exchange and intravenous immune globulin is a procedure that involves removing blood from your body to remove antibodies and proteins, then returning the blood back into your body. This procedure may benefit people with inflammatory conditions by suppressing immune system activity.
Alternative Treatments for Neuropathy
The medications and therapies currently used for treating neuropathy have been proven to be effective, yet they come at a cost. Prolonged use of certain medications comes with side effects as well as the possibility of dependency. Therapies, while useful, are often costly. The need for alternative treatment has led to more research on the role of nutrition in treating and preventing neuropathy. Specific vitamins, minerals, and herbs have shown promise in managing pain symptoms in patients with neuropathy. Taken in supplement form, these nutrients may prove to be an alternative treatment without the consequence of harmful side effects:
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant that fights free radicals and protects nerve cells against damage caused by oxidative stress. Studies have shown that ALA can reduce pain and the stabbing-like feeling in diabetics with neuropathy. In the study, patients given 600 mg of ALA administered orally in supplement form showed the most symptom improvement. However, even at 300 mg, ALA increased blood flow and reduced overall inflammation in the body.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC)
Acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) is an amino acid found in nearly every cell in the body. It’s necessary for bodily functions such as turning fat into energy and stimulating the central nervous system. ALC has been shown to improve painful symptoms of neuropathy by improving nerve fiber regeneration and vibration perception in diabetic neuropathy.
B-Vitamins
B vitamins, specifically vitamin B1, B2, and B12 are necessary for a healthy functioning nervous system. Deficiency in B vitamins can disrupt the nervous system, resulting in neuropathy. Treating neuropathy with B vitamin supplementation can reduce painful symptoms, especially the “pins and needles” like sensation.
Herbal Remedies
Certain plant herbs and spices like moringa oleifera, feverfew herb, Chinese skullcap, and curcumin have proven useful in managing neuropathy symptoms. Many of these ingredients provide natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties that protect nerve cells and their surrounding tissues.
Neurazenx
Neurazenx is an all-in-one natural supplement specifically formulated to treat patients suffering from nerve pain. The formula contains 19 natural and effective ingredients that are scientifically backed to provide the most relief from neuropathic symptoms. Neurazenx was created by pharmacist Devan Patel, and a team of seasoned physicians and nutritionists to serve as a safe alternative treatment to medications with harmful side effects. The daily capsule supplement provides the optimum nutrition your nerve cells need to maintain healthy functionality.
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Certain lifestyle choices can help to both prevent and manage neuropathy symptoms. Follow these guidelines to ease painful symptoms:
● Quit Smoking. Smoking cigarettes can affect blood circulation which can increase the risk of numbness in the feet and other neuropathy symptoms.
● Exercise. A regular exercise routine will help to reduce neuropathy pain, control blood sugar levels, and improve muscle strength. For best results, aim to exercise at least 3 times a week.
● Take care of your feet. Numbness in the feet caused by neuropathy can make you more at risk for untreated cuts or injury. Check your feet often for blisters, cuts, or calluses, especially if you have diabetes. Consider wearing soft socks and padded shoes to prevent accidental injuries.
● Avoid Alcohol. Alcohol dependency can worsen peripheral neuropathy by depleting your body of necessary nutrients needed for proper nerve function. The dietary guidelines for alcohol amount to no more than 2 drinks daily for men and no more than 1 drink daily for women.
● Eat healthy. A balanced diet full of fruits, veggies, and healthy fats will ensure you get the proper nutrition to support your nerve cells. Supplementing with dietary supplements can help you meet your nutrition needs.
● Monitor your blood sugar. If you are a diabetic, it is important to monitor your glucose levels to prevent further damage to nerve cells.
The Takeaway
Peripheral neuropathy is a common nerve function disorder that has many, though is most common in patients with diabetes. Treating neuropathy involves prevention, medicine, therapies, lifestyle choices, and alternative treatments in the form of dietary supplements. The link between nutrition and neuropathy shows us that essential nutrients are necessary for healthy nerve cell function. A deficiency in these vitamins and minerals can both cause neuropathy and make symptoms worse. Supplements, like Neurazenx, that are scientifically formulated to treat neuropathy can provide safe, effective relief. By practicing healthy lifestyle habits in combination with adequate nutrition and supplementation, you can relieve your neuropathy symptoms and live more comfortably.