Today's post is written by Dr. Marc Spitz at footpaincenter.com (see link below). Dr. Spitz's work has been featured before on the blog and he always has simply explained and useful advice for neuropathy patients. Some of his suggestions are non-proven in the scientific sense but have had beneficial effects on many neuropathy patients but equally, no effect at all on others. It's very much a suck-it-and-see process until you find something that will work for you. Costs may also play a part unless your insurance is extensive so by no means dismiss alternative suggestions because neuropathy is one of those diseases that doesn't obey the rules and medication/treatment reactions are extremely varied. Whatever works for you is the key but be wary of passing on that advice as a certainty to others because the same may not apply to them.
Treating Neuropathy-the Natural Way
Dr. Marc Spitz December 3rd 2012
Some people call it pain while others call it discomfort-regardless how you describe it, neuropathy can be extremely difficult to live with. Neuropathy pain (also referred to as neuropathic pain) presents in many ways including pain, burning, numbness, cold sensation, “pins and needles” sensation or a tightness of the skin on the feet and toes.
One common approach to reducing neuropathic pain is the use of prescription drugs. This would include Neurontin (gabapentin), Lyrica (pregabalin) or Cymbalta (duloxetine). For extreme neuropathy pain, stronger medications such as codone (Oxycontin) or opiods.
Alternative remedies.
One of the goals in treating neuropathy is to attempt safer modalities with less side-effects. The following are alternative therapies in treating neuropathy:
Laser therapy-In treating neuropathy , cold laser is the laser of choice. The benefits of laser therapy include: Improved cell metabolism, improved circulation, analgesic effect (pain relief), and anti-inflammatory effect.
Infrared therapy-infrared uses light energy to promote certain beneficial effects. Infrared stimulates the production and release of nitric oxide-which can increased localized circulation to the nerves.
Although doctors don’t know exactly how it works, there is good scientific evidence that acupuncture can offer significant relief from chronic pain. Other alternative remedies proven to work against pain include massage, mindfulness meditation, spinal manipulation by a osteopath, and biofeedback, in which a patient wearing sensors that record various bodily processes learns to control the muscle tension and other processes that can contribute to chronic pain.
Exercise. Low-impact forms of exercise like Walking, bicycling, swimming, and simply stretching can help relieve chronic pain. Some people find it particularly helpful to participate in a structured exercise program given by a local hospital.
Physical therapy. Pain patients who work with a physical therapist or occupational therapist can learn to avoid the particular ways of moving that contribute to chronic pain.
Nerve stimulation. Tiny jolts of electricity can help block the nerve impulses that cause chronic pain. These jolts can be delivered through the skin via trancutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or via implantable devices.
Psychological Therapies
A form of psychotherapy known as cognitive behavioral therapy is particularly helpful for many people with chronic pain. It helps them find ways to cope with their discomfort and limit the extent to which pain interferes with daily life.
Unlike some traditional forms of psychotherapy, which focus on personal relationships and early life experiences, cognitive behavioral therapy aims to help people think realistically about their pain and find ways to work around physical limitations.
http://www.footpaincenter.com/blog/?p=252
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