Thank you for writing. I'm sorry you're in so much pain - nobody should have to live with that kind of pain. What have your doctors said so far? What treatments have you had?
Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the peripheral nerves. These are the nerves that connect your spinal cord to the rest of your body.
Treating the underlying illness can decrease or eliminate symptoms. For instance, if it is caused by diabetes, controlling blood sugar levels may help. In some cases, neuropathy caused by medications or toxins is completely reversed when these substances are stopped or avoided. Correction of vitamin B12 deficiency often improves symptoms.
Physical Therapy
Certain exercises may help stretch shortened or contracted muscles and increase joint flexibility. In long-standing cases, splinting the joint may be required to protect and rest it, while maintaining proper alignment.
Orthotics (supports and braces) may help with:
Deformities
Balance issues
Muscle weakness
Maintaining physical activity is also key.
Medications
Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications are often used to ease discomfort.
Drugs to treat depression and prevent convulsions sometimes relieve neuropathy symptoms. These medications are often given at lower dosages. Commonly used antidepressants include:
Amitriptyline (Elavil)
Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
Desipramine (Norpramin)
Imipramine (Tofranil)
Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
Commonly used anticonvulsants may include:
Gabapentin (Neurontin)
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), patients of Asian ancestry who have a certain gene, called HLA-B*1502, and take carbamazepine are at risk for dangerous or even fatal skin reactions. If you are of Asian descent, the FDA recommends that you get tested for this gene before taking carbamazepine. If you have been taking this medication for a few months with no skin reactions, then you are at low risk of developing these reactions. Talk to your doctor before stopping this medication. *
Pregabalin (Lyrica)—recently approved for peripheral neuropathy
For severe and potentially life-threatening cases (such as Guillain-Barre syndrome ), treatment includes:
Steroids (such as prednisone )
Intravenous immunoglobulins
Other Therapies
These therapies are aimed at reducing symptoms and may include:
Relaxation training
Biofeedback
Walking
Exercise
Yoga
Warm baths
Massage
Acupuncture
Transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation
Surgery
Surgery can relieve the pressure on nerves. For example, surgeons commonly release fibrous bands in the wrist to treat carpal tunnel syndrome .
Comment Reply
Hello Anon
Thank you for writing. I'm sorry you're in so much pain - nobody should have to live with that kind of pain. What have your doctors said so far? What treatments have you had?
Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the peripheral nerves. These are the nerves that connect your spinal cord to the rest of your body.
Treating the underlying illness can decrease or eliminate symptoms. For instance, if it is caused by diabetes, controlling blood sugar levels may help. In some cases, neuropathy caused by medications or toxins is completely reversed when these substances are stopped or avoided. Correction of vitamin B12 deficiency often improves symptoms.
Physical Therapy
Certain exercises may help stretch shortened or contracted muscles and increase joint flexibility. In long-standing cases, splinting the joint may be required to protect and rest it, while maintaining proper alignment.
Orthotics (supports and braces) may help with:
Deformities
Balance issues
Muscle weakness
Maintaining physical activity is also key.
Medications
Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications are often used to ease discomfort.
Drugs to treat depression and prevent convulsions sometimes relieve neuropathy symptoms. These medications are often given at lower dosages. Commonly used antidepressants include:
Amitriptyline (Elavil)
Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
Desipramine (Norpramin)
Imipramine (Tofranil)
Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
Commonly used anticonvulsants may include:
Gabapentin (Neurontin)
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), patients of Asian ancestry who have a certain gene, called HLA-B*1502, and take carbamazepine are at risk for dangerous or even fatal skin reactions. If you are of Asian descent, the FDA recommends that you get tested for this gene before taking carbamazepine. If you have been taking this medication for a few months with no skin reactions, then you are at low risk of developing these reactions. Talk to your doctor before stopping this medication. *
Pregabalin (Lyrica)—recently approved for peripheral neuropathy
For severe and potentially life-threatening cases (such as Guillain-Barre syndrome ), treatment includes:
Steroids (such as prednisone )
Intravenous immunoglobulins
Other Therapies
These therapies are aimed at reducing symptoms and may include:
Relaxation training
Biofeedback
Walking
Exercise
Yoga
Warm baths
Massage
Acupuncture
Transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation
Surgery
Surgery can relieve the pressure on nerves. For example, surgeons commonly release fibrous bands in the wrist to treat carpal tunnel syndrome .
Anon, what is the root cause of your neuropathy?
Best,
December 13, 2017 - 2:23pmSusan
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