If you have ever experienced consistent numbness or weakness in your hands or feet, then you may be suffering from peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage to the peripheral nerves in your brain and spinal cord.
These nerves are responsible for sending sensory information from your central nervous system to the rest of your body. Damage can result from preexisting conditions, such as diabetes, or injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. When these nerves are damaged, the effects can be felt in various ways.
Symptoms can range from numbness or a tingling feeling in the extremities (typically hands and feet) to full blown pain. Often this pain is treated via harsh medicines, or over-the-counter painkillers. Many wish to avoid dependence on these medications to find relief and will look for all-natural solutions to this pain. Here are a few things you can start doing today to relieve pain caused by peripheral neuropathy.
Switch Up Your Diet - The way you eat has a serious effect on your body. You want to provide your body with nutrient-rich foods to best take care of it. In the case of peripheral neuropathy, you can increase your intake of high-fiber foods and foods with plenty of antioxidants.
Adding to this, you can supplement your diet with various vitamins that promote nerve health. B-vitamins, such as B-1, B-6, and B-12, have been linked to positive effects on nerve health.
Exercise - In addition to changing up your diet, you can include regular exercise in your routine as well. Stimulating your body through movement has a positive effect on overall health by increasing blood flow and reducing blood-sugar levels. This helps relieve pressure on the peripheral nerves, which can alleviate pain.
You don’t have to overexert yourself to find positive effects on your nerve health. Lower impact exercises, such as yoga or tai chi, are also helpful to manage pain. These forms of exercise combine gentle movement with meditation, reducing stress. This helps relieve and cope with pain.
- Quit Smoking - Smoking negatively affects blood circulation. This can result in narrowed blood vessels, which exacerbate the pain from peripheral neuropathy. If you quit smoking, it can restore blood circulation, mitigating neuropathic pains. You can also limit alcohol intake, as excessive alcohol has shown to have negative effects on peripheral neuropathy.
Warm Baths - Warm baths can improve and increase blood circulation. This is good for neuropathic pains as it reduces pressure in the peripheral nerves. If your sensory nerves have also been affected, be mindful of the temperature of the water. You do not want the bath water to be too hot.
These are all management techniques you can start today to relieve neuropathic pains. However, there are other all-natural, noninvasive treatments available for incessant neuropathic pain that is negatively impacting your daily life.
Regenerative medicine and platelet-rich plasma injections are two forms of all-natural treatments that have shown to help manage neuropathic pain, with the potential to heal damaged tissue as well. If you are interested in learning more about these treatments, and live in the San Antonio, New Braunfels, or Boerne areas, please contact San Antonio Integrated Healthcare at (210)341-5591 for a free consultation.