Treatment for peripheral neuropathy
Treatment for peripheral neuropathy is always challenging. In this article, we’ll discuss different approaches to treatment and their pros and cons.
Medicines used for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy
Besides medications utilized to treat problems associated with peripheral neuropathy, drugs used to relieve peripheral neuropathy symptoms and signs consist of:
Painkillers.
Over-the-counter pain drugs, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, can eliminate light signs and symptoms. For more severe signs and symptoms, your physician might suggest painkillers.
Medications containing opioids, such as tramadol (Conzip, Ultram) or oxycodone (Oxycontin, Roxicodone, others), can bring about dependence, so these medicines are usually recommended only when other therapies stop working.
Anti-seizure medications.
Medicines such as gabapentin (Gralise, Neurontin, and Horizant) and pregabalin (Lyrica), developed to treat epilepsy, might soothe nerve discomfort. Adverse effects can include sleepiness and dizziness.
Topical therapies. Capsaicin cream contains a compound found in hot peppers and can trigger moderate renovations in outward signs and symptoms. When using the lotion, you may experience skin burning and irritation, which usually diminishes over time. Some individuals, however, can’t endure it.
Lidocaine patches are another treatment you apply to your skin that could relieve discomfort. Side effects can include drowsiness, wooziness, and tingling at the spot’s website.
Antidepressants.
Specific tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, doxepin (Silenor, Zonalon), and nortriptyline (Pamelor), have been found to assist in eliminating discomfort by disrupting chemical procedures in your mind and spinal cord that create pain.
Duloxetine (Cymbalta), which blocks the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, and venlafaxine (Effexor XR), which is an extended-release antidepressant, may also help ease the pain of peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes mellitus.
Side effects of antidepressants may include dry mouth, nausea or vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, reduced appetite, and irregularity.
Therapies used for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy
Different medicines and procedures could assist in easing the symptoms and signs of outer neuropathy.
Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (10S).
Electrodes positioned on the skin supply a mild electrical presence at differing frequencies. TENS should be obtained for 30 minutes daily for about a month.
Plasma exchange and also intravenous immune globulin.
These treatments, which help subdue the body’s immune system tasks, could benefit people with some inflammatory issues. Plasma exchange entails removing your blood and, after that, removing antibodies and various other healthy proteins from the blood and returning the blood to your body. In immune globulin therapy, you obtain high levels of proteins that work as antibodies (immunoglobulins).
The physical treatment used for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy
If you have muscular tissue weakness, physical therapy can enhance your motions. You might additionally need hand or foot dental braces, a walking cane, a walker, or a wheelchair.
Surgery. If you have neuropathies brought on by stress on nerves, such as pressure from tumors, you may require surgical treatment to reduce the stress.
Effectiveness of pharmaceutical drugs for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy
A current research study discovered that the four most commonly prescribed medicines for peripheral neuropathy aided a minimal number of individuals and had high discontinuation prices due to unfavorable adverse effects. The research, released in JAMA Neurology in August, randomized 402 people with peripheral neuropathy of unknown reason (cryptogenic sensory polyneuropathy) into four treatment groups and followed them for 12 weeks. Some of the drugs that were looked at were nortriptyline (Aventyl), a tricyclic antidepressant; duloxetine (Cymbalta), an SNRI antidepressant; pregabalin (Lyrica), an anti-seizure drug; and mexiletine (Mexitil), a drug used to treat irregular heartbeats that is also sometimes used for peripheral neuropathy without a prescription.
Efficiency was defined as minimizing discomfort by 50% or more. The best-performing medication was nortriptyline, which met the performance criteria for only 25% of patients. Efficiency and discontinuation prices for the four drugs were as follows:
Drug | Effectiveness Rate | Dropout Rate |
Nortriptyline | 25.4% | 38.1% |
Duloxetine | 23.0% | 37.3% |
Pregabalin | 15.1% | 42.5% |
Mexiletine | 20.3% | 58.0% |
The researchers concluded, “While there were no superior drugs, nortriptyline, and duloxetine outperformed pregabalin and mexiletine when pain reduction and undesirable side effects were combined into a single endpoint.”
Conventional medicine has little to offer for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy.
Conventional treatment aims to manage the condition causing peripheral neuropathy and relieve symptoms. If laboratory tests do not indicate any underlying condition, your doctor might recommend a watchful wait to see if your peripheral neuropathy improves. These dismal results are the best that conventional medicine offers neuropathic patients. When the pharmaceutical toolkit runs out, traditional doctors have no answers.
Even placebos work better as a treatment for peripheral neuropathy than these drugs while causing no side effects.
What is peripheral neuropathy?
If there is trauma to your nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, you can suffer from peripheral neuropathy. The peripheral nervous system relays information from your spinal cord and brain to your central nervous system. It can lead to pain, numbness, and weakness, typically in your feet and hands. This condition can also affect other parts of your body.
Pain from peripheral neuropathy is generally described as a tingling, burning, or stabbing sensation. This condition can result from exposure to toxins, inherited causes, metabolic problems, infections, and traumatic injuries. Diabetes is also one of the most common issues. With effective treatment, symptoms can show drastic improvement.
Natural treatment for neuropathy can be very effective for a holistic approach. Various natural remedies can mitigate the symptoms.
Peripheral neuropathy has lots of prospective causes. Besides a physical examination, which may consist of blood examinations, a diagnosis generally requires:
How is peripheral neuropathy diagnosed?
A complete medical history. Your doctor will certainly examine your medical history, including your symptoms, your way of living, exposure to contaminants, alcohol consumption routines, and also a family history of nervous (neurological) illness.
Neurological exam. Your doctor could examine your tendon reflexes, muscular tissue toughness, tone, capacity to feel certain sensations, and stance and control.
Tests
Your medical professional might order examinations consisting of the following:
Blood work.
These can detect vitamin deficiencies, diabetes mellitus, uncommon immune function, and other indications of conditions that can cause outer neuropathy.
Imaging examinations.
CT or MRI scans can try to find herniated disks, tumors, or various other problems.
Nerve feature examinations.
Electromyography (EMG) documents electrical activity in your muscles to spot nerve damage. A thin needle (electrode) is inserted into the muscular tissue to measure electrical activity as you contract it.
Your doctor or an EMG technician usually performs a nerve conduction study at the same time as an electromyogram. Level electrodes are placed on the skin, and a low electric current stimulates the nerves. Your medical professional will tape-record your nerves’ feedback to the electric current.
Various other nerve feature examinations.
These may include a free reflex screen that videotapes precisely how the free nerve fibers work, a sweat test that gauges your body’s capacity to sweat, and sensory examinations that tape-record how you feel touch, resonance, cooling, and warmth.
Nerve biopsy. This involves removing a small portion of a nerve, typically a sensory nerve, to try to find irregularities.
Skin biopsy.
Your doctor removes a small portion of the skin to search for decreased nerve endings.
Causes of peripheral neuropathy
There is no single factor, and various conditions lead to peripheral neuropathy, such as
- Diabetes: It’s one of the most common causes of neuropathy. Almost half of the diabetes patients develop some neuropathy. Natural remedies offer a holistic and gentle treatment for neuropathy in diabetes patients.
- Autoimmune Diseases: These include vasculitis, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Sjogren’s syndrome.
- Infections: viral or bacterial infections like HIV, diphtheria, leprosy, hepatitis B and C, Epstein-Barr virus, shingles, and Lyme disease.
- Bone marrow disorders such as myeloma, amyloidosis, lymphoma, and monoclonal gammopathies can also lead to this condition.
- Tumors: cancerous and non-cancerous tumors can develop on the nerves and press the nerves.
- Inherited disorders: Conditions like Charcot-Marie-Tooth are hereditary forms of neuropathy.
Diabetes tops the list of causes of peripheral neuropathy.
Diabetes is one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy. Diabetes can trigger chronic peripheral neuropathy. High blood sugar levels can harm nerves, primarily in the feet. This is why peripheral neuropathy regularly happens in people whose blood glucose is not controlled more than those who preserve reduced blood glucose degrees. Diabetic neuropathy due to unchecked blood sugar levels can cause irreparable damage to the nerves. When diabetic issues are under control, the amount of sugar in the blood continues to be safe, thus decreasing the danger of prospective nerve damage.
One of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy is a lack of vitamin B12.
A vitamin B12 shortage can damage the entire body, leading to lightheadedness, general weakness or absence of energy, shortness of breath, muscle pains, and heart palpitations. It takes second place on the list of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy. A lack of vitamin B12 can additionally cause peripheral neuropathy. The protective layer around the nerves, the myelin sheath, is swiftly harmed when there is insufficient B12. Without this layer of protection, the nerves might stop operating correctly, leading to peripheral neuropathy.
Radiation treatment
When talking about the causes of peripheral neuropathy, radiation therapy takes a special place. Professionals break down neuropathy into two classifications: mononeuropathy and polyneuropathy. The previous affects only one nerve, while the latter affects numerous nerves simultaneously. The results of chemotherapy can harm many nerves throughout the body; radiation treatment can have a similar effect. Fortunately, innumerable clients recoup a few of the damages related to chemotherapy-induced outer neuropathy after the treatments are complete.
Toxic substances, such as heavy metals, may become a cause of peripheral neuropathy.
In some cases, contaminants or poisonous substances, such as pesticides and chemicals, can top the list of causes of peripheral neuropathy, especially when a person is exposed to the more prominent qualities of these chemicals via a ranch job, for example. Direct exposure to chemicals in the work environment, specifically over a long period of time, can trigger nerve damage. Common perpetrators include mercury, lead, thallium, and arsenic. Recreational medications, including specific chemicals, can additionally create neuropathy.
Cancer is another common cause of peripheral neuropathy.
Some cancer cells can lead to peripheral neuropathy, specifically cancers that impact the nervous system. Lumps that expand in or near the brain or spine, especially, can bring about nerve damage. However, any cancer that causes the growth of tumors can bring about neuropathy if, as the development grows, it continues the nerves.
Injuries: mechanical cause of peripheral neuropathy.
After diabetic issues, an injury is the next most common root cause of peripheral neuropathy. When injury harms a muscle or cells, the surrounding tissues start to swell, damaging the nerves; similarly, broken sides or fragments can quickly spoil the nerves when a bone breaks. This is why seeing a doctor as soon as possible is vital when dealing with an injury. Walking around on a neglected, busted ankle joint will raise the danger of peripheral neuropathy.
Infection is a bacterial cause of peripheral neuropathy.
Some infections can directly cause peripheral neuropathy. Those that produce substantial inflammatory feedback are the leading causes of inflammatory neuropathy. In this situation, as the immune system strives to recover the body, it might erroneously assault the nerves and the nervous system, too. Problematic infections include Lyme disease, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and tiles. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy typically improve once the disease is under control or removed. Nevertheless, some signs of peripheral neuropathy might continue long-term in more severe cases.
Kidney Disease
One more possible cause of peripheral neuropathy is kidney condition, which is established when the kidneys cannot eliminate waste from the body. Consequently, waste and excess liquids build up, and when the kidneys stop working, an imbalance of chemicals damages nerves, and the salts in the body can cause peripheral neuropathy.
Inflammatory Diseases
Inflammatory illnesses such as sarcoidosis and gastric conditions can lead to peripheral neuropathy. Lots of physicians consider neuropathy a very early indication of a Celiac condition. This autoimmune-inflammatory condition triggers damage to the little projections called villi that line the intestines. When an individual with this condition continues to eat foods with gluten, the villi start to shorten and squash, triggering many illnesses, including neuropathy.
Idiopathic
Idiopathic outer neuropathy is a type of neuropathy for which the cause is unknown. In today’s age of scientific screening and development, this is rare. People with this type of neuropathy can undergo the same treatments as those for whom a reason has been identified. However, more trial and error might be essential to finding the most proper treatment.
Most Typical Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy
If you have experienced tingling, pins, needles, or acute pains in your feet or hands, you have likely experienced peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy does not describe a particular condition but nerve damage that several points might cause.
The most common peripheral neuropathy symptoms are:
- Paralysis if motor nerves are affected
- The sensation of wearing socks and gloves even when you’re not
- Muscle weakness
- Lack of coordination
- Pain while performing activities that generally shouldn’t cause pain
- Extreme sensitivity to touch
- Burning, throbbing, jabbing, or sharp pain
- The gradual development of tingling, prickling, or numbness in your hands or feet can spread to your arms and legs.
Several things can cause damage to the nerves. If peripheral neuropathy is not treated, it can intensify into a factor that hinders an individual’s lifestyle. Also, as a result, peripheral neuropathy symptoms will undoubtedly vary from one person to another. The good news is that several lifestyle adjustments can be made to reverse or decrease the progression of the signs and symptoms triggered by nerve damage.
To detect peripheral neuropathy early, it is crucial to understand several of its most common signs and symptoms. Here are eight of the most typical signs.
1. Discomfort: common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
The discomfort experienced from peripheral neuropathy is generally particular. This discomfort is frequently called pain, burning, or stabbing. No matter how it feels, this discomfort is tough to overlook. Discomfort from peripheral neuropathy occurs because the fibers of the nerves have been damaged. These damaged fibers send messy or wrong signals to the body’s different pain facilities.
The pain happens in various body locations based on the kind of neuropathy created. For people who have diabetes mellitus, neuropathy will indeed most often show up in the feet first. Neuropathy caused by an injury or some trauma will undoubtedly happen where the injury occurred. One example is discomfort in the wrist and arm triggered by a repetitive strain injury. If you experience this discomfort, discussing it with your doctor to identify the underlying reason is necessary.
2. Feeling numb and tingling is #1 among the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
Numbness is one of the most common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. When the sensory nerves have been damaged due to peripheral neuropathy, prickling or a sensation of pins and needles is relatively standard. Feeling numb will usually happen in the feet initially and then work its way up via the rest of the body. For example, an individual might initially experience tingling in their feet, and afterward, this tingling will undoubtedly spread out right into the legs. Pins and needles might additionally begin in the hands and move into the arms.
Many people do not believe too much about pins and needles, as they will frequently disappear. However, it can be an indication of severe trouble for several reasons. You are more likely to become damaged because you cannot feel a part of your body. For example, if your foot becomes numb and you step on something sharp, you may lose quite a bit of blood before you also observe. People with diabetes typically risk shedding afoot because of this injury they do not feel.
3. Foot Issues
A person who has peripheral neuropathy might experience significant concerns with their feet. Any foot concerns an individual is experiencing are typically an indicator of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. When pins and needles in the feet happen, it causes a number of the various other issues that a diabetic person is dealing with, as it boosts the danger of creating a severe injury or an infection. On top of that, nerve damage related to neuropathy may likewise trigger the size and shape of an individual’s foot to transform.
4. Digestive system Concerns
Some sorts of neuropathy affect the sensory nerves. Various other kinds of neuropathy can affect the autonomic nerves. These are the nerves that manage the organs. Some nerves control the digestion of body organs. When these nerves are harmed, it can cause a person to experience gastrointestinal concerns. One symptom of this sort of nerve damage is constipation. In many cases, an individual might experience the opposite and have severe diarrhea if these nerves are harmed.
It is likewise quite typical for individuals to experience these problems, including looseness of the bowels caused by bowel irregularities. Neuropathy might also cause concerns with the nerves that regulate a person’s bladder. This might bring about signs and symptoms like incontinence or a boost in urinary tract infections. Peripheral neuropathy may also result in belly problems. Gastroparesis, when the belly is slow-moving and vacant, is a common sign that may accompany neuropathy.
5. Law of Body Temperature
When a person has damage to their nerves, they may find that they have a problem regulating the temperature level of their body. A person may have difficulty sweating, even when it is warm. They may additionally have the opposite problem, where they sweat frantically. For some people, a high external temperature level can be rather excruciating. This is because their bodies can no longer efficiently locate a method to cool off when it is warm.
Some people may experience chilly temperatures and feel like they will never be cozy again. Each of these is a sign that an individual has some nerve damage. Discussing your signs and symptoms with your physician is essential to determining the underlying cause. When the root cause of this symptom is known, proper treatment can be provided to make you far more comfortable in the long term.
6. Muscle Weakness as well as Convulsion
Neuropathy can affect the nerves responsible for regulating muscle mass motions. One of the usual symptoms of peripheral neuropathy is a cramp in the muscle. Some individuals experience constraining as a sign when this takes place. Some individuals with genetic neuropathy are more likely to develop the signs and symptoms of weak points in the muscular tissues.
The muscles in the body could atrophy or waste away. Relocating, or perhaps simply standing, can become quite tricky. In cases of severe nerve damage, an individual with established motor neuropathy can experience paralysis in particular muscular tissue areas.
An additional peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetic issues can result in atrophy or muscular tissue weakness. This type is called radiocomplexes and generally occurs in the buttocks and upper legs. This will often appear on one side of the body or the other. Standing up after sitting for an extended period of time can be a battle.
7. Fainting
The free nerves control your blood pressure as well as your heart rate. When the nerves are damaged, it is common for a person to experience a sudden decrease in their blood pressure. This commonly occurs when someone rises from lying down or stands up from sitting.
This quick drop in blood pressure might make a person feel woozy and, sometimes, collapse. It is common for someone to get up too quickly and feel lightheaded. Virtually everyone has experienced this at some point or another.
Nonetheless, if this occurs quite often and a person pales after merely standing up from a sitting or lying-down position, there is a good chance that some nerve damage is causing it. If you are experiencing these signs and symptoms, you must see your physician immediately to establish the reason.
8. Hypoglycemia Unawareness
Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common neuropathy types. Hypoglycemia unawareness happens when blood sugar levels are unsafe and the body does not experience typical symptoms. Consequently, it is necessary to consider one of the signs that only influences people with diabetes.
When blood glucose levels drop instantly, the body releases epinephrine. This causes a person to experience heart palpitations or sweat profusely, which are indications of low blood sugar levels. However, when a person suffers from hypoglycemia unawareness, the epinephrine does not get launched when the blood sugar levels fall.
These signs and symptoms usually occur when the epinephrine action nerves are damaged. When this happens, and someone refrains from anything to increase blood glucose levels, loss of consciousness or complications might happen. It is most typical in individuals who have type 1 diabetes mellitus. However, those with type 2 diabetes issues can also experience it.
9. Deferred Pain
Deferred discomfort suggests that the pain you feel isn’t essential at the site of the damage or level of sensitivity. Simply put, it implies that you may have a problem with your back, yet this is after that felt in your legs or your hip.
There are a lot of reasons why you may experience delayed discomfort. One is that you may have muscle inequality. For instance, if you have minimal muscle in your back or part of your legs, this can create tension in the joints or other parts of your body. That could make you take a corrective stance to ensure you are strolling and moving with the wrong type. The pain may be felt somewhere entirely different as a result! Interestingly, research studies on the role of fascia in the body show this communication may be a lot more intricate than we initially thought.
Yet what’s additionally feasible is that this suggests neuropathy. Remember that you have an extensive network of nerves running throughout your body, some of which are long. That means that damaging one nerve may cause shockwaves of pain that travel throughout your body, and you might, for that reason, really feel the discomfort someplace wholly various.
10. Loss of Vision
Neuropathy is not a single problem but a symptom that can occur due to many factors. It can also describe damage to nerves situated throughout your body and with many crucial functions. This can make it difficult to detect the original issue and even to recognize whether the problem is, without a doubt, best-called neuropathy.
You can suffer a loss of vision due to damage to the nerves in the eye. These relay signals between your mind and your retina—and some individuals even describe the eye as the only exterior part of the mind’. Loss of vision is an instance of this.
Many factors can damage the nerves in the eye. One of the most common, though, is diabetes. An increase in blood sugar due to changes in insulin production is the primary cause of diabetes mellitus. Because sugar is very harmful in massive amounts, this can then be enough to cause substantial damage to the nerves, resulting in tingling in the hands and loss of vision.
Some approaches to a natural treatment for peripheral neuropathy
A natural remedy for neuropathy is effective and safe. In the majority of cases, neuropathy is the result of diabetes. Natural medicine is even more critical for this category of patients, considering the number of pharmaceutical drugs they receive regularly.
Various natural remedies for neuropathy can offer relief from symptoms without the side effects of conventional treatments. Scientific studies have proven the effectiveness of natural remedies for neuropathy.
Neuropathy has various symptoms and can seriously affect one’s life. In the United States alone, about 20 million people are estimated to suffer from peripheral neuropathy. However, remember that these numbers may be higher as many people with this condition have not been tested. If the root cause of the neuropathy is ascertained, it’s possible to find a long-term solution. Earlier treatments lead to better outcomes.
If you’re suffering from this condition, you might consider a natural treatment for neuropathy. They are practical, affordable, and can get to the root of your situation. Further, they have no known side effects.
Natural treatment for peripheral neuropathy is usually safe and affordable. In many cases, natural treatment for peripheral neuropathy is much more effective than conventional pharmaceutical drugs.
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Cannabinoids Marijuana and CBD are effective pain-relieving natural treatments for peripheral neuropathy.
The scientific literature demonstrates some efficacy of medical marijuana or cannabis in the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. Different ways of using cannabis (sublingual, oral, smoked, and vaporized) in clinical studies have shown that it can help relieve pain in this expensive and disabling condition. Some guidelines for treating neuropathic pain suggest using cannabinoids as a second- or third-line treatment.
Because health plans do not cover medical marijuana expenses and are out of your pocket, knowing the cost-effectiveness of medical marijuana can influence patients’ decisions about its use. According to newly issued research, inhaled cannabis appears reasonably priced when used as a second- or third-line curing approach for persistent neuropathic pain.
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Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese natural treatment for peripheral neuropathy.
We recently examined the evidence for acupuncture in treating peripheral neuropathy. We systematically reviewed 46 clinical trials and included 13 qualifying randomized controlled trials of acupuncture versus sham or standard medical therapy. We concluded that acupuncture effectively treats diabetic neuropathy, Bell’s palsy, and tunnel syndrome. This treatment is also most likely adequate for treating HIV-related neuropathy.
Acupuncture for neuropathy has been well-documented for its effectiveness and safety. In fact, acupuncture can provide outstanding results for chronic conditions. Acupuncture for neuropathy utilizes thin needles inserted into specific points to stimulate your nervous system. This releases your body’s natural painkillers (endorphins) in the brain, spine, and muscles. This method changes the way your body reacts to pain. It also stimulates blood flow to heal nerve damage.
Acupuncture has no known side effects, making it viable for diabetic patients. If you want a potent natural treatment for diabetic neuropathy in your feet or other body parts, acupuncture can be effective. A 2007 study showed that acupuncture for neuropathy is very effective in reducing neuropathy symptoms.
In the Neurology Wellness Clinic at OHSU, we routinely treat patients with peripheral neuropathy, and some of our best results are with idiopathic neuropathy (the meaning of an unknown cause). A typical course of treatment entails weekly electroacupuncture sessions for 6–8, occasionally ten weeks, then gradual spacing every other week, every three weeks, once a month, and possibly a maintenance treatment every 2–3 months.
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Acetyl-L-Carnitine is another effective natural treatment for peripheral neuropathy.
Acetyl-L-carnitine is a chemical compound naturally produced in the kidneys and liver. It is believed to be involved in the function and regeneration of nerve cells. Acetyl-L-carnitine helps reduce oxidative stress.
In some clinical trials, people with diabetic neuropathy reported reduced pain, improvements in other sensory problems, and improvements in nerve function tests. Some of these studies have also suggested that the treatment effect is most significant when started early in the disease. Further studies are needed.
ALC dietary supplements are available over the counter and commonly considered safe when consumed as directed. Side effects can include nausea, vomiting, or agitation.
Do not use acetyl-L-carnitine if you use warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), a blood-thinning drug, because the combination increases the effect of warfarin and potentially the risk of bleeding. For people with hypothyroidism or a history of seizures, acetyl-L-carnitine can worsen these conditions.
Curcumin, the main ingredient in turmeric, is a culinary herb known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic properties. It can help to relieve numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. It is available as a supplement, or you can take one teaspoon of turmeric powder with 1/4 teaspoon of ground pepper three times a day.
Similarly, you can consume fresh or powdered turmeric to prepare tea. Add it to foods like curry, egg salads, and yogurt smoothies.
A 2014 animal study found that curcumin reduced chemotherapy-induced neuropathy in mice that took it for 14 days. It had a positive effect on pain, inflammation, and functional loss. Levels of antioxidants and calcium have improved significantly. More extensive studies on humans are needed to expand these findings.
2013 research indicates that curcumin is beneficial during the early stages of neuropathy. This can prevent the development of chronic neuropathic pain.
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Low-Level Laser Therapy is a practical, hi-tech natural treatment for peripheral neuropathy.
Lasers deliver light in a highly concentrated manner with a high degree of spatial and temporal comprehensibility. They involve high-intensity photo-bio excitement of a tool, which can be a gas, liquid, crystal, color, or semiconductor, leading to the exhaust of photons.
The two significant categories of laser treatment are class IV and class III, which are differentiated according to result power. Low-level laser treatment is a course III laser and requires only a discrete amount of outcome intensity or energy (5–500 mW) to yield a medical action. Power discloses a biphasic dose response in which higher intensities hinder mobile and scientific responses instead of facilitating them. Low-level lasers run within the concepts of bioorganic photochemistry, a technique of scientific research that discovers the interaction between photons and biochemical pathways in cells.
The scientific energy of low-level laser treatment originates from its capability to regulate mobile metabolism. It influenced various intracellular biochemical waterfalls that directly impact cellular habits and features.
The organic impact of coherent laser irradiation on cells is labeled photobiomodulation. All light is radiation power gauged in discrete devices called photons, and its effect on cellular components is moderated by organic photo-acceptor particles located throughout the human body.
Two specific parts that can move are cytochrome c oxidase, part of the electron transport chain in mitochondria, and porphyrins found in the eukaryotic cell membrane.
The cytochrome C oxidase is a membrane protein with two parts: a copper center (CuA) and a heme center (a3-CuB). Cytochrome c oxidase promotes the transfer of electrons from cytochrome c to oxygen, driving oxidative phosphorylation. Researchers think low-level laser stimulation of cytochrome c oxidase increases the transfer price of electrons and makes more electrons available to decrease dioxygen. If you make changes that are good for the irreversible enzyme, the membrane layer possibility and proton slope increase. This changes the mitochondria’s optical properties and speeds up the exchange of ADP and ATP.
Other reactions are directly affected while ATP and responsive oxygen levels are raised. These reactions control gene expression, protein production, growth factor synthesis, cell spreading, and many other processes. Upregulation of ATP is coupled to manufacturing responsive oxygen species, which can impact the intracellular redox state. TNF-α worsens the sensitization of key afferent nociceptors and various other pro-inflammatory cytokines. The inducible enzyme COX-2 is used to make pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α. It speeds up the process of making prostaglandin H2 from arachidonic acid. Both prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostacyclin promote pain by promoting the pain-producing device of bradykinin and other autacoids.
Several courses of non-opioid anesthetics act as specific inhibitors of COX-2 and prevent eicosanoid formation. In vitro and in vivo studies have revealed that laser treatment decreases PGE2, interleukin-1α, and TNF-α by preventing COX-2.55. One idea is that laser treatment changes the redox state inside cells by changing the transcription factor kappa B. This protein goes through phosphorylation and ubiquitination, which leads to the breakdown of IKB-a through proteolysis when there is oxidative stress. A change in the redox state inside the cell could affect the chain of events that control COX-2 expression, which would stop the production of cytokines that cause inflammation.
Researchers have shown that low-level laser treatment upregulates VEGF, which promotes neovascularization. Improved microcirculation may stabilize cell metabolism by increasing cellular nutrient and oxygen concentrations.
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Pulsed Electromagnetic Frequency (PEMF) – another hi-tech natural treatment for peripheral neuropathy
PEMF therapy is a safe and non-invasive tool for improving health. It stimulates and reproduces the natural electromagnetic frequencies of the Earth and essentially functions as a charger for the body’s electric battery.
The most important benefits are increased energy and circulation, reduced muscle spasms, improved sleep, improved healing of bone fractures, and reduced pain and inflammation. According to Bryant A. Meyers, “the body self-heals, self-regulates, and self-regenerates.” PEMF therapy helps provide the energy needed to do this.
Scrambler therapy (marketed as CalmareTM therapy in the United States) is a new type of pain relief that uses a rapidly evolving electrical pulse to send a “painless” signal along the same pain fibers that transmit the “pain” stimulus. We got interested in scrambler therapy because we thought it could help CIPN patients, and scrambler therapy appeared to be non-toxic. It had been cleared for safety by the FDA in 2009.
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VoxxLife Socks and Patches are a conservative natural treatment for peripheral neuropathy.
This video from March 2020 shows HPT technology in a new wearable patch, just like the HPT technology woven into these socks. It shows the brain-mapping effect.
As stated above and in this clinical study, the HPT-impregnated socks developed by VoxxLife significantly relieve nerve pain. (All VoxxLife socks come with built-in HPT technology.).
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Essential Oils – home-based natural treatment for peripheral neuropathy
If you are looking for the safest and most affordable natural treatment for neuropathy, essential oils for neuropathy can be an excellent option. Some essential oils for neuropathy, like Roman lavender and chamomile, can effectively increase your body’s circulation. They also possess anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that can quicken the recovery process. Essential oils are used to treat neuropathy in feet and legs, and the essential oils are applied to the affected area.
They have no known side effects, and the results can be outstanding with other natural remedies. However, you’ll need some time before you see results.
A 2014 study compared the effectiveness of Swedish massage using aromatic ginger oil to traditional Thai massage in 140 older adults with chronic low back pain.
Although both treatments improved symptoms, Swedish massage with aromatic ginger oil was more effective than Thai massage in reducing pain and disability.
Ginger oil contains an ingredient called Zingibain, which has anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, Zingibain may help reduce neuropathic pain resulting from inflammatory conditions.
Borneol, a compound of chamomile and lavender essential oils, may help reduce the pain and inflammation associated with neuropathy.
A 2015 study found that borneol reduced pain sensitivity in mice with neuropathic pain. However, further research will be required to confirm the effect on humans.
St. John’s wort, or Hypericum perforatum, is a traditional remedy for depression and anxiety. People also use the extracts to treat burns, inflammation, and nerve pain.
According to a 2017 report, a person with trigeminal neuralgia—a type of nerve pain that affects the face—found that a homeopathic remedy for St. John’s wort helped relieve symptoms.
The report’s authors concluded that St. John’s wort “may be a promising therapeutic option” for treating this pain, but further research is needed.
Vitamins for Neuropathy: Another Essential Part of Natural Treatment
In some cases, peripheral neuropathy is related to vitamin deficiencies. Vitamin B6 and B12 are critical for your nerve health. If you’re suffering from Vitamin B deficiency, it can lead to significant nerve damage. You can receive Vitamin B from your meals, but you can also consult your doctor for supplements.
You can take supplements to reduce the symptoms. Vitamins B can also offer remedies for nerve pain. A deficiency in Vitamin D can lead to neuropathy.
Treatment of peripheral neuropathy with homeopathic medicines
Homeopathy is one of the most popular systems of holistic medicine. The selection of remedies is based on the philosophy of individualization and similarity of manifestation using a holistic approach.
The goal of homeopathy is not only to treat the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy but also to address its underlying cause and individual sensitivity. Removing all the patient’s signs and symptoms is the only way to return to an entire state of health. Regarding therapeutic medication, several remedies are available for treating peripheral neuropathy, which can be chosen depending on the complaints’ grounds, sensations, and modalities. An individual should consult a skilled and well-trained homeopathic practitioner in person for tailored, individualized homeopathic prescriptions. There are the following remedies that help treat peripheral neuropathy:
- Pulsatilla,
- Graphites,
- Causticum,
- Phosphoric Acid,
- Gelsemium,
- Baryta Carbonica,
- Picric Acid,
- Sepia, Silicea,
- Agaricus,
- Mercurius,
- Sulphur,
- Lachesis,
- Cuprum Metallicum,
- Rhus Toxicodendron and many other medicines.
Conclusion
Victor Tsan, MD, the medical director of the Philadelphia Holistic Clinic, is an integrative medicine practitioner with 40+ years of academic and clinical experience in OBGYN and internal medicine. Find his professional profile HERE. Dr. Tsan is also available to provide online evaluations during the pandemic.
If you suffer from any form of neuropathy, you must seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent long-term consequences. The natural remedies for neuropathy mentioned above are safe and have a proven record of effectiveness. You might have to experiment with a few options before finding what works better. In many cases where allopathic treatments fail to produce results, natural neuropathy treatment appears beneficial. Besides, they have no known side effects and can be used in various demographic areas.
Dr. Tsan gathered the best-in-class certified holistic providers at the Philadelphia Holistic Clinic, where all forms of natural treatment for neuropathy are available under one roof.
If you need an appointment for a holistic evaluation, contact the Philadelphia Holistic Clinic at (267) 403-3085 or use our online scheduling application.