Neuropathy — conditions caused by dysfunctional nerves — can be a difficult and sometimes overwhelming problem, interfering with many aspects of your life. Nerves can suffer damage for a wide range of reasons causing numbness, pain, weakness, and more.
Without management, neuropathy can control your life. Visit board-certified family nurse practitioner Savitri Gopaul and her team at Commonwealth Pain Management and Wellness in Richmond, Virginia, for effective treatment of neuropathy symptoms.
Any nerve disease that affects nerve tissue outside the brain and spinal cord — the central nervous system — is covered by the term “peripheral neuropathy.” In practice, peripheral neuropathy usually describes nerve damage in the feet and hands, since these areas are often the first nerves affected.
Many conditions can cause neuropathy, leading to a wide range of symptoms, including:
These symptoms cover sensory and motor nerves. Autonomic nerves can also suffer from neuropathy, causing dizziness, lightheadedness, blood pressure drops, excessive or insufficient sweating, and disorders of the digestive system and urinary tract.
Because of the complexity of the nervous system, neuropathy care often needs a multifaceted approach to prove effective. These can include:
When the condition that causes neuropathy is known, clearing up or controlling the condition is the best way to limit further nerve problems as well as improving current symptoms.
Diabetic neuropathy requires tight control over blood glucose levels. Dietary deficiencies require changes to the foods you eat or supplements to reverse the issue. Treatment for substance abuse can help improve alcohol-related neuropathy.
Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) often address mild to moderate pain, while prescription meds including anticonvulsants and antidepressants may provide more advanced pain relief. Capsaicin and lidocaine topical products also help to modulate some types of nerve pain.
A menu full of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats gives your body the resources it needs for natural maintenance, including nerve health. Limiting alcohol and quitting smoking are quick ways to avoid new nerve damage.
Staying active keeps your cardiovascular system in top shape, a key factor in the delivery of the raw materials of natural healing. Nerve tissue needs a strong supply of well-oxygenated blood to stay healthy.
The right combination of care depends on the specific factors at play in your neuropathy condition. Contact us at Commonwealth Pain Management and Wellness online or by phone, to schedule your consultation today.
