Neuropathic pain is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). Vitamin D deficiency is very common among patients with type 2 DM and among the general population. There is increasing evidence suggesting that vitamin D deficiency could be associated with the development of neuropathic pain.
The 2001–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey has shown that the vitamin D deficiency (<30 ng/ml) is associated with self-reported peripheral neuropathy symptoms in American adults with diabetes (22).
Conclusions Treatment with a single intramuscular dose of 600 000 IU of vitamin D in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy is associated with a significant decrease in the symptoms of painful diabetic neuropathy.
Decrease in neurotrophins and defective calcium homeostasis leaves the nerve vulnerable to toxins including hyperglycemia. As a result, a deficiency of vitamin D impairs nociceptor function, worsens nerve damage, and lowers the pain threshold [6].
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency is associated with hematologic, neurologic, and psychiatric manifestations. Subacute combined degeneration, neuropsychiatric symptoms, peripheral neuropathy and optic neuropathy are the classic neurological consequences of B12 deficiency.
Diabetes. This is the most common cause. Among people with diabetes, more than halfwill develop some type of neuropathy.
Nutritional or vitamin imbalances, alcoholism, and exposure to toxins can damage nerves and cause neuropathy. Vitamin B12 deficiency and excess vitamin B6 are the best known vitamin-related causes. Several medications have been shown to occasionally cause neuropathy.
Finally, if vitamin D is too low, the body may have low calcium levels in the blood. This can cause feelings of “pins and needles”, muscle cramps, and even seizures. Rev. 3/2020.
Other symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include depression and pins and needles, tingling or burning sensation in the hands, feet and toes.
Regular exercise, such as walking three times a week, can reduce neuropathy pain, improve muscle strength and help control blood sugar levels. Gentle routines such as yoga and tai chi might also help.
Inadequate vitamin D can lead to osteoporosis, increased risk of falls, fractures and bone and muscle pain. In the foot and ankle, stress fractures of the metatarsal bones and ankle may be seen in those with vitamin D deficiency, as well as generalized foot pain.
Findings from this study show an association between vitamin D insufficiency (< 30 ng/ml) and self-reported peripheral neuropathy symptoms—numbness, loss of feeling, pain and tingling in hands or feet—in a representative population of US adults with diabetes.
How Much Vitamin D Do I Need Per Day? Besides going outdoors in the sunshine, there are two others ways to improve the amount of vitamin D in your system: eating foods rich in vitamin D and supplements. “Adding an over-the-counter vitamin D supplement can make improvements in just three to four months time.
Vitamin B12deficiency symptoms may include: strange sensations, numbness, or tingling in the hands, legs, or feet. difficulty walking (staggering, balance problems)
The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may lessen or go away over time, but in some cases they never go away. These are some ways to learn to live with it: Use pain medicines as your doctor prescribes them.
Peripheral neuropathy is the most common, impacting 7 in 10 diabetics, among others. PN is often mistaken for another common illness, multiple sclerosis (MS).
Intraneural Facilitation (INF) treatment effectively restores blood flow to damaged nerves, decreasing pain caused by diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), according to a new study conducted by researchers at Loma Linda University Health.
The most common type of neuropathy is peripheral neuropathy. It affects the nerves in the hands, feet, legs, and arms. It generally starts in the feet, and it tends to start in both feet at once.
A 2017 paper suggests that some anticonvulsants are among the most effective medications for neuropathic pain. These first-line neuropathy medications act on specific ion channels that traffic calcium ions. They include gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica).
Some of the health conditions that can cause peripheral neuropathy include: excessive alcohol drinking for years. low levels of vitamin B12 or other vitamins. physical damage to the nerves, such as from an injury or during surgery.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) treatment may be helpful in relieving neuropathy symptoms. The therapy uses gentle electrical currents to prevent pain signals from traveling to your brain. Reduce pain, tingling and other neuropathy symptoms with a visit to The Foot & Ankle Group.
Vitamin B-12 is present in some foods and helps with proper nerve function and red blood cell production. People who don't get enough vitamin B-12 may have a higher risk of neuropathy and other nervous system (neurological) problems.