A number of natural interventions can help prevent or treat peripheral neuropathy, including maintaining a balanced, healthful diet, exercising, and quitting smoking. People with peripheral neuropathy may have to try several treatments, or a combination, before finding the most effective option.
For example, peripheral neuropathy caused by a vitamin deficiency can be treated -- even reversed -- with vitamin therapy and an improved diet. Likewise, nerve damage brought on by alcohol abuse can often be stopped and improved by avoiding alcohol.
It's also sometimes possible to stop or reverse certain types of neuropathies if treatment begins quickly enough. Because of these factors, you shouldn't try to self-diagnose and self-treat it. A healthcare provider is the best person to guide you in managing this condition.
B vitamins are known for their ability to support healthy nervous system function. Vitamins B-1, B-6, and B-12 have been found to be especially beneficial for treating neuropathy. Vitamin B-1, also known as thiamine, helps to reduce pain and inflammation and vitamin B-6 preserves the covering on nerve endings.
ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its Proclaim™ XR spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system to treat painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a debilitating complication of diabetes.
Foods to Avoid: Foods that are high in sugar – Sugar can aggravate nerve pain and discomfort, so it is best to avoid foods that are high in sugar. This includes sugary snacks, desserts, and processed foods. Fried foods – Fried foods are unhealthy and can worsen neuropathy symptoms.
Smoking constricts the blood vessels that supply nutrients to the peripheral nerves and can worsen neuropathic symptoms. Exercise can deliver more blood, oxygen, and nutrients to far-off nerve endings, improve muscle strength, and limit muscle atrophy.
Medicines available without a prescription, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can improve mild symptoms. Anti-seizure medicines. Medicines such as gabapentin (Gralise, Neurontin, Horizant) and pregabalin (Lyrica), developed to treat epilepsy, often improve nerve pain.
Vicks Vapor Rub® – Massaging one's feet with Vicks, particularly at night, soothes neuropathic pain and distress in one's feet and legs. It is also excellent for softening your toe nails and diminishing common toe nail problems. Warm/Cool Baths and Showers - Excellent de-stressors and can help with reducing pain.
In many cases, supplementing with vitamin B-12 can reduce the pain associated with neuropathy. More rarely, it can help repair the myelin sheath, depending on the cause of the neuropathy. However, B-12's ability to speed up tissue regeneration and improve nerve function can be helpful for some.
There isn't enough evidence to categorically assert that soaking your feet in apple cider vinegar (ACV) will help in treating neuropathy.
Treatments for Neuropathy
The peripheral nerves have a great ability to heal. Even though it may take months, recovery can occur. However, in some situations, symptoms of neuropathy may lessen but not completely go away. For example, nerve injury caused by radiation often does not recover well.
Treating neuropathy can be a difficult and long-term process, but with the right medical interventions and lifestyle changes, it is possible to reduce or even reverse symptoms.
Drink lots of water
Water should be a staple in any diet, and even more so for those looking to reduce nerve pain. It's critical to stay hydrated throughout the day to reduce inflammation and avoid triggering pain receptors. Aim to drink eight 8-oz.
A 2-wk course of tart cherry juice significantly improved nondiabetic peripheral neuropathy in the majority of patients in the study. None of the patients reported any adverse effects from the treatment.
Walking: This doesn't mean a slow stroll but a more brisk walk to get that heart rate up. It is a simple yet effective exercise for nerve pain. One common question we always get: 'is walking good exercise for neuropathy' ? can be answered pretty simply, yes!
Mean survival time for those with PN was 10.8 years, compared with 13.9 years for subjects without PN. PN was also indirectly associated through impaired balance.
Treating the underlying cause of the neuropathy can cause it to go away on its own, such as: Controlling blood sugar in patients who have diabetes. Controlling inflammatory and autoimmune conditions that can cause neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy is rarely fatal but may cause serious complications if left untreated. These complications may affect a person's life expectancy. A healthcare professional can advise on their condition, their outlook, and how they can manage it.
It is best to avoid these foods and opt for healthier options such as lean meats and fish. Caffeine is a stimulant that can interfere with nerve signals and worsen the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.
Causes of nutritional neuropathies include alcohol exposure, thiamine deficiency, niacine deficiency, pyridoxine deficiency and excess, cyanocobalamin deficiency, pantothenic acid deficiency, alpha-tocopherol deficiency, celiac disease, and multifactorial mechanisms.
Fruits. Eat at least one fruit daily to help heal damaged nerves. Berries, peaches, cherries, red grapes, oranges and watermelon, among others, are loaded with antioxidants, which help to decrease inflammation and reduce nerve damage.