Those who suffer from peripheral neuropathy may have a hard time with balance and weight bearing on their feet. If that's the case, stay away from walking and jogging and try working out on an exercise bike or in the pool. Make sure you use a full range of motion to increase circulation and feeling.
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!
You'll probably even sleep better. Dr. Shields published a study wherein patients with peripheral neuropathy were given moderate exercise programs—stretching bands for the upper body, as well as 20 minutes of low-impact aerobic exercise (walking or biking) daily.
If you have peripheral neuropathy, you might experience: changes in the way you walk. loss of balance, which could make you fall more often. loss of muscle tone in your hands and feet.
Regular exercise may reduce pain or cramps, improve muscle strength, help control blood sugar levels, and prevent muscle loss. In particular, activities such as walking or swimming can improve neuropathy symptoms.
If you have nerve damage in your feet, avoid repetitive, weight-bearing exercises, such as jogging, prolonged walking, and step aerobics. Repeated stress on feet that are affected by neuropathy can lead to ulcers, fractures, and joint problems. Choose exercises that do not put stress on your feet, such as: Swimming.
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.
Avoid factors that may cause nerve damage, including repetitive motions, cramped positions that put pressure on nerves, exposure to toxic chemicals, smoking and overindulging in alcohol.
If the underlying cause of peripheral neuropathy isn't treated, you may be at risk of developing potentially serious complications, such as a foot ulcer that becomes infected. This can lead to gangrene (tissue death) if untreated, and in severe cases may mean the affected foot has to be amputated.
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.
Wear soft and comfortable socks. The right kinds of socks have shown to help eliminate burning sensations and control the overall foot discomfort that those with peripheral neuropathy experience. Some people even wear these types of socks to bed to keep their feet warm and to prevent irritating contact with bed sheets.
Adequate rest is so important and can help with chronic nerve pain. Make sleep as easy for yourself as possible. Want more helpful tips on living with peripheral, diabetic or chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy?
You may need to rest the affected area until it's healed. Nerves recover slowly, and maximal recovery may take many months or several years. You'll need regular checkups to make sure your recovery stays on track. If your injury is caused by a medical condition, your doctor will treat the underlying condition.
Usually a peripheral neuropathy can't be cured, but you can do a lot of things to prevent it from getting worse. If an underlying condition like diabetes is at fault, your healthcare provider will treat that first and then treat the pain and other symptoms of neuropathy.
Orthotics, custom-designed shoe inserts, may also be recommended, particularly if your feet have become numb. Orthotics reduce foot movement when you wear shoes, preventing blisters. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) treatment may be helpful in relieving neuropathy symptoms.
PN was strongly associated with earlier mortality. Mean survival time for those with PN was 10.8 years, compared with 13.9 years for subjects without PN.
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.
"Abbott's Proclaim XR spinal cord stimulation system provides patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy the opportunity to obtain a better quality of life while more seamlessly fitting into their current lifestyles."
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. of water each day.
The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of tart cherry, which have been seen in the treatment of arthritides, appear to be applicable to neuropathic pain as well, providing relief that is at least as good as conventional treatments, with no adverse effects.
Whether or not neuropathy can be reversed depends on the cause of the nerve damage. In some cases, the pain may go away entirely. In others, nerve damage may be permanent. For example, when neuropathy is caused by an infection, symptoms might go away completely when the infection is treated.