If your pain is confined to a particular area of your body, you may benefit from using capsaicin cream. Capsaicin is the substance that makes chilli peppers hot and is thought to work in neuropathic pain by stopping the nerves sending pain messages to the brain.
Capsaicin. The main ingredient of hot chili peppers, capsaicin is also one of the most effective ingredients for topical pain relief. It can be helpful for joint pain and for diabetic nerve pain. When first applied, capsaicin creams cause a warm tingling or burning sensation.
Salonpas Lidocaine Plus Pain Relieving Cream contains the maximum strength of over-the-counter (OTC) lidocaine (4%), as well as benzyl alcohol, which, according to the company, numbs nerves quickly. Additionally, this non-greasy formula offers rapid relief from musculoskeletal and/or nerve pain.
Anesthetic Creams
This is called "numbing." An anesthetic cream helps with pain because it numbs the area of your skin that it's rubbed on. Lidocaine is the medicine in most anesthetic creams. When you rub the cream on, the lidocaine blocks the nerves in that part of your body from sending pain signals to your brain.
Topical painkillers.
Many over-the-counter creams and ointments are sold to relieve nerve pain. They include ingredients that work as a local anesthetic, numbing the pain in the area where you apply them.
Some nerve pain will be controlled with simple painkillers like aspirin, paracetamol or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Stronger painkillers such as opioids are sometimes used, but these have significant side effects that can be harmful especially in the long term, and can be addictive.
Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil), doxepin (Sinequan), and nortriptyline (Pamelor). These drugs are prescribed for pain at doses lower than are effective for depression. Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor).
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.
Neuropathy: Capsicum may alleviate neuropathic symptoms. Muscle aches and strains: Menthol can provide relief . Osteoarthritis pain: Capsicum and menthol may alleviate this type of pain. Poor blood circulation: The key ingredient camphor may improve blood circulation.
The main medicines recommended for neuropathic pain include: amitriptyline – also used for treatment of headaches and depression. duloxetine – also used for treatment of bladder problems and depression. pregabalin and gabapentin – also used to treat epilepsy, headaches or anxiety.
Prescription topical medications also provide localized relief and include lidocaine, a numbing medication, and Diclofenac (Voltaren), an anti-inflammatory medication. Topical medications are good options for those that want to avoid or are unable to take oral medications.
Nerve Pain
It's best to use cold when the pain is still sharp and move on to heat once that sharpness has subsided. The heat will increase blood flow and help tissues heal faster.
Limited research has suggested that peppermint, Roman chamomile, and lavender essential oils may assist with nerve pain.
Lidocaine relieves pain by preventing pain signals from reaching the brain. Lidocaine ointments and creams are applied topically, temporarily numbing the areas you apply them on. Lidocaine products can also be applied to other injuries, such as insect bites, general scrapes, and light burns.
Research shows that apple cider vinegar contains magnesium, phosphorous, calcium and potassium. These are all necessary for dealing with nerve pain. Likewise, apple cider vinegar has strong anti-inflammatory properties. These two reasons account for why apple cider is used in the treating 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.
At night our body temperature fluctuates and goes down a bit. Most people tend to sleep in a cooler room as well. The thought is that damaged nerves might interpret the temperature change as pain or tingling, which can heighten the sense of neuropathy.
Regeneration time depends on how seriously your nerve was injured and the type of injury that you sustained. If your nerve is bruised or traumatized but is not cut, it should recover over 6-12 weeks. A nerve that is cut will grow at 1mm per day, after about a 4 week period of 'rest' following your injury.
Try Sleeping in Different Positions
If your chronic pain is caused by pinched or compressed nerves, adjusting your sleep position may relieve some of the pressure. For example, people with sciatica who prefer to sleep on their side often find it helpful to sleep with their affected leg on top.
Unfortunately, chronic nerve pain rarely goes away completely. However, a combination of multidisciplinary treatments, such as physical therapy, regular exercise, medication, and pain management treatment can hopefully provide significant relief.
Neuropathic pain is caused by damage or injury to the nerves that transfer information between the brain and spinal cord from the skin, muscles and other parts of the body. The pain is usually described as a burning sensation and affected areas are often sensitive to the touch.
One of the most common causes is diabetes. People with peripheral neuropathy generally describe the pain as stabbing, burning or tingling. In many cases, symptoms improve, especially if caused by a treatable condition. Medications can reduce the pain of peripheral neuropathy.