6 Ways to Relieve Nerve Pain Today

The nerve pain that comes with peripheral neuropathy can get so bad it begins to affect your life. You may find yourself unable to fully participate in your hobbies, join your family in activities, or go out with friends because of it. You need to seek medical help as soon as you notice neuropathy, but you may not always be able to get to the doctor right away. Here are a few at-home peripheral neuropathy treatment options you can try to keep the pain under control until you can make an appointment.

Over-the-Counter Medication

While it may not do much if you have advanced neuropathy, using ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen, and other over-the-counter pain relievers can help with the pain caused by mild to moderate nerve damage. Remember that overusing these medications can lead to other health issues, though, so only use them as needed until you can work with doctors to deal with the cause of your neuropathy.

Stop Smoking

Smoking decreases your circulation by constricting the flow of blood through the body. This limits the amount of nutrients the peripheral nerves receive, which can increase the amount of pain you feel. Quitting isn’t just a lifestyle choice that will help with your nerve pain—it will also improve your overall health.

Deal with High Blood Sugar

If your peripheral neuropathy is a side effect of your out-of-control diabetes, you can reduce the pain by getting your blood sugar levels down. This will help reduce the amount of damage to the nerves and relieve some of the pain. Change your diet to cut down on sugar and carbs, work to achieve a healthy weight, and exercise more. If you already have medication for your blood sugar, take it as directed. If not, see your doctor.

Take Supplements

Both Vitamin B and Vitamin D can help reduce the pain you feel from neuropathy. It’s not always easy to get the recommended amount of Vitamin D from your diet, so you may need a supplement. While it’s easier to get most of the B vitamins from food, it does depend on what you’re eating.

Another good supplement that can help reduce nerve pain is alpha-lipoic acid. The body produces this antioxidant naturally, but it doesn’t make a large amount of it. Taking a supplement has been proven to help reduce nerve pain and control blood sugar levels.

Exercise

Exercise can help you control your nerve pain in a few different ways. First, it helps keep your blood sugar levels in the normal range. Second, it helps improve the amount of blood flowing to the hands and feet, which provides more nutrients to the nerves in those parts of the body. It can also help you unwind and feel happier. Studies have shown that those who exercise, even if it’s only by walking, find that their nerve pain doesn’t interfere with their lives as much as it did before they started being more active.

Capsaicin Cream

Capsaicin is the ingredient in peppers that make them so hot. When used in a cream and rubbed on affected areas, capsaicin actually helps reduce the pain the nerves carry. You can purchase basic capsaicin cream in most drug stores, plus doctors can prescribe a higher dose if needed.

Schedule an Appointment with Us as Soon as You Can

The measures listed above are all options for temporary pain relief, but they don’t directly treat your nerve pain. Here at Fox Integrated Healthcare, we provide advanced treatment options that can reduce your pain and help heal the damage to your nerves. Contact us today to learn more and to schedule an appointment.