Peripheral neuropathy affecting the feet, ankles, and hands is a prevalent condition that many individuals experience.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the causes, symptoms, and potential solutions for this condition.
As we explore peripheral neuropathy, we’ll address the various aspects that contribute to its development and offer insights into effective natural treatments.
Contents
Learn how to naturally manage peripheral neuropathy symptoms, explore causes and relief tips, and discover the benefits of supplements and essential oils for pain relief.
Causes of peripheral neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy can stem from various factors, such as diabetes, aging, thyroid dysfunction, alcohol or tobacco consumption, chemotherapy, medications, excessive pressure on the feet, and improper footwear.
Discovering the underlying cause of this condition is crucial for effective management.
Common symptoms of neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy can lead to a range of distressing symptoms, including numbness, tingling, radiating pain, burning sensations, and sharp or throbbing pain.
The severity of these symptoms often correlates with the underlying cause of neuropathy.
Is neuropathy curable?
There are two ways to approach this affection.
Either you think it can only be processed.
Either, you want to be permanently cured.
But you should know that with age, trying to heal peripheral nerve damage becomes impossible.
Just as it is impossible to erase the wrinkles of time to regain youth, it is just as impossible to repair worn nerves.
Don’t be fooled by supposedly miracle products that could relieve you, you’ll be wasting your money.
When our skin or our nerves betray the signs of time, the deterioration is irreversible.
But you can still improve your symptoms even if you can’t completely cure them.
Understanding nerve pain
All the small nerves under the foot go up towards the ankle, including the lateral sides.
Take into consideration that your toes are the furthest part of your brain.
Nerve signals, therefore, travel a maximum distance and if the slightest damage obstructs their path, pain appears.
Thus, you are less likely to perceive nerve pain in the face or neck.
But your fingers or toes are more exposed because the nerves are longer and thinner at their end, which is likely to cause damage.
Determining neuropathic pain
If you’re in pain at night or when you want to rest, even while sitting, chances are it’s neuropathic pain.
If your pain gets worse when you stand up, it’s more of mechanical pain.
But if, for example, you kick your shoulder, that’s also nerve pain because you’ve damaged the nerves of the shoulder and this pain will surely continue throughout the night.
People often injure themselves and trigger nerve pain without knowing it.
These ailments affect the hips, back, legs, knees, and feet.
They cause mechanical nerve pain but not neuropathic pain.
Nerve pain resulting in neurological disease is always sharp, throbbing pain affecting a single nerve.
If both feet hurt, it’s nerve pain.
If you have more pain in one foot, your pain is mechanical.
Post-stroke neuropathic pain
The pain felt after a stroke or an ischemic attack is very difficult to categorize.
Nevertheless, they are all related to the affected place in the brain and in particular, the thalamus.
When the stroke is healed, the thalamus which controls the body’s sensations develops specific pains called the central sensitivity syndrome.
Altered sensations then set in shortly after the attack or even months later.
A malfunction of the signals triggers a perception of pain in the area affected by the stroke.
Sometimes this pain is just perception but in some cases, it is very real and appears as a constant or intermittent pain caused by an injury or dysfunction of the nervous system.
This post-stroke pain occurs in 8 to 10% of patients more or less close to the stroke.
It is often sensitive to touch and is aggravated by emotions, air pressure, and temperature changes.
A burning sensation is most common, but some patients also report stinging sensations, pressure, and constant sharp pain.
Affected individuals show a loss of sensitivity in the affected area with a burning sensation in more distant areas such as the feet or hands.
They may even suffer from nausea and vomiting.
Pain tends to disrupt blood pressure and generate hyperventilation.
It occurs in sensitive areas of the body, on the side where the attack occurred, causing a pain syndrome that is difficult to control.
The treatment offered is usually neuropathic drugs to block pain, sometimes an antidepressant, however, which may trigger side effects.
Tips to relieve neuropathy
- Massage and ice can really help.
For an effective massage, use a cool or room temperature can.
Some neuropathies react badly to cold, so it should be avoided.
Sit down and roll the can under your foot for 10-15 minutes while pressing the arch of your foot.
- If when you go to bed you notice that your legs are swollen, standing up and taking a few steps can reduce the swelling
- Wearing compression socks can also be very beneficial
- Avoid alcohol as it causes nerve pain and especially at night
- Treat the ailments you suffer from, whether it’s diabetes or thyroid problems, but above all watch your blood sugar levels
- Keep it weightless
- Stop smoking because its effect on blood circulation triggers nerve pain
- Sleep enough because a cumulative lack of sleep reaches nerves
- Opt for adapted orthopedic insoles like these (ad) for perfect arch support will give you real pain relief
Natural treatments for peripheral neuropathy
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Alpha Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid is a naturally occurring sulfur acid that is a powerful antioxidant.
It is particularly effective against multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that leads to nerve damage.
It is also known to reduce pain and relieve tingling associated with diabetic neuropathy.
You will find alpha-lipoic acid in certain foods such as carrots, beets, spinach, cabbage, and potatoes.
You can also add alpha-lipoic acid supplement (ad) one 600mg capsule every other day or 100-200mg two to three times daily at mealtimes.
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Omega 3
Fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties that relieve and help repair damaged nerves.
These Omega 3s are well known for relieving muscle pain and protecting against cardiovascular risks.
But they are also essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system.
Many studies confirm its virtues, particularly in the case of the treatment of nerve damage to the eye linked to diabetes type 1.
The recommended dosage in Omega 3 – fish oil (ad) is 1000mg per day.
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Vitamin D
Vitamin D plays a vital role in the body and is well known to improve the absorption of calcium in order to remineralize and strengthen bone mass.
But it also acts on the nervous system.
Many studies show that vitamin D deficiency leads to neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, or multiple sclerosis.
You can boost your vitamin D levels simply by getting out in the sun every day.
You can also opt for a vitamin D3 supplement (ad) at a rate of 2 to 4000IU per day.
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Acetyl-l-Carnitine
Carnitine is generally recommended to restore energy but it is also very useful for nerve function and can relieve neuropathies.
It has been shown to relieve the pain of diabetic neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Of course, the body makes it naturally but you can also find it in certain foods such as cod, chicken, and beef.
You can also add acetyl-l-carnitine (ad), its most assimilable form, at a rate of 500mg per day.
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Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 provides an energizing effect but is also essential for healthy nerves.
It helps the body make DNA that keeps nerve cells functioning properly.
Vitamin B12 deficiency frequently causes nerve problems like numbness, tingling, and burning in the hands and feet.
Signs of vitamin B12 deficiency can be recognized by symptoms such as severe fatigue, numbness, difficulty walking, and tingling in the hands, feet, and legs.
You can find vitamin B12 in meat, fish, milk, cheese, and eggs.
But in case of lack, it is better to start a vitamin B12 methylcobalamin cure (ad), its most natural form, at a rate of 1000mcg per day.
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Magnesium
A recent study has shown that people suffering from neuropathies are actually relieved by a fairly large dose of magnesium.
Go for foods high in magnesium like dark chocolate, nuts, avocados, and spinach or go for a magnesium bisglycinate supplement (ad) more assimilable by the body, at a rate of 300mg per day.
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Calcium
Calcium is generally associated with good bone health, yet it is also essential for the nervous system.
It plays a crucial role in the formation of brain cells and assists communication in all parts of the body.
So it can repair nerve cells.
Of course, calcium is found in all dairy products, but their consumption is increasingly controversial.
You can find it in green vegetables, chia seeds, lentils, and almonds.
Combining essential oils for pain relief
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Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil
Lemon eucalyptus oil (ad) has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties that can improve blood circulation, which supports healthy nerve function while reducing pain.
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Geranium essential oil
Geranium oil (ad) has a very interesting sedative effect to fight pain.
It is highly recommended for peripheral neuropathies.
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Helichrysum essential oil
Helichrysum oil (ad) has the particularity of acting very quickly to relieve pain.
Indeed, it has formidable analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, but it is true that it is one of the expensive essential oils.
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Lavender essential oil
Lavender oil (ad) is the most commonly used for its relaxing effects but it is also very effective in the treatment of neuralgia, sciatica, muscle pain, neuropathy.
You can use these essential oils alone or in combination for better effectiveness.
A mixture of vegetable oils of your choice, embellished with these oils will give you an almost immediate benefit.
Pain Relief Recipe Tip:
– 50ml of arnica vegetable oil (ad)
– 2% of each essential oil mentioned above (i.e. 25 drops of each)
How to get rid of peripheral neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy is a complex condition with diverse causes and symptoms.
By understanding its origins and exploring natural treatment options, individuals can gain insights into managing their symptoms and improving their quality of life.
This guide aims to provide valuable information for those seeking relief from neuropathy-related discomfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can neuropathic pain disappear?
Neuropathy pain is the direct result of a damaged nerve.
It is sometimes temporary and may fade over time.
It is often chronic, settling over time without finding relief.
What is axonal neuropathy?
The axon is a nerve fiber that makes up the nerve.
Indeed, the latter is made of simple axons and myelin-sheathed axons also called myelinated fibers.
So there are different types of neuropathies that can reach the axon or myelin.
What is diabetic neuropathy?
This neuropathy is a complication of untreated or poorly contained diabetes.
It most often results in a lack of strength and the perception of tingling in the legs.
The patient often discovers he has diabetes when seeking to treat these specific symptoms.
What is small fiber neuropathy?
A nerve is made up of myelinated fibers which are quite consistent and axons of varying sizes.
The smallest axons are called small fibers.
When affected, it is small fiber polyneuropathy.
