If you suffer from diabetic nerve pain, you understand how debilitating the pain can become. Also known as diabetic neuropathy, this is a serious medical condition caused by severe damage to nerve endings in the legs or feet. Some diabetics will also experience this pain in their arms or hands. In some cases, the condition worsens until amputation is the last resort.
The good news is that there are some effective treatments for diabetic nerve pain, and you can even slow the progression of the condition if you’re consistent with your nerve pain treatment.
Lifestyle Change to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy
The best way to treat diabetic nerve pain is to keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range. That seems like basic advice for someone with diabetes, but it’s critical if you want to control the pain and limit your risk of amputation.
Other lifestyle adjustments that may help include controlling your blood pressure and taking proper care of your feet to prevent cuts and infections.
If you stay away from cigarettes and alcohol while consuming a healthy diet and staying well hydrated, you will give your body a fighting chance against nerve pain. Some sufferers find that their pain flares up in response to certain foods, so keeping a food journal to identify patterns may help as well.
Medication & Supplements to Ease Diabetic Nerve Pain
Capsaicin cream, acetaminophen and NSAIDs like Advil and Motrin are the first line of defense against agonizing diabetic nerve pain. When these over-the-counter medications fail to keep the pain to bearable levels, your doctor may recommend opioid painkillers or anti-depressants.
There is also some support for the use of natural oils and supplements like acetyl-l-carnitine and primrose oil to control pain. There is some scientific support for the belief that these homeopathic treatments can help restore nerve functioning and improve strength for limbs weakened by neuropathy, so you may want to give these natural nerve pain treatments a try.
Do you want to learn more about effective treatments for diabetic nerve pain? Give us a call at 972-665-6292 in Plano, 972-318-2383 in Lewisville or 972-607-9643 in Irving.
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