Neuropathy No More By JODI KNAPP Neuropathy No More is an eBook which is a compilation of all the essential information and details about the nervous system and how to keep it active and healthy. With the help of this program, one can get a relief from the symptoms of neuropathy. This eBook not only tells you about the nervous system, but also helps to provide essential information to get relief from the condition of neuropathy. It also provides information about how you can prevent this condition from coming back in the near future.
What are the most common symptoms of neuropathy?
The symptoms and signs of neuropathy will vary depending on which nerves are affected (sensory, motor, or autonomic) and how much damage there is. Some of the most common symptoms and signs of neuropathy include:
1. Sensory Symptoms (impacting sensation):
Numbness: Reduced sensation, usually in the hands or feet. This can lead to difficulty feeling pain, temperature, or touch.
Tingling or “Pins and Needles”: Pins and needles sensation, or as if something is crawling in the hands, feet, or legs.
Burning Pain: Burning or sensation of extreme heat, typically in the feet or the hands.
Sharp or Stabbing Pain: Sharp pain that can be sudden, or even radiated all over the body.
Hypersensitivity: Hyper-sensitivity to touch where even slight pressure or touch can be excruciating.
Loss of Coordination: Loss of coordination due to impaired sensation, to the extent that one finds it difficult to balance or move.
2. Motor Symptoms (affecting movement):
Muscle Weakness: Inability to exert muscular strength, thereby leading to weakness, especially in hands, arms, or legs.
Muscle Cramps or Spasms: Unwanted spasms of the muscle, which become painful.
Loss of Reflexes: Decreased or lost reflexes, which in a medical checkup by a physician can be quantified.
Difficulty with Fine Motor Skills: Trouble with actions that require dexterity, such as buttoning a shirt, tying shoelaces, or writing.
3. Autonomic Symptoms (relating to involuntary functions):
Dizziness or Lightheadedness: Becoming dizzy or faint upon getting up, something that can occur due to lowered blood pressure.
Digestive Problems: Conditions such as nausea, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation. The digestive system is managed by the autonomic nerves, and neuropathy can disrupt such function.
Excessive Sweating or Reduced Sweating: Abnormal sweating patterns, excessive or deficient, depending on the nerves involved.
Irregular Heart Rate: Palpitations or alterations in heart rhythm that can occur due to involvement of the autonomic nerves.
4. Pain and Discomfort:
Chronic Pain: Chronic neuropathic pain that can be a burning, tingling, stabbing, or aching nature.
Worsening Symptoms during the Night: Symptoms get worse at night or in the evening, and sleeping becomes increasingly hard for them.
5. Loss of Balance:
Due to injury to the motor and sensory nerves, particularly in the feet and legs, patients with neuropathy lose their capacity to walk, their balance, or even their tendency to fall.
6. Skin, Hair, and Nails Changes:
The autonomic nerves regulate skin and hair function. Dryness of the skin, changed nail growth, or other skin alterations may be seen in some patients with neuropathy.
7. Temperature Sensitivity Alteration:
A patient with neuropathy will be less able to sense extreme temperatures, such as heat or cold, and therefore burns or frostbite might occur without one realizing it.
The severity and extent of symptoms may vary depending upon the cause and type of neuropathy. Prompt treatment must be started to prevent worsening of symptoms.
Would you like to know more about treatment or diagnosis of neuropathy?
Treatment of neuropathy depends on the cause, the type, and the severity of the symptoms. There is no universal cure for neuropathy, but treatment tends to be symptom-oriented, reduces the rate of progression, and improves the quality of life. This is a brief overview of common treatments:
1. Treatment of Complicating Conditions
If neuropathy occurs as a result of some other condition (diabetes or autoimmune disease), treatment of that underlying condition prevents further damage to the nerves:
Diabetes management: Long-term blood sugar control is critical in the prevention or treatment of diabetic neuropathy. This may involve:
Monitoring blood sugar levels
Modification of diet
Exercise
Medications (e.g., insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents for diabetes)
Treatment of vitamin deficiency: Correcting deficiencies (e.g., B12) can improve malnutrition or diet-induced imbalance neuropathic symptoms.
Managing autoimmune illnesses: When neuropathy is caused by an autoimmune illness (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), treatment of the primary disease with immunosuppressive drugs or biologic agents will manage the inflammation and nerve damage.
2. Pain Control
Pain control is an important part of neuropathy management. A variety of medications and modalities may be used:
Analgesics available over the counter: Mild pain may be managed with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen.
Prescription pain medication: For more severe pain, stronger pain medications like opioids or tramadol are prescribed, but only as a last resort since they carry the risk of addiction.
Antidepressants: Certain antidepressants, like tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) (e.g., duloxetine), may be used to treat nerve pain.
Anticonvulsants: Gabapentin and pregabalin are commonly prescribed to alleviate nerve pain by balancing nerve activity.
Topical treatments
Capsaicin cream: This can be applied to the skin to reduce pain by draining substance P, a chemical involved in transmitting pain signals.
Lidocaine patches: These can numb painful areas and relieve local neuropathic pain.
3. Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
Physical therapy can help improve strength, coordination, and balance, especially if neuropathy has caused muscle weakness or loss of coordination. Techniques used include:
Stretching exercises to increase flexibility and reduce stiffness.
Strengthening exercises to maintain or regain muscle strength.
Balance training to reduce the risk of falls, which is common in patients with sensory neuropathy.
4. Lifestyle Changes
Certain lifestyle changes can benefit overall nerve health and improve symptoms:
Dietary changes: Eating a balanced diet rich in vitamins (especially B vitamins), minerals, and antioxidants can support nerve function and reduce inflammation.
Exercise: Daily exercise helps promote circulation, weight management, and overall body health, all of which can avoid or alleviate neuropathy symptoms.
Weight control: Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of nerve compression and helps manage underlying conditions like diabetes.
5. Surgical Procedures
Compression neuropathy (like carpal tunnel syndrome or sciatica) might require surgery to decompress the affected nerve. Some examples are:
Carpal tunnel release surgery (for carpal tunnel syndrome).
Spinal decompression surgery to relieve pressure on spinal nerves with bulging discs or other spinal issues.
6. Alternative Therapies
Many individuals with neuropathy find relief through alternative therapies:
Acupuncture: Decreased pain and improved circulation in certain individuals through acupuncture.
Massage therapy: Enhancing circulation and relaxing muscles that affected from neuropathy.
Aromatherapy: Certain essential oils, such as lavender or peppermint, may be of benefit by alleviating symptoms when used in conjunction with relaxation techniques.
7. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
TENS works by the use of low-voltage electrical currents to stimulate nerves to reduce pain. It is especially useful in peripheral neuropathy.
8. Nerve Stimulation Therapies
Severe neuropathy, especially when other treatments are not beneficial:
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS): It involves implantation of a device that delivers electrical pulses to the spinal cord, blocking pain signals and reducing pain.
Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS): Similar to SCS, PNS involves stimulation of specific peripheral nerves to reduce pain and improve function.
9. Psychological Support
Chronic neuropathic pain can potentially influence mental health. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), counseling, and support groups may allow individuals to adapt to the emotional and psychological effects of chronic pain.
10. Treatment of Autonomic Neuropathy
Autonomic neuropathy (for involuntary body functions) may be treated with:
Control of blood pressure: Medication such as fludrocortisone or midodrine may be prescribed to help control orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure).
Dietary adjustments: Regular, smaller meals can manage gastrointestinal upset.
Sexual dysfunction or bladder dysfunction can be managed with medications.
11. New Therapies
Gene therapy and stem cell therapy are areas of ongoing research and may hold promise for the treatment of some neuropathies, particularly those caused by genetic or nerve degeneration diseases.
Would you like more information on any of these treatments or certain techniques for a specific neuropathy?
Neuropathy No More By JODI KNAPP Neuropathy No More is an eBook which is a compilation of all the essential information and details about the nervous system and how to keep it active and healthy. With the help of this program, one can get a relief from the symptoms of neuropathy. This eBook not only tells you about the nervous system, but also helps to provide essential information to get relief from the condition of neuropathy. It also provides information about how you can prevent this condition from coming back in the near future.