If you are suffering peripheral neuropathy due to:
- Diabetes
- Shingles
- Post chemotherapy
- HIV
- Guillian Barre syndrome
- Carpal Tunnel syndrome
- Any other reason for peripheral neuropathy
One of the biggest problems you may face other than managing the pain and the disruption of your life, may be in finding a clinician or medical professional who will treat you empathetically and with understanding of the condition you are dealing with.
The pain patients of Peripheral Neuropathy experience are difficult to describe and measure. It’s not something that you can place a number on or give a definite definition for the symptoms. This makes it hard for medical professionals and scientists to treat you effectively.
The difficulty associated with getting a doctor who is experienced in treating this disease in all its forms, is one way of making you frustrated because in addition to dealing with chronic pain, you are still unable to find someone to treat you successfully. Knowing your choices when it comes to treatment may help you know what to ask your potential care provider so that you can gauge them and figure out if they are in a position to help.
Below are options that may prove helpful with pain management;
- Medication
Pain medication is normally the first therapy that neuropathy patients are given. Sometimes it is prescribed with a combination of antidepressants. Using drugs that treat epilepsy or opioid has shown some success. Opioids have the ability to be effective but only in high dosages and for very specific patients. Make sure you are aware of all side effects that may be caused by the medications you have been prescribed as many have very severe side effects.
- Topical Treatments
Creams or patches may be helpful if there are only small areas of your body affected by neuropathy. Burning sensation or even pain may be felt at the site of application, for creams with Capsaicin, but it all goes away after 3-4 applications. However once you stop using the cream and restart using it, you will experience the pain. These treatments do not give relief that’s long lasting.
- Physical Therapy
Studies show that more active people heal faster. Exercising one’s muscles helps them to adapt to their physical limitations easily. Another advantage known with physical therapy is that the more your muscles are active and also loose, the lower the chances of suffering from a muscle spasm. One must be prepared to feel more pain when they start physical therapy because those muscles have been dormant for a while. Pain medication is available in case you need it.
- Psychotherapy
Patients with chronic pain are very likely to get depressed. Treatment for the psychological aspects of neuropathy is similar to treating one’s physical symptoms. Any pain management treatment must include psychological therapy. Ask your medical professional to give you a referral for a great therapist you can talk to about all the aspects of your neuropathy.
- Alternative Therapies
Great body and mind therapy can be very useful when dealing with Peripheral Neuropathy. It is great to consider doing yoga, relaxation techniques, hypnosis, acupuncture or any meditation techniques in order to complement one’s pain management therapy or program. Most of the alternative therapy methods lead to an increase in one’s endorphin production helping
Find more information relating to Peripheral Neuropathy,here.
