Can you live with neuropathy in your feet?

Roughly 20 million Americans are living with neuropathy. Living with daily pain and discomfort can be challenging. People with neuropathy are at a higher risk for depression and anxiety than those without a neurological disorder. The good news is treatable, and a pain management specialist can help.

Is neuropathy in feet serious?

If the underlying cause of peripheral neuropathy isn't treated, you may be at risk of developing potentially serious complications, such as a foot ulcer that becomes infected. This can lead to gangrene (tissue death) if untreated, and in severe cases may mean the affected foot has to be amputated.

How do you live with foot neuropathy?

Does foot neuropathy ever go away?

The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may lessen or go away over time, but in some cases they never go away. These are some ways to learn to live with it: Use pain medicines as your doctor prescribes them. Most pain medicines work best if they are taken before the pain gets bad.

Can anything be done about neuropathy in the feet?

There is no cure for peripheral neuropathy but proper treatment will slow progression and address your symptoms. If the cause of the foot neuropathy is known, then treatment of the underlying cause may provide relief.

What You Can Do to Treat Peripheral Neuropathy at Home

What triggers neuropathy in feet?

Nutritional or vitamin imbalances, alcoholism, and exposure to toxins can damage nerves and cause neuropathy. Vitamin B12 deficiency and excess vitamin B6 are the best known vitamin-related causes. Several medications have been shown to occasionally cause neuropathy.

Is walking good for neuropathy in feet?

While the general benefits of aerobic and flexibility exercises are well-known, increasing movement and heart-rate are particularly important for people suffering with peripheral neuropathy. Physical activity can improve blood circulation, which strengthens nerve tissues by increasing the flow of oxygen.

Is neuropathy a lifelong condition?

Although the condition may be lifelong, neuropathic pain can often be reduced and even controlled, when managed by specialists who combine treatments that might include medications, injections and even nerve stimulation (neuromodulation).

Can you stop neuropathy once it starts?

Usually a peripheral neuropathy can't be cured, but you can do a lot of things to prevent it from getting worse. If an underlying condition like diabetes is at fault, your healthcare provider will treat that first and then treat the pain and other symptoms of neuropathy.

Can you live a normal life with peripheral neuropathy?

Roughly 20 million Americans are living with neuropathy. Living with daily pain and discomfort can be challenging. People with neuropathy are at a higher risk for depression and anxiety than those without a neurological disorder. The good news is treatable, and a pain management specialist can help.

What is the best medicine for neuropathy in the feet?

The most effective treatment was nortriptyline. Of the study subjects taking this medication, 25% reported their discomfort improved by at least 50%. The least effective treatment was pregabalin: only 15% of study subjects reported that much improvement. Side effects were common with all of the treatments.

How long does neuropathy in the feet last?

For people whose symptoms continue after treatment is complete, these often improve or resolve within 6-12 months. Some people do experience these symptoms for a longer period of time and for some, they become permanent.

What happens when you have neuropathy in your feet?

Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy

numbness and tingling in the feet or hands. burning, stabbing or shooting pain in affected areas. loss of balance and co-ordination. muscle weakness, especially in the feet.

When does neuropathy become permanent?

Peripheral neuropathy is most likely to be permanent with chronic conditions like Type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases and genetic conditions. However, this can still vary, so it's best to ask your healthcare provider about what's most likely in your case.

Does neuropathy worsen with age?

Over time, those fibers may undergo degeneration and die, which means the neuropathy is worse because of the loss of more nerve fibers.

Do compression socks help neuropathy?

Compression socks can help patients manage their neuropathy symptoms. These socks apply pressure to assist your feet and ensure blood keeps flowing in the correct direction. However, compression socks come in various compression levels, so it's important to speak to a doctor before purchasing a pair.

What are the dangers of having neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy can sometimes cause other medical problems, such as foot ulcers, heart rhythm changes and blood circulation problems. These complications vary depending on the underlying cause of the peripheral neuropathy.

What is the number one medical condition that causes neuropathy?

The nerve damage behind neuropathy can have many causes. Poorly controlled diabetes accounts for about 60 percent of cases. Chemotherapy, HIV, shingles, kidney disease, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, alcoholism, nutrient deficiencies, hereditary disorders, and physical trauma are other causes.

Can you become paralyzed from peripheral neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a disorder that prevents nerves from functioning properly. It can cause paralysis if a nerve is completely lacerated, although total paralysis is rare in people with neuropathy. Rather, the disease causes varying degrees of weakness, depending on the type and severity of the neuropathy.

What's the latest treatment for neuropathy?

Intraneural Facilitation (INF) treatment effectively restores blood flow to damaged nerves, decreasing pain caused by diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), according to a new study conducted by researchers at Loma Linda University Health.

What can a podiatrist do for neuropathy of the feet?

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) treatment may be helpful in relieving neuropathy symptoms. The therapy uses gentle electrical currents to prevent pain signals from traveling to your brain. Reduce pain, tingling and other neuropathy symptoms with a visit to The Foot & Ankle Group.

What vitamins are good for neuropathy?

Vitamin B-12 is present in some foods and helps with proper nerve function and red blood cell production. People who don't get enough vitamin B-12 may have a higher risk of neuropathy and other nervous system (neurological) problems.

What makes neuropathy of the feet worse?

Smoking and Drinking Alcohol

Heavy drinking makes neuropathy worse. Vitamins and minerals are essential for your body functions but smoking and drinking can alter the level of minerals and vitamins that are needed for proper nerve function.

Does drinking water help neuropathy?

Drink lots of water

Water should be a staple in any diet, and even more so for those looking to reduce nerve pain. It's critical to stay hydrated throughout the day to reduce inflammation and avoid triggering pain receptors. Aim to drink eight 8-oz. of water each day.

Can you have neuropathy in your feet if you are not a diabetic?

Most believe only diabetics suffer from peripheral neuropathy. And rightly so since somewhere between 60-70% of people with diabetes end up with nerve damage. As with most things, however, that's not the case. The truth is that anybody can suffer from this condition.