The peripheral nerves carry information to and from the brain. These nerves also send signals to and from the spinal cord to the rest of the body. The term peripheral neuropathy is used when that there is damage to these nerves. They may not be functioning properly or there can be some degree of nerve damage. Usually, it causes numbness or tingling sensation in the hands and feet.
There are several causes of peripheral neuropathy. It can be caused by physical injury or trauma, infection, toxins, alcoholism, nutritional deficiencies, or metabolic problems. One of the most frequent causes of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes.
Neuropathies are among the most common problems of diabetes. This can happen when blood sugar remains elevated for a long time. This is often noted as tingling of the feet or a feeling of pins and needles in the feet. Every now and then, there is burning or shooting pain in the feet or the feet and hands get very cold or very hot. In more severe cases, the feet may feel numb.
In the treatment of peripheral neuropathy, the underlying cause must first be corrected. The condition often improves on its own when the cause is effectively managed. For instance, those caused by vitamin deficiencies can be managed with better diet and vitamin therapy. When neuropathy is related to diabetes, the blood sugar levels should be monitored and put under control.
There are numerous drugs that can be used to relieve the pain of peripheral neuropathy. Over the counter pain medications can be used to relieve mild symptoms. The key is early diagnosis and treatment because the peripheral nerves only have a limited capacity to regenerate. In advanced cases, most treatments may only stop the progression but cannot reverse the damage that has been incurred.
The best approach is preventing peripheral neuropathy from happening. It can be as basic as eating a healthy diet with more fresh fruits and vegetables. It is helpful that essential vitamins and minerals are included in the diet. Low fat meat, whole grains, and low fat dairy products are good for the body. Regular exercise and avoiding alcoholic beverages can help prevent nerve damage.
Thiamine deficiency or lack of vitamin B1 is a known cause of peripheral neuropathy. Reversing thiamine deficiency is a good and often highly successful way to nutritionally manage peripheral neuropathy. In addition to thiamine, vitamin B12, DHEA, and alpha lipoic acid are very useful, and these can be taken as neuropathy supplement like NeuRx.
