When you feel pain, the chemicals and electrical impulses from the wound send messages to your brain, which then sends them along your central nervous system. When one nerve or a group of nerves is hurt or damaged, this can lead to a condition called neuropathic pain.

Most people who have heard about neuropathic pain assume that it mostly affects the hands and feet. But neurological pain can happen anywhere there are nerves, such as in the back, arms, legs, or even all over the body. It can also affect other parts and functions of the body, like digestion, urination, and blood flow.

Neuropathy is a common condition that affects 25–30% of Americans. Because there are many types of neuropathies, there are also many causes, and depending on the cause, they may be hard to find and treat.

Here are some tips that will help you figure out if you have neuropathic pain and how to treat it.

What are the common causes of neuropathy?

The most common causes of neuropathic pain are:

• nerve pressure
• nerve damage after surgery or an accident, or trauma
• viral infections
• cancer
• exposure to toxins
• inherited causes (hereditary neuropathy)
• vascular malformations
• alcohol or excessive drinking
• people with diabetes (diabetic neuropathy)
• chemotherapy
• multiple sclerosis
• a side effect of a medication
• vitamin deficiency

What are the symptoms of neuropathy?

The following is a list of possible signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy:

• Numbness, tingling, or pins-and-needles sensations can start in your feet or hands and gradually spread upward into your legs and arms.
• Pain that is piercing, stabbing, throbbing, or burning
• Very sensitive to touch
• The feeling of pain when doing something that should not cause pain, such as putting weight on your feet or putting them under a blanket.
• Falling down due to a lack of coordination
• Weakness in the muscles
• Experiencing a false sense of wearing gloves or socks
• Paralysis if the motor nerves are harmed

Throbbing Back Pain

In the event that autonomic nerves are affected, signs and symptoms may include the following:

• Intolerance to the heat
• Sweating an unusually large amount or not being able to sweat at all
• Digestive, bladder, or bowel issues
• Drops in blood pressure, which can lead to feelings of lightheadedness or dizziness.

Peripheral neuropathy may affect a single nerve (mononeuropathy), multiple nerves in various locations (multiple mononeuropathy), or a large number of nerves (polyneuropathy). One example of mononeuropathy is carpal tunnel syndrome. The majority of patients diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy also have polyneuropathy.

In many cases, symptoms get better, especially if the condition that was causing them can be treated. The pain caused by peripheral neuropathy can be treated with medicine. Even though neuropathic pain often lasts for a long time, it can go away on its own.

But sometimes pain happens for no clear reason, which can be upsetting for the person who is feeling it.

Leg Pain from Neuropathy

The best treatments for neuropathy:

The best way to avoid developing peripheral neuropathy is to control any illnesses that put you at risk, such as diabetes, alcoholism, or rheumatoid arthritis.

Also finding out the cause of the nerve damage is a big part of figuring out how to treat and predict peripheral neuropathy.

For instance, a peripheral neuropathy brought on by a vitamin deficiency can be treated, and in some cases even reversed, by taking vitamin supplements and eating a healthier diet. Similarly, avoiding alcohol can frequently stop and even reverse nerve damage brought on by alcohol abuse. The same approach can frequently be used to treat peripheral neuropathy brought on by drugs or toxic substances. When neuropathy is caused by diabetes, keeping a close eye on blood sugar levels may slow the disease’s progression and relieve symptoms.

Every person is different, and your doctor will take your needs into account when deciding what treatment is best for you.

There are many ways to treat neuropathic pain, and it is usually a “trial and error” process to find the best one for each person. Normal painkillers like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, aspirin, and paracetamol (Tylenol) usually don’t work for neuropathic pain.

In order to treat neuropathic pain effectively, it is recommended that patients undergo a combination of medical treatments as well as adjustments to their lifestyle, such as increasing their level of physical activity.

Most treatments include one or more of the following:

• Self-care, including the application of heat and ice, maintaining the proper posture, and modifying activities
• Exercise and other forms of physical therapy
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
• Invasive procedures like epidural steroid injections (ESIs) and spinal cord stimulation (SCS)
• Joint Injections
• Nerve Blocks
• Chiropractic adjustments

Because the peripheral nerves have a limited capacity to regenerate, it is important to diagnose and treat neuropathy as soon as possible. Treatment may only slow or stop the progression of the condition, however; it will not repair any damage already done.

Exercise is one way to treat neuropathy

How Elite Physical Medicine treats neuropathy

Neuropathic pain can be hard to recognize and sometimes hard to deal with. The medical team at Elite Physical Medicine gives you a full exam to find out what’s causing your nerve pain.

This includes a physical exam, a look at your health history, and detailed questions about your symptoms. After figuring out what’s causing your nerve pain, your doctor will work with the team at Elite Physical Medicine to come up with a treatment plan that takes into account all of your needs. These treatment plans can relieve your pain and restore your mobility and function, as well as heal the affected nerves and keep your health in good shape to keep you pain-free. Unfortunately, many doctors today prescribe medications without understanding pain. That’s why we provide comprehensive diagnostic testing, such as: Nerve Conduction Velocity tests, 16 Point Nerve Evaluation, Diagnostic Ultrasound Imaging, X-Ray, and Computerized Range of Motion that allows us to recognize and fully understand your pain.

Our team of Doctors and Nurse Practitioners at Elite Physical Medicine in our Lawrenceburg, IN clinic

Our incredible patients trust the team at our Neuropathy Treatment Centers in Mason, Ohio / Hebron, Kentucky / Lawrenceburg & Batesville, Indiana for personalized services that involve physical medicine, chiropractic care, therapeutic exercise, innovative treatment, as well as other nonsurgical treatment options.

We work collaboratively at Elite Physical Medicine to offer personalized treatment plans for joint pain, sciatica, arthritis, back and neck pain, knee pain, peripheral neuropathy, injuries, and other conditions.

Here at Elite Physical Medicine, our practice is committed to providing comprehensive whole-body care to restore function and keep our patients pain-free for as long as possible. If you are experiencing nerve pain that is interfering with your quality of life, new patients can schedule an evaluation at one of our clinics for safe, natural pain relief without harsh medications or invasive procedures.

Contact Elite Physical Medicine today or request an appointment online.

Elite Physical Medicine clinic in Mason, OH