What can a person with diabetes do with regards to their nerve damage pain? Diabetic neuropathy is a huge burden that lowers their quality of life, so learning how to treat them is a huge step towards a higher quality of life
Nerve damage caused by diabetes, also known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy, can be severe, constant, and hard to treat. It may start as a tingling feeling, followed by numbness and pain, but there are things that everyone with diabetic neuropathy should know:
- Keeping your blood sugar level or glucose under control and managing it properly can reduce the pain and keep it from getting worse. This can also improve your health.
- Medications that will be recommended by your doctor can help relieve pain, make you more comfortable and improve your life.
Blood sugar
If you have diabetes with peripheral neuropathy, talk to your doctor about how to control your blood sugar levels from falling too low or rising too high. This may necessitate the use of insulin or other drugs.
Once you’ve established a healthy lifestyle, including food, meal planning, exercise, and medication, consult your doctor to choose which pain treatment will best relieve the remainder of your symptoms.
There are a variety of drugs, ointments, and creams that can relieve nerve pain and help you function better, but you may need to try a few different ones before finding the one that works best for you.
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers
Some people can find medications in drugstores. Like common pain relievers and some skin creams may help, but this depends on how severe your pain symptoms are.
Before ingesting any products, it is important to see your doctor. Even over-the-counter medications have the potential to combine with other prescriptions or produce serious side effects, so be cautious. Here are some options:
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) – Can help to relieve pain and inflammation. Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin), and naproxen are all accessible without a prescription (Naprosyn). However, NSAIDs have been linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, especially when used at high doses. If you use them for a long time, they can produce dangerous side effects include stomach irritation and bleeding. They can also exacerbate or worsen pre-existing kidney disease, which is more common among diabetics.
Acetaminophen – and over-the-counter drugs that contain it can relieve pain without reducing inflammation. Unlike NSAIDs, These medications don’t cause stomach irritation, but taking more than recommended can lead to liver damage. You should read the labels and check with your pharmacist.
Capsaicin – This is most commonly found in chili peppers. It’s supposed to regulate a molecule known as substance P, which aids in the transmission of pain impulses through your neurons. It may be beneficial in the short term, but long-term use raises problems. This is because the same nerves are involved in wound healing, which is already a difficult procedure if you have diabetes.
Lidocaine – is a topical anesthetic that numbs the affected area. Gels and creams are available over the counter and by prescription.
Other treatment options
Injections of local anesthetics like lidocaine or patches that contain it can also numb the area that has infections.
Doctors could also:
- Surgically destroy nerves or ease a painful nerve compression.
- Implant a pain-relieving gadget.
- Electrical nerve stimulation may help to ease the pain. Small quantities of electricity are utilized to inhibit pain signals as they flow through the skin in this treatment. Its usefulness, according to experts, is debatable.
Other helpful tools for enhancing your quality of life include:
- Braces for the hands or feet that can aid with muscle weakness or nerve compression
- Orthopedic shoes can help with walking issues and prevent foot injuries.
- Diabetic socks and shoes should be worn. There is a large selection of footwear designed specifically for diabetics. These non-binding socks and shoes provide extra support and padding.
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