How to Relieve Neuropathy

Pain is your body’s response to an injury or illness as it tries to keep you safe from harm. In most cases, pain has two categories: nociceptive and neuropathic. 

Nociceptive pain is the more common type and occurs when nociceptors around your body detect any harm to your skin, muscles, bones, and other tissues. So, whenever you touch a hot stove or stub your toe, nociceptors send signals that your brain interprets as pain. 

Neuropathic pain (neuropathy), on the other hand, stems from neurological damage. Injuries or infections can also lead to neuropathy. When your nerves are damaged and not functioning properly, they send incorrect pain signals, resulting in neuropathy.

Neuropathy can have a wide range of causes and locations, so how it’s treated or managed looks different for each person. Because of this, our team at Anodyne Pain and Wellness Solutions in Newark, Delaware, wants to look at some common causes of neuropathy and how we can help you manage it. 

What’s causing your neuropathy?

People living with neuropathy often describe it as a burning, shooting, or stabbing pain. It may sometimes come on suddenly, feeling like an electric shock. In addition, neuropathy can often make you more sensitive to touch and extreme temperatures. 

While anything that damages your brain, spinal cord, or nerves can lead to neuropathy, some of the more common causes of this type of pain include:

• Infections such as HIV/AIDS or shingles
• Phantom limb pain after amputation
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Diabetes
• Nerve disorders such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Vitamin B12 deficiency 
• Cancer treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy 

In some cases, severe alcohol abuse can lead to nerve damage and subsequent neuropathy. 

How is neuropathy managed?

The first step in treating neuropathy is to identify the underlying cause. To do this, we perform a physical exam and other diagnostic procedures such as imaging tests. Once we discover the location and severity of the nerve damage, we move forward with an effective treatment plan.

We recommend starting off with regular chiropractic adjustments. Undue pressure on your nerves can worsen neuropathy, so having your spine and joints readjusted consistently should relieve some of that pressure and effectively reduce pain. 

Since nerve damage can take a very long time to heal, we offer cold laser therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to encourage better circulation, faster cell regeneration, and stronger nerve repair. 

Whenever possible, you should also strive to make healthy lifestyle choices. It most likely won’t reduce your pain, but it helps prevent further nerve damage. So, prioritize eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, avoiding tobacco usage, and limiting alcohol intake.

To get started with effective neuropathy relief, schedule an appointment with our team by calling 302-208-5589 or using our online booking feature today.