Certain neurological disorders can cause acute episodes of peripheral neuropathy, and for individuals diagnosed with chronic peripheral neuropathy, can physical therapy help improve the ability to move around safely along with medications, procedures, and lifestyle adjustments to help control and manage symptoms?

Improving Quality of Life: Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Options

Peripheral Neuropathy Treatments

Peripheral neuropathy treatment includes symptomatic therapies and medical management to help prevent worsening nerve damage.

  • For acute types of peripheral neuropathy, medical interventions and therapies can treat the underlying process, improving the condition.
  • For chronic types of peripheral neuropathy, medical interventions and lifestyle factors can help to prevent the condition’s progression.
  • Chronic peripheral neuropathy treatment focuses on controlling the pain symptoms and protecting areas of diminished sensation from damage or infection.

Self-Care and Lifestyle Adjustments

For individuals who have been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy or are at risk of developing the condition, lifestyle factors play a significant role in managing symptoms and preventing nerve damage from worsening and can even prevent the condition from developing. (Jonathan Enders et al., 2023)

Pain Management

Individuals can try these self-care therapies and see if and which help reduce their discomfort and then develop a routine that they can work off of. Self-care for pain symptoms include:

  • Placing a warm heating pad on painful areas.
  • Placing a cooling pad (not ice) on painful areas.
  • Covering the area or leaving it uncovered, depending on comfort levels.
  • Wear loose-fitting clothes, socks, shoes, and/or gloves not made with material that can cause irritation.
  • Avoid using lotions or soaps that can cause irritation.
  • Use soothing creams or lotions.
  • Keeping the painful areas clean.

Injuries Prevention

Diminished sensation is one of the most common effects that can lead to problems like stumbling, difficulty getting around, and injuries. Preventing and regularly checking for injuries can help avoid complications like infected wounds. (Nadja Klafke et al., 2023) Lifestyle adjustments to manage and prevent injuries include:

  • Wear well-padded shoes and socks.
  • Inspect feet, toes, fingers, and hands regularly to look for cuts or bruises that may not have been felt.
  • Clean and cover cuts to avoid infections.
  • Use extra caution with sharp utensils like cooking and work or gardening tools.

Disease Management

Lifestyle factors can help prevent disease progression and are closely correlated with the risks and underlying causes. To help prevent peripheral neuropathy or its progression can be done by: (Jonathan Enders et al., 2023)

  • Maintain healthy glucose levels if you have diabetes.
  • Avoid alcohol for any peripheral neuropathy.
  • Maintain a well-balanced diet, which can include vitamin supplements, especially for vegetarians or vegans.

Over-the-Counter Therapies

A few over-the-counter therapies can help with painful symptoms and can be taken as needed. Over-the-counter pain therapies include: (Michael Überall et al., 2022)

  • Topical lidocaine spray, patch, or creams.
  • Capsaicin creams or patches.
  • Topical Icy Hot
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications –  Advil/ibuprofen or Aleve/naproxen
  • Tylenol/acetaminophen

These treatments can help relieve painful symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, but they do not help improve diminished sensation, weakness, or coordination problems. (Jonathan Enders et al., 2023)

Prescription Therapies

Prescription therapies for treating peripheral neuropathy include pain medications and anti-inflammatories. Chronic types of peripheral neuropathy include:

  • Alcoholic neuropathy
  • Diabetic neuropathy
  • Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy

The prescription treatments for chronic types differ from the treatments for acute types of peripheral neuropathy.

Pain Management

Prescription treatments can help manage the pain and discomfort. Medications include (Michael Überall et al., 2022)

  • Lyrica – pregabalin
  • Neurontin – gabapentin
  • Elavil – amitriptyline
  • Effexor – venlafaxine
  • Cymbalta – duloxetine
  • In severe cases, intravenous/IV lidocaine may be necessary. (Sanja Horvat et al., 2022)

Sometimes, a prescription strength supplement or vitamin B12 given through injection can help prevent progression when peripheral neuropathy is associated with a severe vitamin deficiency. Prescription treatment can help treat the underlying process in some types of acute peripheral neuropathy. Treatment for acute peripheral neuropathy, such as Miller-Fisher syndrome or Guillain-Barré syndrome, can include:

  • Corticosteroids
  • Immunoglobulins – immune system proteins
  • Plasmapheresis is a procedure that removes the liquid portion of blood, returning the blood cells, which modifies the overactivity of the immune system. (Sanja Horvat et al., 2022)
  • Researchers believe there is an association between these conditions and inflammatory nerve damage, and modifying the immune system is beneficial for treating symptoms and the underlying disease.

Surgery

In some cases, surgical procedures can benefit individuals who have certain types of peripheral neuropathy. When another condition is exacerbating the symptoms or process of peripheral neuropathy, surgery may help relieve symptoms and prevent disease progression. This has proved effective when nerve entrapment or vascular insufficiency are factors. (Wenqiang Yang et al., 2016)

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Some complementary and alternative approaches can help individuals cope with the pain and discomfort. These treatments can serve as an ongoing option for those who have chronic peripheral neuropathy. Options can include: (Nadja Klafke et al., 2023)

  • Acupuncture involves the placement of needles in specific areas of the body to help reduce pain symptoms.
  • Acupressure involves applying pressure on specific areas of the body to help reduce pain symptoms.
  • Massage therapy can help relax muscle tension.
  • Meditation and relaxation therapies can help manage symptoms.
  • Physical therapy can also serve as an important component of living with chronic peripheral neuropathy and recovering from acute peripheral neuropathy.
  • Physical therapy can help strengthen weak muscles, improve coordination, and learn how to adapt to sensory and motor changes to get around safely.

Individuals considering complementary or alternative treatment are encouraged to speak with their primary healthcare provider to determine whether it is safe for their condition. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic will work with the individual’s healthcare provider and/or specialists to develop an optimal health and wellness treatment solution to provide pain relief and improve quality of life.


Peripheral Neuropathy: A Successful Recovery Story


References

Enders, J., Elliott, D., & Wright, D. E. (2023). Emerging Nonpharmacologic Interventions to Treat Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. Antioxidants & redox signaling, 38(13-15), 989–1000. doi.org/10.1089/ars.2022.0158

Klafke, N., Bossert, J., Kröger, B., Neuberger, P., Heyder, U., Layer, M., Winkler, M., Idler, C., Kaschdailewitsch, E., Heine, R., John, H., Zielke, T., Schmeling, B., Joy, S., Mertens, I., Babadag-Savas, B., Kohler, S., Mahler, C., Witt, C. M., Steinmann, D., … Stolz, R. (2023). Prevention and Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) with Non-Pharmacological Interventions: Clinical Recommendations from a Systematic Scoping Review and an Expert Consensus Process. Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 11(1), 15. doi.org/10.3390/medsci11010015

Überall, M., Bösl, I., Hollanders, E., Sabatschus, I., & Eerdekens, M. (2022). Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: real-world comparison between topical treatment with lidocaine 700 mg medicated plaster and oral treatments. BMJ open diabetes research & care, 10(6), e003062. doi.org/10.1136/bmjdrc-2022-003062

Horvat, S., Staffhorst, B., & Cobben, J. M. G. (2022). Intravenous Lidocaine for Treatment of Chronic Pain: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Journal of pain research, 15, 3459–3467. doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S379208

Yang, W., Guo, Z., Yu, Y., Xu, J., & Zhang, L. (2016). Pain Relief and Health-Related Quality-of-Life Improvement After Microsurgical Decompression of Entrapped Peripheral Nerves in Patients With Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. The Journal of foot and ankle surgery: official publication of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, 55(6), 1185–1189. doi.org/10.1053/j.jfas.2016.07.004

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Improving Quality of Life: Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Options" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*

Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
My Digital Business Card

Previous articleManaging Back Pain: Exploring Surgery and Chiropractic
Next articlePreventing Wrist Injuries: The Role of Wrist Protection
Dr. Alex Jimenez
Specialties: Stopping the PAIN! We Specialize in Treating Severe Sciatica, Neck-Back Pain, Whiplash, Headaches, Knee Injuries, Sports Injuries, Dizziness, Poor Sleep, Arthritis. We use advanced proven therapies focused on optimal Mobility, Posture Control, Deep Health Instruction, Integrative & Functional Medicine, Functional Fitness, Chronic Degenerative Disorder Treatment Protocols, and Structural Conditioning. We also integrate Wellness Nutrition, Wellness Detoxification Protocols and Functional Medicine for chronic musculoskeletal disorders. We use effective "Patient Focused Diet Plans", Specialized Chiropractic Techniques, Mobility-Agility Training, Cross-Fit Protocols, and the Premier "PUSH Functional Fitness System" to treat patients suffering from various injuries and health problems. Ultimately, I am here to serve my patients and community as a Chiropractor passionately restoring functional life and facilitating living through increased mobility. Purpose & Passions: I am a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in progressive cutting-edge therapies and functional rehabilitation procedures focused on clinical physiology, total health, functional strength training, functional medicine, and complete conditioning. We focus on restoring normal body functions after neck, back, spinal and soft tissue injuries. We use Specialized Chiropractic Protocols, Wellness Programs, Functional & Integrative Nutrition, Agility & Mobility Fitness Training and Cross-Fit Rehabilitation Systems for all ages. As an extension to dynamic rehabilitation, we too offer our patients, disabled veterans, athletes, young and elder a diverse portfolio of strength equipment, high-performance exercises and advanced agility treatment options. We have teamed up with the cities' premier doctors, therapist and trainers in order to provide high-level competitive athletes the options to push themselves to their highest abilities within our facilities. We've been blessed to use our methods with thousands of El Pasoans over the last 3 decades allowing us to restore our patients' health and fitness while implementing researched non-surgical methods and functional wellness programs. Our programs are natural and use the body's ability to achieve specific measured goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, un-wanted surgeries, or addictive drugs. We want you to live a functional life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, and less pain. Our goal is to ultimately empower our patients to maintain the healthiest way of living. With a bit of work, we can achieve optimal health together, no matter the age, ability or disability.