Today, there is no cure for diabeticneuropathy. Optimistically I feel that medicine is closer thanbefore. There is a host of treatments available and some may assistyou in reducing the effects of diabetic neuropathy, while others maynot help at all. The most effective treatment is maintaining bloodglucose levels at or near normal. This seems to be impossible forabout 50 percent of people with diabetes, as they will developdiabetic neuropathy.
With the studies still finding othercauses, I am a little cautious about the statement that the metaboliccauses of diabetic neuropathy are perfectly understood anddocumented. Treatments are yet still in the infancy state, butseveral are on the way. First, I will discuss some of the aids tohelp in reducing the pain and controlling some of the symptoms. Unless people start realizing that they need to manage blood glucoselevels, diabetic neuropathy will, like diabetes, continue to getprogressively worse.
The blog here by Gretchen Becker alsoexplains part of the reason I am cautious about people understandingeverything about diabetic neuropathy. We may be closer, but there ismore that we may learn.
There are a few drug-related options aswell as physical therapy for controlling pain caused by diabeticneuropathy.
Drug Options:
- Antiepileptic Drugs: these are becoming a common drug for painful diabetic neuropathy. It has important side effects like sedation and weight gain.
- Classic Analgesics: for those with a debilitating chronic pain condition, these drugs can offer immediate relief.
- Trycilic Antidepressants: Very effective in decreasing pain but since the doses must be high for them to be effective the individual can become addicted t the dosage. Cardiac arrests are common when ingesting these drugs.
- Serotonin-Norepinephrine Inhibitors: these are commonly used to target painful symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. They may also help depressive patients.
Thenthere is electrical nerve stimulation, which is painless (although Ican't attest to this), may help those suffering from stiffness.Electrical nerve stimulation may also help foot ulcers heal.
Regular massages or manual therapyinvolving stretching of the muscles performed by qualifiedchiropractors or massage therapists will inhibit muscle contractions,spasms, and atrophy due to poor blood supply. Muscle strengtheningwith specific exercises, such as swimming or even some aerobicexercises will help maintain muscle strength and reduce muscle massreduction.
A good physical therapist will make sure thatexercises for patients with diabetic neuropathy do not hurt theirfeet, which are usually sensitive. Therapeutic ultrasound is amethod of stimulating the tissue beneath the skin's surface usingvery high frequency sound waves, can help some patients regainsensitivity in their feet. The latter did not work for me, but didfor another patient and he had few problems for several years.
Events are unfolding in the world ofneuropathy and neuropathic pain. I have two articles of which thisis one and holds promise for those of us suffering from neuropathicpain. This medication, which will not be on the US market forseveral years, will help with neuropathic pain and epilepticseizures. It has been developed in Israel so it will be necessary tohave it on the market there before FDA gets it hands on it. Thisshould hold out hope for anyone suffering neuropathic pain.
The second article is about a foodproduct available now by prescription. It is to relieve the numbnesscaused by neuropathy and restore much of the sensations deadened byneuropathy. This product is not a cure, but a needed bandage forneuropathy and the lack of feeling in your feet and hands. There aresome questions that still need answering, as this could be theclosest we have come to having a product that will reverse theeffects of neuropathy. Read an article about it in the above link, or go directlyto their website and read about it. Use the site for contact withrepresentatives if you find a doctor that will prescribe themedication.
The complications of diabeticneuropathy can sneak up very quietly and sometimes be verydevastating. So be very careful if you have or are treating diabeticneuropathy. If you lose sensation in your feet, the risk ofinfections can grow very rapidly if you do not check you feet daily. If you are not able to see the bottoms of your feet, have anotherfamily member check them for you, or if this is not possible, getyourself a mirror on a pole that can be used for this task. Get to adoctor if you have a cut that is not healing or a bruise that is notgetting better.
Bladder and kidney infections needimmediate attention and should be seen by a doctor as soon aspossible. Frequent nausea and vomiting can result in poor bloodglucose management thereby make the neuropathy worse and you shouldalso see a doctor. The last item is muscle damage or decrease thatneeds attention by a doctor. Do not let these complications ofdiabetic neuropathy get the advantage of you, but see a doctor andlet the doctor make the decision about what needs to be done.
Next blog is the final of three parts.
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