Treatment options for neuropathy
There are many treatment options to help you manage your neuropathy. To treat it most effectively, it's important to first identify the cause of the nerve damage, such as vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune disease, genetic disorders, toxins, trauma, injury, tumors, infections, and/or alcoholism. Any of these can cause or contribute to nerve damage throughout the body. Diabetes is also one of the most common conditions that contribute to neuropathy.
It's important to diagnose and treat neuropathy as soon as possible, because in many cases, once nerve damage has occurred, there is a limited capacity to regenerate. And some treatments can only stop the progression, not reverse the actual damage.
Here are some of the most common and best treatment options for neuropathy.
Medication
Medication is often used to help manage pain associated with neuropathy. If you have diabetes, it can also help balance your blood sugar levels. Over-the-counter pain medications, prescription medications, and topical medications are used to help manage neuropathy.
Transcutaneous Electronic Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
Transcutaneous Electronic Nerve Stimulation, or TENS, is a type of therapy used to treat nerve pain. TENS works by inhibiting pain signals from reaching the brain. To do so, small electoral impulses are administered to specific nerve paths. This is a popular treatment option because it is a drug-free way to help provide effective pain relief.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment method that involves breathing pure, 100% oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure. For comparison, the air we normally breathe contains only about 20% oxygen. By increasing the oxygen in the air, the amount dissolved in the blood is raised by up to 2000% (Oxford Recovery Center). This helps deliver oxygen-rich blood to damaged tissue and diseased cells.
In doing so, HBOT promotes the body's innate ability to heal, promotes the production of new stem cells, and helps reduce pain due to damaged nerves.
Neurofeedback
If your neuropathy is due to chemotherapy treatment, neurofeedback is a promising treatment option that can help reduce your pain. Neurofeedback is a type of brain-based training the leverages the power of neuroplasticity, or the brain's ability to form new neural connections.
A study conducted by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that 73% of participants with chronic chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy saw improvement in their pain and quality of life.
Talk to pain specialists about the best treatment for neuropathy in Denver
If you're struggling to manage your neuropathy, reach out to us today at McWhorter CNR. Our pain specialists will do everything we can to restore your bodily function, reduce your discomfort, and relieve your pain.
Contact us today to learn more about the best treatment for neuropathy in Denver.