The pain, numbness, and tingling characteristic of neuropathy in the feet can be frightening. Thankfully, there’s hope in individualized treatment approaches that are effective, completely safe, and often drug-free. Here is your comprehensive guide to treating neuropathy in your feet.
Assessing the Damage from Neuropathy
Sadly, neuropathy damages the motor, sensory, and autonomic nerves that carry signals to and from the brain via the spinal cord. The nerves in the hands and feet are called the peripheral nerves, and they can develop symptoms of nerve disease, or neuropathy, due to:
- Diabetes and other chronic metabolic disorders
- Trauma to a body part
- Poor nutrition
- Smoking
- Arthritis (RA) and other degenerative conditions involving the joints
- Treatment for cancer or other life-threatening diseases
To understand why you may be experiencing the common symptoms of neuropathy in your feet–cramping, tingling, shooting pain, loss of feeling, poor balance, and more–you need expert assessment by a physician specializing in the treatment of nerve disorders.
Your assessment will include a medical history, physical examination, and in-office tests, which can include:
- Imaging, such as X-rays and MRIs, to look for physical damage, such as nerve impingement
- Sensory assessment to determine how well you can feel pain, pressure, and temperature changes in your feet
- Nerve conduction studies to assess the communication pathways between your feet and your brain
- Electromyography which causes muscular contractions and measures how quickly your nerves respond
Your provider also will ask you to walk and to detail your symptoms–what they feel like, when they started and what may increase or relieve them. Then, you’ll receive a treatment plan adjusted to your specific health needs and desired therapeutic goals. Each neuropathy patient is different, so care is highly individualized and varied as the response to treatment unfolds.
Treating Neuropathy in the Feet
Here’s how many of our patients and their providers approach neuropathy symptoms in the feet:
- Nutritional supplementation (B12, omega-three fatty acids, thiamine, and curcumin as examples)
- Smoking cessation
- Exercise and physical therapy to promote circulation and muscular strength
- PRP injection therapy–shots of the patient’s own blood platelets to increase tissue regeneration and healthy nerve conduction
- Electrotherapy, or stimulation of nerve cells with targeted electrical impulses
- Proper footwear and assistive devices, such as walking boots, as needed
- Dietary changes (including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and lean protein into daily meal plans)
- Management of underlying disease conditions, such as diabetes
As you progress through your plan, your provider may suggest other therapies, too. So, patients are encouraged to record their thoughts and responses to various treatments.
Comprehensive Foot Neuropathy Treatment in Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, Georgia, and Michigan
The experienced healthcare providers at NIVA Health specialize in providing natural and cutting-edge treatments for patients suffering from neuropathic pain. Our goal is to help improve your symptoms with therapies that are non-invasive, non-surgical, and pain-free, so you can focus on living your best life. NIVA Health has a neuropathy program that we individualize for each patient.
To schedule an appointment with one of our providers, call our NIVA Health location nearest you or use our convenient online appointment request form.
