Cures for Neuropathy in Feet

Foot neuropathy is often a side effect of diabetes. It is not the only cause; alcohol and even HIV can cause neuropathy in the feet. But it is the most common cause. There are several key signs that you may have neuropathy in your feet.

These include a tingling sensation, like pins and needles, or a burning sensation; extreme cold can also occur, as can extreme heat. Your feet may also become numb and you may have difficulty standing or walking.

When to Seek Medical Advice

Everyone experiences pins and needles in part of the body. This is a natural reaction to sitting in an awkward position and putting too much pressure on the ankle. Blood flow is reduced and the foot effectively goes to sleep.

However, if there is no obvious reason why you have developed pins and needles, you should consider seeing a doctor. If it happens a second time, you need to see your doctor as soon as possible.

Why is Treatment Urgent?

Nerve damage is very difficult to reverse. The sooner you see your doctor, the sooner they can assess the problem and give you a prognosis.

In fact, at this early stage, you can change your diet and control your blood glucose levels to reduce further damage. If your blood glucose levels are controlled at an early stage, it is possible that the nerve damage will heal itself. The body is amazingly powerful!

Of course, if it is not related to diabetes, your healthcare professional will be able to assess what the problem is and hopefully resolve it quickly. Again, if the problem is dealt with promptly, the nerves will be able to heal themselves.

Illness

It is worth noting that there are a number of serious diseases that cause neuropathy in the feet as a side effect of the disease. Neuropathy can be cured by treating the disease.

Common problems include kidney failure, low thyroid levels, nervous system disorders and vitamin deficiencies. Your doctor can advise you on the best treatment options.

Options for Curing Neuropathy in Feet

To completely cure foot neuropathy, your body must either repair the damaged nerves or learn to ignore the signals they send. Of course, if most of the nerves in your feet are affected, ignoring them is not really an option.

After all, without nerves you cannot feel the pressure you put on the ground. This is why many people with neuropathy problems in their feet struggle to walk and may appear to be drunk when they are not.

• Controlling Weight

One of the things that doctors recommend for almost every illness is to look at your current weight. You should be in the healthy range. If you find that you are overweight or obese, you should try to lose some weight.

This is not just a piece of advice. Being the right weight allows your body to function properly; the stress of extra weight can prevent your body from absorbing nutrients properly and make you more susceptible to neuropathy; especially in the feet and hands.

• Observing Your Diet Plan

Part of controlling your weight is following a diet plan. Your diet should be high in protein. Protein is great for healing muscles and nerves. Experts recommend that at least 40% of the food you eat is protein; this will help your body heal itself and cure your foot neuropathy. See 10 Great Websites for Healthy, Easy Cooking Recipes for healthy recipes.

• Exercise

It is also important to take regular exercise. Exercise burns off excess blood sugar and increases your metabolic rate. This can help prevent the nerve damage from getting worse.

The increased blood flow improves the supply of oxygen, nutrients and important vitamins, especially the ‘B' vitamins, to your organs, muscles and even your nerves. This has been shown to help the nerves heal.

It is important to note that if you have not exercised for a long time, you should ease yourself back into it gradually. Choose an activity you enjoy and build up to it slowly to maximise the benefits for your foot neuropathy; aerobic exercise is generally considered better than impact exercise.

• Alcohol

You should also consider giving up alcohol. Unfortunately, it is associated with an increased risk of many diseases and prevents the body from functioning properly.

Research suggests that removing alcohol from your diet can help prevent nerve damage from getting worse.

• Caring for Your Feet

Finally, take care of your feet. You should wash them every day, wear padded socks and keep your toenails short. This will not cure your neuropathy, but it will reduce the risk of injury to your feet.

Wounds are common when you lose feeling in your feet and can lead to infection and even amputation. By taking sensible precautions, you can reduce the risk and give your feet the best possible chance to heal themselves.

Many people also swear by the effectiveness of primrose oil, fish oil and botanical oil. These have been linked to nerve repair and are worth adding to your diet.

There are many different ways to cure foot neuropathy. Incidentally, do make a point to browse the range of neuropathy solutions at our shop.