A Doctors View On Neuropathy Treatment

Today's post from neuropathytreatments.com (see link below) gives some sound advice from the point of view of a doctor with neuropathy patients. Not everything is covered here but there is some useful information for everybody living with the many forms of neuropathy. Worth a read.

The Advice Of A Medical Professional

Posted on February 24, 2014

Neuropathy is a complex condition that can have an effect on the body’s nervous system.  Peripheral nervous system occurs. The peripheral nervous system refers to the part of the nervous system outside of the brain and spinal cord; when damage occurs to the nerve cells or nerve axons, it is called peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy is a painful condition that can have an effect on an individual’s life and their ability to maintain a normal active life.
Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition that will have an effect on an individual’s life and if not treated could have a severely negative effect. The pain and symptoms that are common place with neuropathy limit one’s mobility and ability to function in normal life situations. For instance, numbness is a symptom of neuropathy and can limit the patient’s ability to sense or feel terrain changes – risking further injury. Neuropathy symptoms have an implication on one’s social, vocational and functional life possibly causing the neuropathy patient to suffer with feelings of anxiety and depression.
Most doctors have to admit that when it comes to neuropathy treatment they have few options to offer their patients other than a prescription medication to help numb the pain. Numbing the pain does not fix the problem it only creates more problems; the medication used to numb neuropathy pain can leave the neuropathic patient juggling now both neuropathy pain and side effects from the medication.

What To Expect For Your Doctor
There are several different classes of medications for treating neuropathy. Since there is no cure for neuropathy, the only form of treatment is to discover a way to ease the painful neuropathy symptoms that create a stumbling block in one’s daily existence and most medical professionals believe that prescription medications are an excellent way to ease the pain of neuropathy. Below you will find more information on the most popular medications prescribed to those who suffer from neuropathy.

Antidepressants
Endorphins are the way the body naturally relieves pain and antidepressants are said to help treat neuropathy pain by blocking pain signals on their way to the brain and release endorphins. Antidepressants are further categorized that are available to help treat neuropathy.

Tricyclic anti-depressants calm levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. Tricyclic can reduce pain and improve mood and even help one sleep better. For help with reliving nerve pain, doctors will often prescribe the following tricyclic anti-depressants:

• Amitriptyline
• Desipramine
• Imipramine

Side Effects: dizziness, drowsiness, dries mouth and eyes as well as constipation.

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) increase serotonin and norepinephrine one has in their system. SNRIs block serotonin and norepinephrine from being reabsorbed by brain cells.

Side Effects: dizziness, drowsiness and insomnia

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are like SNRIs in that they help increase serotonin levels in the body, yet they differ in that they focus on serotonin levels to help decrease one’s pain perception.

Side Effects: insomnia, headaches and nausea

Anti-Seizures
Anti-seizures are medications that were originally designed to treat seizures. Anti-seizure medication is often prescribed to treat diabetic neuropathy due to its ability to slow down nerve signals so that the pain levels are not communicated to the brain. Examples of anti-seizures anti-convulsants would be:

• Pregabalin
• Gabapentin
• Gabarone
• Neurontin

Side Effects: drowsiness, weight gain, dizziness and nausea

Opioids
Also called narcotics, opioids are painkillers and serious stuff that should not be tampered with unless prescribed. Opioids are prescribed to relieve severe pain quickly but can become addictive.

Side Effects: drowsiness, nausea and constipation

Heed The Warning
Though the use of prescription medication can be effective in treating neuropathy pain and symptoms, there are several downsides to selecting medications as the primary form of neuropathy treatment. Medication can become addictive and have severe adverse side effects that could affect ones emotional, physical and mental stability. Never use narcotics out from under the care of a doctor.
Neuropathy can be emotionally, physically and mentally taxing without adding further complications such as depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety and irritability. To prevent side effects that could cause severe damage to one’s health treating neuropathy naturally is a great alternative to prescription medication.

http://neuropathytreatments.com/2014/02/