There are four different types of diabetic neuropathy, each having their own distinct symptoms and treatment.  Proximal neuropathy symptoms differentiate themselves from the other types in several distinct ways. First, proximal neuropathy affects the functioning of nerves in the buttocks, thighs, and hips rather than affecting the ends of nerves like the more common type of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The symptoms are usually sudden and drastic and seemingly appear overnight.  In fact, the sufferer can often remember the exact time or day that the painful symptoms first appeared.  It feels like a relentless burning or jabbing in the affected area and usually quickly leads the victim to seek out medical care. The pain is often so intense that it is difficult to sleep, and narcotics are often required to alleviate the pain.  Sometimes a person is unable to walk in sometimes even confined to a wheelchair, and the quality of […]

Facial neuropathy, or facial nerve palsy, is a nervous system disorder that is usually caused by another disease which is referred to as the primary disease. The most common primary diseases that are associated with facial neuropathy are autoimmune deficiency disorder, Lyme disease, or the presence of a tumor that affects the normal operation of the cranial nerves. Symptoms The symptoms are highly diverse from one individual to another and range from headaches, facial drooping especially of the cheeks, facial paralysis, and difficulty with muscle movements of the face. It is common for the symptoms to present themselves on only one side of the face.  In other words, the patient may have a drooping eye lid or cheek on only one side of the face.  He may have difficulty with making fine motor movements on only one side of the face. A common symptom is increased sound or sensitivity in […]

Turmeric is an alternative treatment for the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy that not many people are aware of.  It is more commonly used by sufferers of fibromyalgia to alleviate their symptoms, and also as an herbal relief for arthritis. Turmeric is a spice closely related to the ginger family which has a strong yellowish color and pigmentation.  It is commonly used in Indian and Thai food and is believed to have special medicinal properties in Indian lore. The medicinal benefits of turmeric are largely derived from its innate anti-inflammatory properties.  Many people find that ingesting it on a daily basis is a helpful and natural way to reduce symptoms of inflammation and the many maladies that are associated with it. Turmeric should be considered an alternative therapy for neuropathy rather than a front-line treatment You will probably not find many Western medical doctors recommending the use of turmeric as a […]

Acupuncture is an alternative treatment for diabetic neuropathy that many people are not aware of.  It is not a course of action that many Western medical doctors would recommend, however, there are nonetheless many people who believe they get great benefits from the procedure. So is there any evidence that acupuncture really does help to alleviate the painful symptoms of peripheral neuropathy?  Scientifically, little is understood about the mechanisms that acupuncture uses and much of our knowledge about procedure currently is only anecdotal. It is based on an ancient Chinese theories which have been difficult to verify in the laboratory. One of the reasons for this is because acupuncture is so invasive in its nature that it is difficult to develop they suitable placebo for use in clinical trials. Despite Western medicines scant scientific knowledge of acupuncture, it cannot be denied that there is significant anecdotal evidence that it does […]

In medicine, a differential diagnosis is the process that a doctor uses to determine the specific causes of symptoms being experienced by his patient.  Sometimes a  certain set of symptoms can have many different causes and the process of determining those in that specific case can be a time-consuming and in-depth process. Peripheral neuropathy symptoms, such as numbness and burning in the hands and feet, can have many different causes.  When a patient presents himself with the symptoms, it is necessary for the doctor to determine which tests need to be performed in order to distinguish the underlying cause of those specific symptoms. Since peripheral neuropathy is caused in a large amount of cases, approximately 1/3 of all cases in fact, by long-standing complications from diabetes, it would be prudent for the doctor to schedule a fasting blood glucose lab test is one of the first diagnostics. Another cause of […]

Peripheral neuropathy is a debilitating disease that causes a severe impact on the quality of life of its sufferers.  Neuropathy refers to a disease of the nerves, and about one third of peripheral neuropathy cases are caused by the uncontrolled blood sugar levels of diabetes mellitus. It takes a long period of time, usually years, for diabetes to cause nerve damage sufficient to produce the initial symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.  Neuropathy is a progressive disease that will spread to the rest of the body and become autonomic neuropathy if it’s underlying cause is not diagnosed and treated quickly and proficiently. My personal experience with tingling, burning, prickling, and numbness in the hands and fingers. The initial symptoms are a tingling or burning sensation in the extremities, usually the feet but in a lesser percentage of people it begins in the hands or fingers. In my personal experience with diabetic peripheral […]

Alpha lipoic acid is a naturally forming antioxidant that is found in nearly every cell of the body.  Antioxidants are powerful agents that counteract free radicals which are known to cause various forms of cancer, although they have lesser-known functions as well. Most antioxidants and vitamins are either water-soluble or fat-soluble, but not both.  This means that they may be utilized by the body in only certain parts of the body, and this quality also affects where any surplus nutrients are stored in the body and how long it can be stored. A very unique characteristic of alpha lipoic acid is that it is both water-soluble and fat-soluble.  It may be obtained naturally by eating certain foods like broccoli, but it can also be readily produced by the body as needed without being acquired in the diet. Study shows that alpha lipoic acid may help diabetes and peripheral neuropathy Alpha […]

Nerve damage, or neuropathy, can be caused by trauma such as a car accident or fall, or by disease such as diabetes.  It leads to many problems that can severely lower a person’s quality of life. Nerve damage often manifests itself in loss of tactile sensation in the affected area.  In diabetic peripheral neuropathy, it manifests itself as burning and numbness in the feet and hands. When a person first experiences these symptoms he wants to know if the nerve damage can be reversed or if it is permanent, and will it get worse than it is now? The answer is that nerve damage can be reversed in certain circumstances.  I can personally testify to that because I suffered from severe burning pain in my hands caused by diabetes mellitus, but thankfully I no longer have any of the symptoms. Our nerves have a limited capacity to regenerate themselves as […]

Peripheral neuropathy is an acquired, degenerative nerve disease and there are currently over 50 known causes for it.  One of the most common causes is diabetes, as high blood sugar is known to damage nerves and inhibit their function.  If the primary cause of the neuropathy can be determined, then it is possible to formulate a plan to eliminate that cause and thus possibly reverse the nerve damage and its symptoms. The most common symptoms are a prickling sensation in the feet and sometimes the hands, and a loss of tactile sensation in those areas of the body.  Loss of muscle control and strength also accompanies it.  It is imperative that the underlying cause of the neuropathy be determined, or else the symptoms may continue to progress to other areas of the body and get worse. What is idiopathic neuropathy? In about one third of the cases of peripheral neuropathy, […]

For those suffering the relentless pain associated with peripheral neuropathy, topical creams, oils, and ointments can certainly provide a welcome relief. Neuropathy cream directly treats the prickly, tingly, burning sensations associated with nerve damage, providing temporary respite from the suffering. Active Ingredients The formulations used in neuropathic creams often include a combination of natural oils– such as aloe vera, menthol, camphor, wintergreen, eucalyptus, pine needle, safflower, etc. Capsaicin, an active component of chili peppers, is commonly used as well. Capsaicin is a natural analgesic or painkiller. Vitamins, especially B vitamins, are often included, too. Vitamin B deficiency is a known cause of neuropathic symptoms. These compounds soothe and numb the skin and mitigate the prickly, burning sensations. Benefits of neuropathy cream Available over-the-counter, no prescription necessary. Applied topically, directly where the pain is. If your feet hurt, you apply it directly to your feet. Different from oral medication which can not […]

Peripheral neuropathy usually afflicts the feet and hands first in most individuals. The first sign of the disease is often a tingling, burning, or prickly sensation in the feet. If the underlying cause of neuropathy is not treated quickly, the symptoms will eventually spread to other parts of the body. Why does neuropathy affect the feet first? Neuropathy is caused by damage to the peripheral nerves that extend from the central nervous system to the extremities of the body. The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord. The peripheral nerves extend the length of the limbs to give us control and feeling in our hands and feet. Signals from the feet must physically travel the farthest of any part of the body to reach the brain. Therefore, nerve signals from the feet are more susceptible to interference, so to speak, because of the long distance they […]

There are two steps involved in treating the painful symptoms of peripheral neuropathy (sometimes referred to as diabetic or alcoholic neuropathy). The first step involves testing and investigation to determine the underlying cause of the neuropathy, and the second step is determining proper pain management for the symptoms. The first step of neuropathy treatment is determining its root cause The symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can be caused by many different things. In order to treat the disease, your doctor will most likely want to run some lab tests in an attempt to ascertain the specific underlying cause of your symptoms. Blood tests can reveal many of the most obvious causes such as diabetes, elevated lipid levels, and the presence of toxins or heavy metals. The doctor will also want to investigate your family history to see if the disease runs in your family. Neuropathy that is inherited genetically is among the most […]