Your healthcare provider can help you manage the condition and minimize symptoms if you have neuropathy.It's hard for your nerves to communicate when your nervous system is damaged.Changes in sensation, mobility, or bodily functions can be caused by this.Your entire body can be affected by neuralgia.There are many causes of neuralgia, including injuries, diseases, disorders, and exposure to toxins.You should visit your healthcare provider if you suspect that you have neuropathy.
Step 1: You should watch for sensations in your hands or feet.
The feeling may start to spread from your hands and feet to your arms and legs.If you don't have an obvious cause for your sensations, such as sitting on your leg for too long or sleeping funny, you should talk to your healthcare provider.The way that you walk can be changed if your feet are numb.Over time, the change can affect your body in a number of ways.You may get blisters and sores because you can't feel that you're walking evenly.
Step 2: There is no direct external cause for your pain.
You may experience sharp, jabbing, throbbing, burning, or freezing pain from issues within your nerves and not from an injury.It is possible that you are experiencing pain for no reason.
Step 3: Consider if you are sensitive to touch.
Since your nerves are not responding properly to sensations, you may feel them more strongly.It's rare, but it could mean that a light pat on the back makes you feel worse.
Step 4: A tendency to fall down is a sign of a lack of coordination.
It will most likely be a recent development and not a lifelong issue with clumsiness.If you have been bumping into doors and furniture more often recently, or if you suddenly fall down or trip for no reason, consider.
Step 5: Notice weakness in the muscles.
If your motor nerves are affected, you can experience muscle weakness and possibly paralysis because the nerve can't communicate with your muscles.You may not be able to pick up things or even talk in the late stages of neuropathy.
Step 6: If you are sweating less, consider if you have become heat sensitive.
You may have trouble regulating your bodily functions if your autonomic nerves are affected.When you get hot, you should tell your body to sweat.Your body may not sweat as much.
Step 7: Look for issues in the body.
These symptoms can be caused by a variety of problems, but if they are combined with other symptoms like numbness or pain, they may be indicative of neuropathy.Your nerves may not be able to send messages to your body to tell it when to go to the bathroom because of nerve damage.It is possible that you may experience the following symptoms.
Step 8: You should watch for dizziness and lightheadedness.
Your body won't be able to respond to changes in your activity levels if it's unable to regulate your heart rate and blood pressure.Your heart rate can stay high even when you're not working out, and your blood pressure can quickly drop if you don't exercise.If you have dizziness or lightheadedness, it could be something else.The dizziness and lightheadedness may be worse if you sit down or stand up.
Step 9: You can schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider.
You should see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.One or more tests can be conducted by your healthcare provider to determine if your symptoms are related to a medical condition.There are treatments for neuropathy.Your healthcare provider can help you manage your symptoms.
Step 10: To identify possible causes, prepare a medical and lifestyle history.
A complete medical profile, including your family history of neurological diseases, is required by your healthcare provider.They will need to understand your lifestyle habits.If you have a history of alcohol abuse, they may ask.They will be able to identify the cause of your symptoms.Your background information can be used by your healthcare provider to narrow down the possible causes and decide which tests to run.
Step 11: A neurological examination is needed to check for nerve issues.
It is easy to perform a neurological examination in your healthcare provider's office.Your healthcare provider will check to make sure that your muscles are strong.They will check your reflexes either by tapping your knee to see if your leg responds or by poking you with a small needle, which won't hurt but may be uncomfortable.They will make sure that you walk with balance by checking your posture and coordination.
Step 12: If you have a blood test, it's a good idea to look for conditions that cause neuropathy.
The first test your healthcare provider will likely order is a blood test.It's possible that you have a deficiency of vitamins, diabetes, or an abnormal immune function.Your healthcare provider could make a better diagnosis using a blood test.
Step 13: If the blood test doesn't reveal a cause, you should get an x-ray.
It is possible for your healthcare provider to get a clearer picture of what is happening inside your body with the help of an image test.These tests will not be painful.The healthcare provider will be able to see if you have a herniated disk, tumor, or other abnormality that is affecting your nervous system.
Step 14: To see how well your nerves respond to signals, undergo tests.
Nerve function tests can be done in either the healthcare provider's office or a hospital, but are usually a quick outpatient procedure.Depending on which type of neuropathy your healthcare provider suspects, there are different types of function tests.They will be done in the same session to make it easier for you.Your healthcare provider may use a fine needle to determine if you have nerve damage while these tests are not painful.It's a good idea to avoid creams and moisturizers before your tests.For 2 to 3 hours before the tests, don't drink or smoke.The test looks at how quickly your nerves respond to brain signals.It's possible that you have damaged nerves.Your healthcare provider may order an autonomic test, which means that they will check how well you are breathing, how your blood pressure reacts to body position changes, and if you're having bathroom issues.They may do an abortion.You can see how well you feel with sensory tests.Your healthcare provider will put a patch on your body to measure the nerve response.It isn't painful and it's a simple test.You may feel uneasy at times.
Step 15: Determine the type and severity of the condition with a nerve biopsy.
It's a very simple procedure that is rarely used to determine if you have neuropathy.It will be done in an outpatient setting and under local anesthesia.Most often, the healthcare provider will remove a tiny piece of nerve from your ankle.The small incision will be closed with dissolvable stitches and plaster.You can usually get home the same day.The healthcare provider will be able to make a better diagnosis with the help of the biopsy.They will be able to prescribe a better course of treatment to help manage your symptoms.
Step 16: If your pain is serious, take pain relief.
If your healthcare provider approves them for your use, try over-the-counter pain killers.If you don't get relief from your pain, your healthcare provider may refer you to a pain clinic.If you don't experience any pain, you do not need to take pain killers.Discuss any medications you are taking with your healthcare provider and pharmacist to make sure they are appropriate for you and don't interact with other medications.
Step 17: If pain remedies don't help, ask for an anti-seizure medication.
Nerve pain can be treated with medication that is normally used to treat seizure.Gralise, Neurontin, and Lyrica are some of the medications.If they are right for you, your healthcare provider can decide.Dopamine and dizziness can be caused by these medications.Before taking an anti-seizure medication, try pain relief.
Step 18: It is possible to relieve symptoms without using oral medication.
Capsaicin cream and lidocaine patches can be used to treat nerve pain.Capsaicin cream contains a substance found in hot peppers that can help relieve symptoms of neuropathy when it's absorbed through the skin.You have to get a prescription from your healthcare provider or a pain clinic for lidocaine patches to work.Use these medications under the supervision of your healthcare provider.Capsaicin cream can cause skin burning and irritation at the application site, which usually goes away after 2 to 4 weeks of continued use.You might want to consider a different treatment if it doesn't work.drowsiness, dizziness, and numbness in the area around the patch can be caused by lidocaine patches.
Step 19: If your nerves are over-stimulated, take an anti-depressant.
Changing the chemical processes in your brain is how some antidepressants reduce pain.Your healthcare provider can help you make a decision.If you use an antidepressant, you may experience side effects, such as dry mouth, nausea, dizziness, and decreased appetite.Under the supervision of your healthcare provider, only use antidepressants.
Step 20: Try TENS therapy to relieve pain.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is called TENS.A nurse or healthcare provider will put something on your skin.During the therapy, a gentle electric current at varying frequencies will travel through the electrodes and into your body, stimulating the nerves.The amount of pain caused by your nerves should be reduced by this stimulation.Treatments last for 30 minutes with TENS therapy.If your healthcare provider or therapist gives you a portable machine, you can learn how to use it at home.A TENS machine should be monitored by your healthcare provider.
Step 21: If inflammation is the reason, use plasma exchange therapy.
This treatment can help reduce inflammation in your body that is causing your symptoms.You just need to allow a healthcare provider to draw your blood and remove the antibodies.They will inject the blood back into you.
Step 22: If your muscles are weak, complete physical therapy.
A physical therapist can help you retrain your muscles.You might be able to correct issues with your walking.They can help you with your adaptive devices, such as a cane, walker, or wheelchair.
Step 23: If the neuropathy is caused by pressure, consider surgery.
There is a chance that a tumor is putting pressure on your nerves.If the tumor is benign, it should be looked at by your doctor and biopsied if necessary.