stopnerve pain
doesn’t hurt, it can become
infected and lead to even more
serious bone infection.
If you experience tingling, “pins and needles,” sensitivity, and burning or shooting pains in your hands, arms, legs, and feet, you may be suffering
from nerve pain. Also known as
neuropathy, nerve pain is a result of
nerve damage.
ROOTS OF NEUROPATHY
According to the Neuropathy Association,
more than 20 million Americans are
afflicted with peripheral nerve damage
that can lead to neuropathy. A variety of
causes range from autoimmune diseases
like multiple sclerosis to drug side
effects, and even nutritional
deficiencies. But the most common
cause of neuropathy is diabetes.
PAY ATTENTION TO PAIN
Regardless of the cause, many people
experience nerve pain and think if they
ignore it, it will go away. If neuropathy
goes unchecked, there can be serious
consequences. The pain, sensitivity, or
numbness may make it difficult or nearly
impossible to walk, climb stairs, and
exercise. Also, damage may progress and
could potentially lead to irreversible nerve
damage such as insensitivity to pain. So
when a seemingly minor irritation like a
cut or blister is overlooked because it
GOOD NEWS
Several things can be done to
treat neuropathy
; If you are overweight, have
high-blood pressure or high
cholesterol, or if you’ve had
diabetes for more than 25 years,
you should see your doctor now
to map out a plan to control
these conditions.
; Some neuropathy sufferers
have found relief by taking opioid
pain relievers and antidepressants
prescribed by their doctors.
However, over-the-counter
medication like acetaminophen
and ibuprofen have not often
proven effective.
; Prescription topical treatments
such as the Lidocaine patch can be effective in alleviating pain.
; In clinical trials, 80% of Neuragen
users typically felt pain relief within 30
minutes, with the duration of pain relief
up to eight hours with no side effects and
no drug interactions reported. To learn
more about Neuragen, visit neuragen.com.
As with all medical conditions, you
should speak to your health-care provider
for further information.
DIABETES & FOOT CARE If you suffer from neuropathy, take especially good care of your feet with these tips
Diabetes affects eight percent of
the population. There are approximately 23. 6 million Americans
who are diabetic and another 50
million are pre-diabetic. A full
50% of diabetics suffer from
neuropathy caused by this disease,
usually due to elevated sugar levels.
GET PROFESSIONAL CARE See a
podiatrist regularly. Report
even minor problems to avoid
serious consequences.
CLEAN DAILY Look for cuts, blisters,
redness, calluses, or ingrown
toenails. Wash feet daily and dry
well, particularly between toes.
MAKE SURE SHOES FIT Avoid shoes
that are too tight, put pressure on
part of the foot, or sandals that
weave between toes.
KEEP TOENAILS TRIMMED Cut
straight across, and file edges with
an emery board; have nails trimmed
when you go to the podiatrist.
DON’T GO BAREFOO T Even
indoors, wear shoes or slippers
to protect feet from injury.
CHECK YOUR SHOES Before slip-ping your feet in, check inside
shoes with your hand for sharp
edges or foreign objects.
SOURCE National Diabetes Information
Clearinghouse (NDIC)