What Caregivers Should Know About Peripheral Neuropathy Foot Treatments

During the years that I’ve been acquainted with my mother-in-law, I’ve familiarized myself with the symptoms and treatments of her polyneuropathy. She’s specifically prone to peripheral neuropathy symptoms, the most prominent being tingling and burning sensations in her feet. These burning and tingling sensations greatly affected her daily life. For patients dealing with these symptoms, here is what caregivers must know about peripheral neuropathy foot treatments.

Appropriate footwear

Patients dealing with peripheral neuropathy symptoms in the feet may experience issues wearing athletic socks and normal shoes. Even softer dress socks may cause a certain amount of pain. Wearing non-constricting, padded socks may help reduce some of the foot pain associated with peripheral neuropathy.

Loose, padded shoes may also help patients prevent the pain associated with wearing constricting shoes. Diabetic shoes feature wider widths and extra padding designed to accommodate peripheral neuropathy symptoms such as swelling and burning sensations. There are also slippers specifically designed for neuropathy patients that have a wider toe box and extra padding.

Topical treatments

As burning sensations may be a common foot ailment for neuropathy patients, caregivers must be aware of which topical treatments may be the most helpful. While prescription treatments such as SSRIs, Cymbalta (duloxetine), and Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) may help patients with peripheral neuropathy symptoms, they often come with side effects that may severely impact the patient as well.

Caregivers may find over-the-counter treatments helpful when addressing the foot pain associated with peripheral neuropathy. Some topical treatments available in local drugstores include NerveRenew cream, MyoMed P.R.O., and Frankincense & Myrrh neuropathy rub. Many topical treatments contain capsaicin, a medication derived from chili pepper seeds that may reduce the capacity for nerve cells to communicate pain messages to the brain.

Over-the-counter supplements

Some common nonprescription treatments for peripheral neuropathy include over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin. These treatments may not be strong enough to address the serious nerve pain associated with peripheral neuropathy. They may be only temporarily beneficial and must not be taken for more than 10 days.

A vitamin B12 deficiency may be responsible for nerve pain in many patients. This deficiency may also worsen nerve pain in neuropathy patients. Many over-the-counter supplements designed to treat nerve pain include vitamin B12. Supplements such as NerveRenew, Natural Care Nervefix, and NerveAlign may help neuropathy patients address the nerve pain that causes foot discomfort.

Lifestyle adjustments

Caregivers must be proactive in helping their patients make lifestyle adjustments that address the pain associated with peripheral neuropathy. This may include implementing a healthy diet consisting of meats, vegetables, and whole grains. Limiting alcohol intake and quitting smoking may also greatly benefit neuropathy patients dealing with nerve pain.

These adjustments, combined with comfortable footwear, topical treatments, and nonprescription supplements, may offer a holistic approach to addressing peripheral neuropathy foot pain.

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Note: FAP News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of FAP News Today or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to familial amyloid polyneuropathy.