Peripheral Neuropathy (cont.)
Is there any treatment for peripheral neuropathy?
The treatment for peripheral neuropathy depends on its cause. The first step in treatment is, therefore, to look for the cause.
- Vitamin deficiencies can be corrected.
- Diabetes can be controlled, although control may not reverse the
neuropathy. The goal with diabetes is early detection to prevent the occurrence of neuropathy.
- Neuropathies that are associated with immune diseases can improve with treatment of the autoimmune disease.
- Neuropathy caused by nerve entrapment can be treated by physical therapy, injections or surgery.
- Prompt treatment with sympathetic injections can minimize the chance of shingles progressing to post herpetic neuralgia.
If a specific treatment isn't available, the pain of the neuropathy can usually be controlled with medications. The simplest treatment is acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or
aspirin. Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil) and anti-seizure medications, such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) have been used to relieve the pain of neuropathy. Capsaicin, the chemical responsible for chili peppers being hot, is used as a cream to help relieve the pain of a peripheral neuropathy.
Pregabalin (Lyrica) has recently been approved by the FDA for the treatment of post herpetic neuralgia and
diabetic peripheral neuropathy, while duloxetine (Cymbalta) has been approved for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The addition of these drugs to our set of tools to treat peripheral neuropathy is very exciting and indicates the interest in this area.
If you believe you have a peripheral neuropathy, you should contact your healthcare practitioner since many causes of peripheral neuropathy can be successfully treated.
Peripheral Neuropathy At A Glance
- There are many causes of peripheral neuropathy, including
many drugs,
diabetes, shingles, kidney failure, and vitamin deficiency.
- Many causes of peripheral neuropathy can be successfully
treated or
prevented.
- The treatment for a peripheral neuropathy depends on its
cause.
Last Editorial Review: 12/7/2007
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