5 steps to nerve pain relief

Peripheral neuropathy affects millions of people in the United States. Yet while it may be common, it’s often not an easy condition to manage. It’s also not just a single disease but a group of conditions that cause damage to the nerves outside the brain or spinal cord.

When these peripheral nerves are damaged, they can’t send or receive signals like they should, leading to significant consequences to the body, such as loss of sensation, muscle weakness and, of course, pain.

Living with pain from peripheral neuropathy is often frustrating. You may have pain that varies from stabbing to throbbing to burning to tingling. You also may have tried so-called cures and supplements you’ve read about online but haven’t found any relief.

You don’t have to fall prey to unproven solutions. And you don’t have to suffer. Instead, you can find effective, research-backed treatments for peripheral neuropathy at a trusted academic medical center.

But how do you find your way to successful peripheral neuropathy treatment? Just follow these five steps:

1. Talk to your doctor.

There are more than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy and many different causes, symptoms and recommended medications. To ensure you’re getting the correct treatment for your specific neuropathy, you need to make sure you have the right diagnosis.

2. Think wellness.

Once you have a diagnosis, your doctor will likely encourage some wellness practices, such as involving a physical therapist to help improve your strength, flexibility and function. Your doctor might also ask you to meet with a dietitian, who can help reduce neuropathy symptoms by recommending a nutrient-rich diet.

3. Look around.

Just because you have a diagnosis and a wellness plan, your nerve pain isn’t likely to go away (although it may lessen). This is the time to learn about your options for peripheral neuropathy treatment and where you can find them.

4. Seek help.

Once your doctor has helped you find an academic medical center that provides a variety of innovative treatment options for peripheral neuropathy — or you’ve found one based on your own research — you can schedule an appointment with a provider. Choosing an academic medical center for your treatment ensures it will be backed by research, be administered by an experienced medical provider and include comprehensive follow-up care.

5. Don’t stop believing.

Remember: You don’t have to suffer. You shouldn’t stop or settle until your nerve pain is gone. Thanks to recent advances in neuropathy treatments, if one doesn’t work for you, rest assured that there’s one out there that will. 

Take the next step

Long-term relief from nerve pain is possible. You can trust the Neuropathic Therapy Center (NTC) at Loma Linda University Health to provide you with the latest evidence-based neuropathy solutions.

At the NTC, we offer a groundbreaking physical therapy treatment called Intraneural Facilitation (INF^®) therapy, which involves applying pressure to various areas to improve blood flow and relieve pain. After their initial treatment, most patients report a noticeable difference in their symptoms.

To learn more or schedule an appointment, call the NTC at 909-558-6799. You can also request an appointment online.