Nerve Pain
Symptoms of
Nerve Pain
A tingling or prickling sensation
A burning sensation
Shooting or stabbing pain
Numbness
Weakness or heaviness in muscles
Sensitive skin
Peripheral Neuropathy and Diabetes
Experts describe 10 ways to treat diabetic nerve pain at home.
By Matthew Hoffman, MD
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD
For millions of people with diabetes, living with nerve pain means learning to improvise. Even the best medicines only cut nerve pain by about half, on average. And some people with diabetes might want to avoid the expense and potential side effects of additional prescription drugs.
Not surprisingly, more than half of people with diabetic neuropathy say they've tried complementary treatments to relieve their nerve pain.
Experts say the urge toward self-care is good. "There are a lot of effective things you can do at home to improve the pain from diabetic neuropathy," says Sue McLaughlin, RD, CDE, president of health care and education for the American Diabetes Association. "You live with it every day, and you can do something positive about it daily, too."
Peripheral Neuropathy: The Not-So-Minor Complication of Diabetes
Diabetic nerve pain is caused by nerve damage, the result of the toxic effects of high blood sugars and poor circulation. Over time, as more nerve fibers are lost, nerves lose their ability to transmit sensation. Numbness in the feet and legs is the common symptom that two-thirds of people with diabetes experience at some point.
The Top Neuropathic Pain Treatment: Controlling Blood Sugar Levels
Walking to Heal Damaged Nerves
Exercise improves blood flow to leg and foot nerves, a regular exercise program may nourish damaged nerves back to health.
Warm Water Treatment for Diabetic Neuropathy
Some people find that a regular warm bath provides some relief from mild nerve pain. Warm baths boost blood flow to the skin of the legs and feet.
Check the water temperature with your arm, not your feet, before stepping in.
Vitamin B Complex May Help Nerve Pain
The B vitamins (B-1, B-12, B-6, and folic acid) are essential for nerve health. Most people get enough B vitamins just from eating a healthy diet, but controlled studies differ on whether taking a B vitamin supplement improves nerve pain.
Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve) are better for headaches than nerve pain, most experts say. Still, they can play a part in your home treatment plan for neuropathic pain.
Evening Primrose Oil and Diabetic Neuropathy
Extracted from the evening primrose plant, this oil is rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which are important structural components of cell walls. Theoretically, supplementing the diet with evening primrose oil, which is available in pills, may boost the repair or regrowth of damaged nerves cells.
Botanical Oils for Nerve Pain
Some studies have shown that applying botanical oils such as geranium oil can reduce the pain of postherpetic neuralgia. Other oils, such as lavender oil, have been shown to help relax people, which may also help take the mind off nerve pain.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid May Help Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
This potent antioxidant, also called thioctic acid, clears so-called free radicals from the body, potentially reducing nerve damage. In Germany it is used to treat nerve pain and damage from diabetes.
Nerve Pain
A tingling or prickling sensation
A burning sensation
Shooting or stabbing pain
Numbness
Weakness or heaviness in muscles
Sensitive skin
Peripheral Neuropathy and Diabetes
Experts describe 10 ways to treat diabetic nerve pain at home.
By Matthew Hoffman, MD
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD
For millions of people with diabetes, living with nerve pain means learning to improvise. Even the best medicines only cut nerve pain by about half, on average. And some people with diabetes might want to avoid the expense and potential side effects of additional prescription drugs.
Not surprisingly, more than half of people with diabetic neuropathy say they've tried complementary treatments to relieve their nerve pain.
Experts say the urge toward self-care is good. "There are a lot of effective things you can do at home to improve the pain from diabetic neuropathy," says Sue McLaughlin, RD, CDE, president of health care and education for the American Diabetes Association. "You live with it every day, and you can do something positive about it daily, too."
Peripheral Neuropathy: The Not-So-Minor Complication of Diabetes
Diabetic nerve pain is caused by nerve damage, the result of the toxic effects of high blood sugars and poor circulation. Over time, as more nerve fibers are lost, nerves lose their ability to transmit sensation. Numbness in the feet and legs is the common symptom that two-thirds of people with diabetes experience at some point.
The Top Neuropathic Pain Treatment: Controlling Blood Sugar Levels
Walking to Heal Damaged Nerves
Exercise improves blood flow to leg and foot nerves, a regular exercise program may nourish damaged nerves back to health.
Warm Water Treatment for Diabetic Neuropathy
Some people find that a regular warm bath provides some relief from mild nerve pain. Warm baths boost blood flow to the skin of the legs and feet.
Check the water temperature with your arm, not your feet, before stepping in.
Vitamin B Complex May Help Nerve Pain
The B vitamins (B-1, B-12, B-6, and folic acid) are essential for nerve health. Most people get enough B vitamins just from eating a healthy diet, but controlled studies differ on whether taking a B vitamin supplement improves nerve pain.
Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve) are better for headaches than nerve pain, most experts say. Still, they can play a part in your home treatment plan for neuropathic pain.
Evening Primrose Oil and Diabetic Neuropathy
Extracted from the evening primrose plant, this oil is rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which are important structural components of cell walls. Theoretically, supplementing the diet with evening primrose oil, which is available in pills, may boost the repair or regrowth of damaged nerves cells.
Botanical Oils for Nerve Pain
Some studies have shown that applying botanical oils such as geranium oil can reduce the pain of postherpetic neuralgia. Other oils, such as lavender oil, have been shown to help relax people, which may also help take the mind off nerve pain.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid May Help Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
This potent antioxidant, also called thioctic acid, clears so-called free radicals from the body, potentially reducing nerve damage. In Germany it is used to treat nerve pain and damage from diabetes.
