Treatment for Neuropathy in Legs

Do you suffer from neuropathy in one or more parts of your body? Neuropathy in legs is one of the most common types of neuropathy in our patients. Neuropathy itself is an umbrella term that involves damage or defects within your peripheral nervous system. This is a system that branches off from your central nervous system that consists of your brain and spinal cord. Just as peripheral neuropathy nerves are offshoots of your central nervous system, peripheral neuropathy symptoms shoot off from the center of your body to areas such as your legs and feet. Many patients experience numbness, tingling or weakness that prevents them from normal everyday activities. However, neuropathy in legs doesn’t have to be a way of life. Find soothing treatment for your neuropathy in legs today and get back on your feet in no time!

Your Nervous System

You have many systems in your body, one of which is the central nervous system. This system consists of your spinal cord and brain and is one of the most delicate systems in the body. In fact, this complex collection of nerve tissues control all the activities of your body. If you damage your brain or spinal cord, you will have serious or life-threatening complications. Luckily, these organs are protected by very tough bones. However, you also have millions of tiny nerves that go all throughout your body through the peripheral nervous system.

This is the system that stems from your central nervous system. Think of your brain and spinal cord as the mother organs with small roots and branches that go all throughout your body collecting information. The way you experience your environment has a lot to do with your peripheral nervous system because this system works with your senses to learn. Touch is especially important. When you touch something, your peripheral nerves make millions of connections of information and tell your brain what you are feeling and how to interpret what you are touching. However, there are many people that struggle with damage or defects with their peripheral nervous system. This leads to peripheral neuropathy problems.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Neuropathy is damage or defect to one or more nerves in your body. There are several types of neuropathy that you might have in your limbs that include:

• Polyneuropathy – Poly refers to “more than one”. This is nerve damage that irritates either all or several of your peripheral nerves. You may have a nerve damaged in both your leg(s) or feet, leading to neuropathy in legs or elsewhere.
• Mononeuropathy – You have a single nerve that is damaged or compressed. An example is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or radial nerve palsy.
• Multiple Mononeuropathy – This is when there is damage to two separate nerves at the same time.

There are many causes of peripheral neuropathy, including neuropathy in legs. Major causes are chronic diseases such as HIV and AIDS, conditions that affect kidney and liver function, tumors and sudden trauma to your body. Other causes that you can control are alcoholism (which damages your nerves over time), exposure to toxins or heavy metals, nutritional imbalances and deficiencies and even poor posture.

Unfortunately, in about 30% of cases, neuropathy symptoms are diagnosed as “idiopathic”. This means that there is no known cause. However, there are many therapies in place that can reduce symptoms of neuropathy. Even if you have neuropathy that is idiopathic, you can still have reduced symptoms with proper therapy and care.

Neuropathy in Legs and Feet

Peripheral neuropathy is generally used to define neuropathy in your limbs and extremities. To be more specific, “proximal neuropathy” is nerve damage in your legs and feet. Some patients may not realize they have neuropathy in legs unless their symptoms have been around for awhile. Common signs to watch for are burning, numbness, tingling and weakness in your legs. Causes of these symptoms include:

• Diabetes
• Imbalances in your hormones (the endocrine system)
• Nutritional deficiencies and alcoholism
• Toxins and drugs
• Heredity, advanced age and arthritis

If you have neuropathy in legs, you can receive treatment so that you can walk around and continue to complete your daily tasks.

Soothing Treatment

We have previously talked about neuropathy in feet. This is similar to neuropathy in legs even though you may have more symptoms with neuropathy in legs (because it’s a larger area of your body. Among the many treatments we have found beneficial to patients are:

• Wear shoes that have good support and examine your legs and feet regularly for problems.
• Control your blood sugar to decrease nerve damage (especially if diabetes is the cause).
• Involve a podiatrist or other specialized medical doctor for your care.
• Stop tobacco or alcohol use that could be damaging your nerves.
• Get plenty of physical activity or get a fitness plan from a physical therapist that involves specific exercises for your neuropathy in legs.
• Electrical nerve stimulation treatment, which can be prescribed through a physician. This sends tiny electrical impulses to specific nerve pathways in your body through small electrodes placed 0n your skin.
• Receive anti-inflammatory nerve injections for pain, inflammation and swelling.
• Massage therapy to help with nerve pain
• LED light therapy to improve circulation and blood flow to soothe neuropathy symptoms

Get Back on Your Feet

Nobody wants to have neuropathy in legs or neuropathy in any other part of their body. However, people continue to have neuropathy symptoms every year. Some of those cases are idiopathic, but all cases can benefit from therapy. If you have neuropathy in legs or in any other part of your body, receive soothing treatment today! Those who receive treatment in the form of therapy function better and find relief of their symptoms much more often than those who live with their symptoms. Seek out rehabilitative services and watch how quickly you can get back on your feet!