How to Control Nerve Pain
Nerve pain can be extremely painful and can affect your everyday life. It can interfere with your ability to interact with friends and loved ones and can cause you to miss out on activities. Furthermore, it may interfere with sleep or cause you to have decreased mobility.
Nerve pain can be experienced in many different ways. It may feel like a burning or stinging sensation or may feel more like an intermittent stabbing pain. Nerve pain can be one of the most unpleasant things you can experience, so it’s important to try to get it under control as best you can. There are many different treatment options available to help, some of which are quite inexpensive and convenient, such as certain supplements. However, nerve pain can also be managed by your doctor or through the use of certain over the counter medications.
If you’re experiencing nerve pain, it’s important to speak with your doctor before beginning any kind of treatment. They can help you assess your options and get to the root of your pain. However, there are also things you can do on your own that may help. Continue reading to learn more about getting your nerve pain under control.
What Causes Nerve Pain?
Many different things can lead to chronic nerve pain. Some of the most common causes include:
- Injury: Injury is one of the most common causes of nerve pain. Damaged nerves will often become highly sensitive, and this may result in chronic pain.
- Vitamin B-12 Deficiency: A vitamin B-12 shortage has also been linked to nerve pain. Oftentimes, this kind of nerve pain is described as “pins and needles” in the hands or feet.
- Diabetes: Diabetes is strongly associated with nerve pain. It often manifests in the feet and legs and can come along with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
- Autoimmune Disease: There are many different types of autoimmune diseases, and they can come along with various symptoms. However, across the board, nerve pain is often strongly linked to these kinds of conditions.
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse: Abusing drugs and alcohol can have many different effects on the body, all of which can be harmful. In particular, substance abuse can lead the nerves to become damaged due to a build-up of toxins, which can lead to pain.
- Infection: Finally, certain infections can also lead to nerve pain. In particular, infections such as shingles and syphilis have been shown to cause severe nerve pain.
Ways to Control Nerve Pain
Because nerve pain is so disruptive and uncomfortable, many people look for ways to manage it themselves. Remember that it’s always important to discuss any and all treatment options with your doctor. However, there are some things you can do on your own that can work to reduce your nerve pain. Some of the best ways to treat your pain include:
- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs can be one of the most effective ways to combat nerve pain on your own. These include over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. They can be highly effective when it comes to reducing your pain. However, remember that taking too much of these medicines can result in side effects, such as stomach problems, so it’s important not to over-do it.
- Vitamin B-12 Supplements: Additionally, as a vitamin B-12 deficiency is one of the common causes of nerve pain, taking a B-12 supplement can work to reduce your unpleasant sensations.
- Topical Painkillers: Certain topical painkillers can be placed directly on your skin and can work to numb your pain. These can be a safe alternative to prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Make sure to test the topical on a small area first in order to ensure that your skin doesn’t have a reaction.
- Exercise: Taking proper care of yourself is an important part of reducing any type of pain. Nerve pain can subside as nerves are healed and repaired, and keeping your body in good shape can be an important part of that process. Though nerve pain may limit your mobility, certain types of exercise are more gentle than others. Try walking or riding a bike in order to take the strain off your body.
- Proper Diet: Along with exercise comes proper diet. By reducing the toxins in your body, you can help to support nerve repair. Eating healthy foods will help you to feel better all around and can lead to a reduction in nerve pain.
- Acupuncture: Finally, alternative treatments such as acupuncture have been shown to be effective in combatting nerve pain. Harvard Medical School states that “Acupuncture [for pain] is generally quite safe, and the complication rate appears to be quite low.” However, remember to consult with your doctor before seeking out any alternative treatment options.
Nerve pain can be caused by many different things. From injury to infection, there are many different reasons that you may end up experiencing this type of pain. While nerve pain can be extremely uncomfortable and can impact your life in many ways, there are things that can do to help get it under control. Focus on living a healthy lifestyle and look into alternative ways to manage pain such as topicals or even acupuncture. However, always be sure to consult with your doctor before moving forward with treatment options.
