This discussion centers upon that which can be done to help minimize and or even eliminate some of the pain associated with neuropathy, without the aid of any additional medications.
The procedures described below are actually a treatment of the underlying cause of the pain, which is accomplished by treatment of the disease itself.
A complete description of a self-directed regimen to accomplish an effective treatment would require a comprehensive and lengthy article - that would be far beyond the scope of this discussion.
Treating Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) and Diabetic Neuropathies The more common neuropathies RSD and diabetic neuropathy are quite similar in presentation.
Only the etiologies (causes) differ.
The etiologies of RSD include: traumatic brain Injury; Inflammation of tissue; nerve damage; bacterial and viral infections; and an heritable predilection to neuropathy.
For diabetic neuropathy, most of the damage and the primary cause is the damage to the vascular system caused by excessive blood glucose.
When capillaries are damaged, the tissue that is attached to these capillaries suffer deprivation of essential nutrients and oxygen.
This tissue ultimately dies because of this lack of basic nutrients.
But while tissue is dying the patient experiences much pain, and the dying tissue begins the cycle of inflammation, which affects other tissue.
In many cases of neuropathy, the next level of underlying etiology is that of insufficient circulation of blood.
Again, the lack of sufficient blood circulation then results in the starving of tissue, which in turn is one of the basic causes of pain.
It is important to note that in most cases, the extent of a neuropathy is local.
Neuropathy does not manifest over your entire body (global) unless it has been present in your body for many years.
In rare cases, neuropathy can achieve affecting your entire body very soon after its first presentation.
How to Treat Local Areas That Are Painful Here are some procedures that are straightforward to follow which may immediately alleviate some if not all of the pain from a local area of your body.
Remembering that most pain is caused by insufficient blood circulation - if is not too painful - massage the affected area from which the pain appears to originate.
And - if it is tolerable - apply low heat to this area.
If the heat is tolerable, then increase it a little.
Please note that RSD and similar neuropathies are highly sensitive to heat and cold.
If massage or the application of heat to the affected area are not tolerable - it may be necessary to medicate against the pain.
This is necessary, because it is most important that the blood circulation in the affected area be improved by stimulation.
This procedure should be repeated as often as possible to be effective.
As the circulation to the affected areas is restored, the pain will diminish.
And when once achieved, this reduction of pain, it is the beginning of the remedying of the underlying disease.
In the case where there is numbness in a specific area (usually toes, front half of feet, fingers and hands), massage may help.
However in this case, such numbness is usually caused by damage to the nerve or nerves themselves.
It may not be possible to remedy all damage completely.
Other remedial steps that can be taken: strengthening the immune system by taking vitamin supplements such as co-enzyme Q10 and anti-oxidants such as vitamin E is highly recommended.
In a subsequent discussion in which the entire topic of diet and vitamin supplements will be covered.
Stressing the insufficiency of blood circulation and its accompanying insufficient delivery of oxygen to the affected tissues (hypoxia), it may be effective to "take an oxygen bath".
This is accomplished by filling the lungs repeatedly by taking deep breaths (in through the nose) and exhaling through the mouth (never inhale through the mouth).
This will cause the heart to pump more blood which will have more oxygen than if if breathing normally.
Thus, more oxygen will be delivered to the affected tissues, as well as to the rest of your body.
Performing these remedial procedures every day and whenever the pain is very great, may help noticeably.
Treating the Underlying Disease While it may not be entirely possible to treat the underlying disease effectively, due to the uncertainty of the primary etiology, applying the procedures described above may effectively treat the circulation problem.
Thus a degree of relief from the pain is possible to achieve.
Please note: that depending upon the nature of the particular neuropathic disease and the physiology of the patient it may not be possible to achieve any relief at all.
In Conclusion It seems that there is not very much information, if any at all, regarding the above suggestions, to be found on the internet.
Also bear in mind, that the pain must treated while treating the underlying disease.
Pain treatment is important, because given sufficient pain, the patient will experience changes to the central nervous system - especially in the spine and thoracic and lumbar ganglia nerves.
Thus, effective treatment of pain is always recommended.