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Sarah Mitchell — Reviewed writer, former magazine editor

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How to Use Technology to Treat Neuropathy in Feet

Peripheral neuropathy can turn simple walking into a painful experience, but mastering technology to treat neuropathy in feet can significantly improve your quality of life. From TENS units to smart monitoring systems, the intersection of healthcare and technology provides new ways to dampen nerve pain and prevent complications. While these tools are powerful, they should always be used as a complement to a professional medical plan.

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Part 1

Making Lifestyle Changes

Walk

regularly. Try to walk outside at least three times a week. Or, do an exercise that is safe and comfortable for you. You can ask your doctor to recommend a proper exercise regimen. Exercise will improve your blood flow and nourish damaged nerves. Walking reduces your overall blood sugar levels and makes diabetes easier to control. If you successfully control your diabetes, your neuropathy will lessen.

Try to walk outside at least three times a week.
Or, do an exercise that is safe and comfortable for you.
You can ask your doctor to recommend a proper exercise regimen.
Exercise will improve your blood flow and nourish damaged nerves.
Walking reduces your overall blood sugar levels and makes diabetes easier to control.

Soak your feet.

Fill a small container or tub with warm water and add 1/4 cup of Epsom salt for each cup of water. Make sure the water isn't over 100 degrees. Set your feet in the container or tub so that the water covers them. The warmth of the water can relax you and distract you from the pain in your feet. And, Epsom salts contain magnesium, which can relax your muscles.

Fill a small container or tub with warm water and add 1/4 cup of Epsom salt for each cup of water.
Make sure the water isn't over 100 degrees.
Set your feet in the container or tub so that the water covers them.
The warmth of the water can relax you and distract you from the pain in your feet.
And, Epsom salts contain magnesium, which can relax your muscles.

Reduce or avoid alcohol.

Alcohol can be toxic to your nerves, especially if they are already damaged. You should limit yourself to four drinks spaced over the course of a week. Some forms of neuropathy are actually caused by alcoholism, so you should eliminate alcohol if you have any neuropathy. Stopping drinking can relieve your symptoms and prevent more damage.

Alcohol can be toxic to your nerves, especially if they are already damaged.
You should limit yourself to four drinks spaced over the course of a week.
Some forms of neuropathy are actually caused by alcoholism, so you should eliminate alcohol if you have any neuropathy.
Stopping drinking can relieve your symptoms and prevent more damage.
Alcohol can be toxic to your nerves, especially if they are already damaged.

Take evening primrose oil

. This natural oil found in a wildflower is available in pill form. Ask your doctor to recommend a specific dose of the supplement evening primrose oil. Studies have shown that the fatty acids it contains can improve symptoms of neuropathy. These fatty acids improve your nerve function.

This natural oil found in a wildflower is available in pill form.
Ask your doctor to recommend a specific dose of the supplement evening primrose oil.
Studies have shown that the fatty acids it contains can improve symptoms of neuropathy.
These fatty acids improve your nerve function.
This natural oil found in a wildflower is available in pill form.

Try acupuncture.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine in which needles are placed on specific pressure points. Stimulating these pressure points, or acupoints, causes the body to release endorphins, which soothe pain. The acupuncturist will insert four to ten needles into acupoints and leave them there for about half an hour. You will need six to twelve sessions over a period of three months.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine in which needles are placed on specific pressure points.
Stimulating these pressure points, or acupoints, causes the body to release endorphins, which soothe pain.
The acupuncturist will insert four to ten needles into acupoints and leave them there for about half an hour.
You will need six to twelve sessions over a period of three months.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine in which needles are placed on specific pressure points.

Consider complementary and alternative therapies.

In addition to acupuncture, you can try meditation and low-intensity transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for relief of neuropathy symptoms. The TENS procedure uses a small battery pack to charge probes that are placed around areas where you're experiencing pain. The probes and battery create a circuit through which an electrical current passes to stimulate the area. Studies have shown that TENS is effective in treating certain kinds of neuropathic pain, although more research is needed.

In addition to acupuncture, you can try meditation and low-intensity transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for relief of neuropathy symptoms.
The TENS procedure uses a small battery pack to charge probes that are placed around areas where you're experiencing pain.
The probes and battery create a circuit through which an electrical current passes to stimulate the area.
Studies have shown that TENS is effective in treating certain kinds of neuropathic pain, although more research is needed.
In addition to acupuncture, you can try meditation and low-intensity transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for relief of neuropathy symptoms.

Part 2

Using Medical Treatments

Take medications prescribed by your doctor.

A variety of medications are available to treat neuropathy. Your doctor will focus on managing the medical disorder that's causing your neuropathy, which will reduce symptoms and improve the nerve function in your feet. Your doctor may prescribe:

A variety of medications are available to treat neuropathy.
Your doctor will focus on managing the medical disorder that's causing your neuropathy, which will reduce symptoms and improve the nerve function in your feet.
Your doctor may prescribe:
A variety of medications are available to treat neuropathy.
Your doctor will focus on managing the medical disorder that's causing your neuropathy, which will reduce symptoms and improve the nerve function in your feet.

Use opiates as prescribed.

Your doctor may prescribe long-acting opiates to treat the pain of your neuropathy. This is usually determined on an individual basis, because side effects include dependence (addiction), tolerance (they become less effective over time), and headaches.

Your doctor may prescribe long-acting opiates to treat the pain of your neuropathy.
This is usually determined on an individual basis, because side effects include dependence (addiction), tolerance (they become less effective over time), and headaches.
Your doctor may prescribe long-acting opiates to treat the pain of your neuropathy.
This is usually determined on an individual basis, because side effects include dependence (addiction), tolerance (they become less effective over time), and headaches.
Your doctor may prescribe long-acting opiates to treat the pain of your neuropathy.

Talk with your doctor about surgery.

Depending on the cause of your neuropathy, your doctor may recommend a decompressive surgery. This will release pressure from entrapped nerves which will let them function correctly. Decompressive surgery is often done for carpal tunnel syndrome. But, certain types of hereditary neuropathy that cause issues in the foot and ankle can also benefit from decompressive surgery.

Depending on the cause of your neuropathy, your doctor may recommend a decompressive surgery.
This will release pressure from entrapped nerves which will let them function correctly.
Decompressive surgery is often done for carpal tunnel syndrome.
But, certain types of hereditary neuropathy that cause issues in the foot and ankle can also benefit from decompressive surgery.
Depending on the cause of your neuropathy, your doctor may recommend a decompressive surgery.

Part 3

Improving Your Health

Include more vitamins in your diet.

If you aren't diabetic and have no other recognizable systemic disease, then the neuropathy might be caused by deficiencies of vitamins E, B1, B6, and B12. However, talk with your doctor before taking a vitamin supplement. Your doctor will need to diagnose the cause of your neuropathy before advising supplements or medications.

If you aren't diabetic and have no other recognizable systemic disease, then the neuropathy might be caused by deficiencies of vitamins E, B1, B6, and B12.
However, talk with your doctor before taking a vitamin supplement.
Your doctor will need to diagnose the cause of your neuropathy before advising supplements or medications.
If you aren't diabetic and have no other recognizable systemic disease, then the neuropathy might be caused by deficiencies of vitamins E, B1, B6, and B12.
However, talk with your doctor before taking a vitamin supplement.

Take control of diabetes.

Neuropathy usually develops many years after diabetes has been diagnosed. Good diabetic control can prevent or halt neuropathy. But once developed, it may not be possible to fully reverse the condition. Your doctor will focus on managing the diabetes and controlling the pain caused by neuropathy.

Neuropathy usually develops many years after diabetes has been diagnosed.
Good diabetic control can prevent or halt neuropathy.
But once developed, it may not be possible to fully reverse the condition.
Your doctor will focus on managing the diabetes and controlling the pain caused by neuropathy.
Neuropathy usually develops many years after diabetes has been diagnosed.

Prevent injury and ulcer formation.

You may notice less sensation and feeling in your neuropathic feet. This may make you more prone to injuries like cuts, pricks, or scratches. Always wear socks or shoes when inside or outdoors. Repeated injury to your feet can easily lead to ulcer formation that is difficult to heal. You should also ask your doctor to examine your feet when you go in for regular visits.

You may notice less sensation and feeling in your neuropathic feet.
This may make you more prone to injuries like cuts, pricks, or scratches.
Always wear socks or shoes when inside or outdoors.
Repeated injury to your feet can easily lead to ulcer formation that is difficult to heal.
You should also ask your doctor to examine your feet when you go in for regular visits.

Keep developed ulcers clean.

Wash the ulcer area with warm salt water. Take a piece of sterile gauze and pour a little saline over it. Use this to clean the dead tissue over the ulcer. Then, dry the area and cover the ulcer with a sterile dressing. Take care to change the dressing once or twice a day, more often if it gets wet. If there is a foul smell from the ulcer, return to your doctor immediately because a bad smell indicates infection, which can be serious.

Wash the ulcer area with warm salt water.
Take a piece of sterile gauze and pour a little saline over it.
Use this to clean the dead tissue over the ulcer.
Then, dry the area and cover the ulcer with a sterile dressing.
Take care to change the dressing once or twice a day, more often if it gets wet.

Control the pain.

The severity of neuropathic pain varies widely. If you're experiencing mild to moderate pain, take over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics. You may take 400 mg of ibuprofen or 300 mg of aspirin two to three times a day.

The severity of neuropathic pain varies widely.
If you're experiencing mild to moderate pain, take over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics.
You may take 400 mg of ibuprofen or 300 mg of aspirin two to three times a day.
The severity of neuropathic pain varies widely.
If you're experiencing mild to moderate pain, take over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics.

Get medical treatment for underlying causes.

Neuropathy due to kidney, liver, or endocrine diseases can be corrected by treating the underlying disease. If you have nerve compression or local problems, it can be improved by physiotherapy or surgery.

Neuropathy due to kidney, liver, or endocrine diseases can be corrected by treating the underlying disease.
If you have nerve compression or local problems, it can be improved by physiotherapy or surgery.
Neuropathy due to kidney, liver, or endocrine diseases can be corrected by treating the underlying disease.
If you have nerve compression or local problems, it can be improved by physiotherapy or surgery.
Neuropathy due to kidney, liver, or endocrine diseases can be corrected by treating the underlying disease.

Community Q&A

Q Can TENS units cure neuropathy?

A No, TENS units do not cure the underlying nerve damage, but they are highly effective at managing the symptoms and reducing the perception of pain.

Q Are smart insoles necessary for everyone with neuropathy?

A They are especially critical for those with complete loss of sensation (anesthesia) in their feet, as they provide a digital 'warning system' for injuries that the patient cannot feel.

References

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