Some Things To Avoid For Neuropathic Pain Relief

Today's post from mainespinenerve.com (see link below) looks at a few things to try to avoid in order to bring better relief from neuropathic symptoms. You may find it somewhat simplistic and also be able to think of many other things to avoid to lighten the symptoms but maybe you haven't thought about the effect these four particular things have on the lives of a neuropathic patient. For that reason it's worth publishing. Sometimes it's the things that stare us in the face but aren't immediately obvious as links to our condition, that are those which we need to change.

Habits and Routines to Avoid for Neuropathy Pain Relief
Dr. Douglas VanderPloeg - Wednesday, November 04, 2015

Peripheral neuropathy is a widespread medical condition. A few simple adjustments to your day-to-day habits can give you relief.
Who gets PN? A look at the numbers

Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is damage to the body’s peripheral nerves, with typical symptoms incuding numbness, pain, and other sensations in the feet and hands.

The main groups of American patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy are:

• Those with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) – 20 million

• Individuals who are pre-diabetic but already experiencing PN – 21.5 million

• HIV patients who experience HIV neuropathy – up to 575,000

• Cancer patients who experience chemotherapy-induced neuropathy – 420,000.

4 habits to avoid

Here are a few habits that can increase your vulnerability to peripheral neuropathy symptoms:

#1 – Not sleeping

Failing to get enough sleep is a major problem among Americans, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) referring to sleep loss as a public health epidemic. Insufficient sleep has a broad negative impact. In fact, nearly a quarter (23%) of American adults say that lack of sleep makes it difficult for them to focus.

Sleep is particularly important for peripheral neuropathy patients because so much cellular repair is conducted while we are in bed. “Important nutrients and oxygen are carried through the blood stream and delivered to our nerves – supplying them with the essentials they need to repair and recover,” explains a popular neuropathy blog.

#2 – Excessive sitting

You may know that the sedentary lifestyle of Americans, associated with ample sitting and little exercise, is a huge threat to health. In fact, more than four out of five people (86%) in the United States are seated most of the time, per a poll by Ergotron.

Sitting is particularly problematic to the nerves because it can lead to:

• Blood sugar spikes

• Nerve compression

• Hindered blood flow

#3 – Reliance on sugars and sweeteners

PN is often linked to diabetes. Maintaining a consistent level of blood glucose is critical for combatting nerve pain, particularly for diabetic patients. Sugars and sweeteners are virtually devoid of nutrients and can be disastrous for glucose management and nervous system health.

#4 – Heightened stress

Stress is a survival mechanism, but many of us now suffer from chronic stress, which means that the body remains in fight-or-flight response for an extended period of time. “In this heightened state of anxiety, the body and mind remain tense and unable to come back down to normal levels,” says the neuropathy blog. “Among other things, this leaves the body more vulnerable to pain.”

Expertise with difficult cases

Are you suffering from the pain of peripheral neuropathy? You can minimize symptoms by avoiding the bad habits above. Plus, you may benefit from treatment at our institute, where we specialize in treating PN patients who have not achieved relief elsewhere.

Dr. Douglas VanderPleog, Maine Spine and Nerve Institute

Dr. VanderPloeg has been a guest lecturer at multiple hospitals and has served on several professional boards. He is a Diplomat of both the American Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the Canadian Board of Chiropractic Examiners.

http://www.mainespinenerve.com/spine-neuropathy-health-tips/habits-routines-to-avoid-for-neuropathy-pain-relief#.VkmxxOJqsu8