Foot Exercise For Nerve Damage

Today's post from neuropathytreatments.com (see link below) provides some useful advice about what sorts of exercise may be useful for your feet if you have neuropathy. It gives a short description of neuropathy causes and treatments but one or two of the exercises that follow may be new to you. Exercise is important for neuropathy sufferers, however painful it may be. We need to keep muscles and joints moving, as well as blood circulation and can quickly lose muscle mass and strength if we don't use them. The feet are often the source of our problems, so exercising them is also very important. However little you feel like doing it; do as much as you can. Any exercise is better than none and more is better than a little but only you can know your limits.

FOOT NEUROPATHY TREATMENTS
Posted on November 8, 2012 by Nicole

Foot neuropathy is also called peripheral neuropathy. This condition occurs when there is trouble with the nerves that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord. Foot neuropathy is characterized by a painful tingling sensation and numbness in the foot. It can also cause muscle weakness and slow reflexes in the foot because the foot’s peripheral nerve is damaged. The symptoms of this condition are very debilitating and without proper neuropathy treatments, the symptoms will probably be there for the rest of the patient’s life.

CAUSES OF NEUROPATHY

There are many causes of neuropathy. Hereditary diseases such as Friedrich’s Ataxia and Charcot-Marie-Tooth can lead to this condition. Systemic and metabolic disorders can also cause foot neuropathy. Diabetes can cause diabetic neuropathy. B-12 and other vitamin and/or mineral deficiencies can result in neuropathy. Excessive alcohol use can end with alcoholic neuropathy, kidney failure in particular, uremia, and cancer. Other causes include infectious and inflammatory diseases, exposure to poisonous substances, trauma, and injury.

TREATMENTS FOR FOOT NEUROPATHY

Most of the treatments for foot neuropathy involve medicines for the signs and symptoms. Pain relievers, anti-seizure medications, anti-depressants, lidocaine patch, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation are some of the more common treatments for the disease. They mainly treat the symptoms. Presently, there is no known cure for neuropathy.

If the neuropathy is caused by diabetes, your doctor may require a regimen that includes a change in diet to control blood sugar levels. Actually, if a change in diet occurred and was maintained, many of the symptoms of the disease may be lessened and perhaps prevented. It is amazing what a good, healthy diet would do for patients with foot neuropathy.

Another treatment that is getting a lot of attention these days is the use of neuropathy creams to relieve pain. Many of these creams contain the ingredient capsaicin, a substance found in hot chili peppers that effectively blocks neuropathic pain. One cream that contains this along with aloe Vera juice, arnica, and other essential oils is called Neuropathal. This cream is said to be very effective in reducing pain from peripheral neuropathy.

Acupuncture and massage are other alternative treatments but there is little evidence that these are very effective for foot neuropathy. Decompression surgery is also an alternative. This procedure seeks to decompress the foot’s constricted nerves thereby increasing circulation and preventing further nerve damage.

Foot neuropathy is a serious condition. Left untreated, it can lead to decreased mobility and other more serious situations. If you have signs of neuropathy, seek medical attention. Your health is worth the effort. 

EXERCISES TO TREAT FOOT NEUROPATHY
Posted on November 16, 2012 by Nicole


Anyone who has neuropathy knows how debilitating this condition can be. Neuropathy of the foot is especially alarming because using our legs and feet is almost essential to get around. The pain is excruciating. However, there are exercises that you can do to help with the pain, numbness, and tingling associated with foot neuropathy. Of course, exercises will help cope with the effects of other parts of the body affected by neuropathy and also reduce blood sugar levels which are a cause of neuropathy.

FOOT NEUROPATHY EXERCISES

Range of motion exercises – These exercises help stimulate nerve conduction and circulation to the affected areas. For the foot area, rotation of the ankle is a good range of motion exercise. Sit in a chair, lift the affected foot, rotate in a clock-wise manner and then in a counter-clockwise manner. Repeat the cycle 5-15 times each direction. Repeat with the other foot.

Low-impact exercises – Walking, cycling, and swimming are low-impact exercises that help reduce complications, increase muscle strength and coordination, and reduce pain of foot neuropathy. Always start slowly and work up over time for endurance and distance.

Toe-tapping exercises – Toe-tapping exercises help stimulate circulation and nerve conduction. To perform these, sit in a chair, bring your toes up as far as you can, and then tap your toes down on the floor. For another variation, you can bring your toes up as far as you can, spread your feet into a V shape with heels together, and then tap your toes down to the floor. Repeat the two exercises 15-20 times with both feet.

Sitting leg pointers – This exercise really helps keep the legs and feet flexible, help reduce pain, and stimulate circulation and nerve conduction. To perform this exercise, sit in a chair with your back straight. Lift one foot off the floor straightening the knee at the same time. Holding the leg straight, point the toes in the distance, then flex them back toward your body. Circle your ankle joint clockwise, then counter-clockwise. Repeat 5 times, then lower the leg and repeat with the other leg.

As you can see, there are some very easy exercises that can be beneficial to neuropathy pain in the foot. With repetition and regularity, you can help reduce your foot pain and generate wellness in your nerves and muscles.

http://neuropathytreatments.com/2012/11/