Neuropathy In The Feet

Today's post from neuropathytreatments.com (see link below) is a useful but pretty general post about looking after your feet if you have neuropathy. From lack of feeling to extreme pain, our feet can receive strange signals from the nervous system but because we depend on them to carry us through our lives, it's very important to look after them as best we can. This article gives people new to foot problems some very useful advice and background information.

Foot Neuropathy 
Posted on February 12, 2014

I once knew someone who had a hard time walking. He couldn’t feel the coldness of the floor nor could he feel anything touching his feet. He would fall frequently, as if his legs just gave out from under him. He had numbness in his feet and perhaps even in his legs.

These symptoms stem from peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is damage of the peripheral nerves. Your peripheral nerves are the nerves in your toes and fingertips. When the nerves are damaged, they don’t function properly. Those with peripheral or foot neuropathy have decreased or abnormal sensation in their feet and toes. Sometimes, they develop problems moving these parts of the body as well. In my friend’s case, he had hard times walking or moving around.

Causes

Diabetes is perhaps the most common cause of foot neuropathy in the United States. About 60 to 70 percent of diabetics will develop neuropathy over their lifetimes. Of course, there are other causes for neuropathy besides diabetes. Other causes include:
Certain medications, including some chemotherapy drugs.
Heredity. Some people have a family history of peripheral neuropathy.
Advanced age. Peripheral neuropathy is more common as people age.
Arthritis. Certain type of arthritis can cause peripheral neuropathy.
Alcoholism. According to the US National Library of Medicine, up to half of all long-term heavy alcohol users develop peripheral neuropathy.
Neurological disorders. Certain neurological disorders, including spina bifida and fibromyalgia, are associated with peripheral neuropathy.
Injury. Acute injury to the peripheral nerves may also cause peripheral neuropathy.

In my friend’s case, the cause for neuropathy was a complication of an underlying medical condition.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of peripheral or foot neuropathy are burning, numbness, tingling, or shooting or stabbing pain in the feet and/or toes. Any change in sensation in the toes may be a symptom of peripheral neuropathy and needs to be reported to your doctor. Any of these symptoms may be an early warning of diabetes.

Home Care

There are a lot of things you can do at home to help with peripheral or foot neuropathy. Perhaps one of the most important things you can do is check your feet every day. Those with foot neuropathy and decreased sensation in their feet could step on a tack and not realize it. Therefore, regularly inspect your feet so you can note any injuries or infections and seek appropriate medical attention as needed. Many patients with foot neuropathy had serious complications from this condition which resulted in advanced medical attention including amputation. So don’t neglect your feet. You only get two for a lifetime. If you have a hard time inspecting your feet, enlist a family member or friend. Any injuries must be treated properly to prevent infection from progressing.

Another important part in foot care at home is the foot wear. People with peripheral or foot neuropathy should wear properly fitted shoes and avoid walking barefoot to prevent injury. They should also get some good socks to help keep their feet comfortable in the shoes and prevent rubbing.

Also, if your foot neuropathy is caused by diabetes, always take your medications and work at controlling your blood sugar level. Out-of-control blood sugar leads to increased nerve damage.

When to Visit a Podiatrist

A podiatrist is essential for everyone with peripheral neuropathy of the feet. Podiatrists are doctors who are specially trained to preserve the health of the feet. They can help with toe nail clipping and give other tips on how to keep your feet healthy.

Diagnosis and Treatment

It is important that you tell your doctor about any symptoms with your feet. A podiatrist, family physician, internist, or physician who specializes in diabetes can diagnose peripheral or foot neuropathy. They diagnose foot neuropathy based on a physical exam, health history, and the reporting of symptoms. Your doctor may order a blood test to check your blood sugar level because high blood sugar levels and diabetes are an important cause of peripheral neuropathy.

There is no cure for neuropathy. Most treatments are geared for relieving symptoms and preventing the neuropathy from progressing further.

Your doctor or podiatrist may prescribe oral medication to help with pain. A thorough foot check will be performed to look for any injuries or infections and your doctor will teach you how to take care of your feet at home. People who have peripheral neuropathy should have their feet examined by a podiatrist at least once per year.

Prevention

The best thing you can do to prevent foot neuropathy is to stay healthy. Control your blood sugar level if you have diabetes and take your medications faithfully. Watch for the health of your feet and inspect them regularly. If you notice any symptoms like numbness, tingling, or pain, check with your doctor immediately to prevent further nerve damage and any other effects of foot neuropathy.

http://neuropathytreatments.com/2014/02/