Living with Diabetic Neuropathy
Painful diabetic neuropathy is a common condition that many diabetes patients suffer from. Neuropathy, commonly referred to as nerve damage, can affect nearly every aspect of a patient’s life. From mobility constraints to mental health concerns, many patients living with diabetic neuropathy go through a transformation period once symptoms begin.
Prompt diagnosis and treatment allow the patient to form a team consisting of neurologists, pain management specialists, and physical therapists. If you have recently been diagnosed with painful diabetic neuropathy, consider BEST Health System your home for everything you need to know. Continue reading to learn more about treatment for PDN.
Exploring Diabetic Neuropathy Treatment Options
After a diabetic neuropathy diagnosis, patients will want to consider different treatment options so they can live a comfortable life. This treatment consists of various approaches to help patients reduce their nerve pain while also preventing it from worsening. Oftentimes, doctors will begin by recommending a combination of lifestyle changes and physical therapy. By reducing alcohol intake, optimizing your diet, engaging in low-impact exercise, and following a physical therapy plan, many patients can achieve meaningful relief.
Physical therapy for PDN consists of exercises to improve mobility and function, strengthen muscles, and increase flexibility. If conservative therapies do not provide sufficient relief, patients may begin to consider further treatment. Before we get into additional treatment options, let’s discuss some lifestyle changes often recommended to PDN patients.
Making Lifestyle Changes to Minimize Symptoms
You may be wondering, what is the link between diabetes and neuropathy? When left uncontrolled, high blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage. Therefore, maintaining a healthy blood sugar level can help patients manage their condition and prevent the damage from worsening.
A healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help control blood glucose levels and improve overall health. Regular physical activity not only helps improve circulation but also promotes weight loss and reduces inflammation, all of which can alleviate symptoms of neuropathy. It has been found that patients who spend time controlling their condition are more likely to successfully find relief from painful diabetic neuropathy.
Spinal Cord Stimulation Trials
Patients who do not find relief from conservative therapies and lifestyle changes may begin to research additional treatment. Depending on the patient’s unique condition and the symptoms they experience, their doctor may recommend a different route. Spinal cord stimulation is often an option for patients who experience tingling and pins and needles sensations in their arms or legs.
Spinal cord stimulation therapy (SCS) is an advanced treatment option that helps many patients with nerve damage. The goal of this therapy is to mask pain signals before they reach the brain, allowing patients to live a comfortable life. Unfortunately, nerve damage is not reversible, so the majority of neuropathy treatment consists of preventing it from worsening and finding ways to manage the existing pain.
Spinal cord stimulator devices can be surgically implanted and they allow patients to control stimulation levels depending on their pain. This treatment is highly customizable and allows patients to live a comfortable and happy life regardless of their chronic pain condition. At BEST Health System, we offer spinal cord stimulator trials so that our patients can test out this therapy before committing to it.
Diabetic Neuropathy Treatment with BEST Health System
BEST Health System is dedicated to helping patients find relief from their chronic pain conditions. We offer comprehensive treatment options for diabetic neuropathy to help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients.
Have you recently been diagnosed with painful diabetic neuropathy? We can help. Contact us today to learn more about our spinal cord stimulation trial program.
