Neuropathy is a medical term that is used to describe a problem with the nerves; usually, the “peripheral nerves.” Our nervous system consists of two major parts: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The nerves of our peripheral nervous system transmit the messages from our central nervous system, i.e., our brain and spinal cord to the rest of our body. Peripheral neuropathy, or neuropathy, is a condition that occurs when our peripheral nerves get damaged.

Neuropathy is a broad term, and it covers a wide area and many nerves, but the problem it causes depends on the type of the nerves that are being affected. There are three types of peripheral nerves that can be affected by neuropathy:

• Sensory nerves
  These nerves carry the message from our sensory organs (eyes, nose, and others) to our brain.
• Motor nerves
  Its main function is to monitor the conscious movement of our muscles.
• Autonomic nerves
  They help in regulating the involuntary functions of our body.

Sometimes, only a single nerve is affected by neuropathy, which is termed as “mononeuropathy”; sometimes, multiple peripheral nerves are affected at the same time, which is known as “polyneuropathy.”

Causes of neuropathy
Although neuropathy is either inherited from birth or acquired later in life, there are many other systematic issues as well which can cause neuropathy.

• Diabetes (the most common cause of neuropathy. High blood sugar levels often result in nerve damage)
• Kidney Disorders
• Pharmaceutical (antibiotics, antivirals, and some chemotherapy medications)
• Chemical imbalances
• Cancers and tumors (neuropathy can occur in people with some cancer or tumors)
• Blood diseases and blood vessel damage
• Excessive alcohol levels in the body, causing nerve damage
• Injuries
• Hormonal Diseases
• Deficiencies in Vitamins such as E, B1, B6, B12, and niacin

Symptoms
There are various symptoms of neuropathy that can create problems for the patient. Before we delve deeper into the treatment methods, it is important to understand the same so that you can try out various kinds of treatment on the basis of the kind of symptoms you may be facing.

Sensory neuropathy

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Burning, stabbing, lancing sensations
• Loss of coordination and balance
• Pins and needles and hypersensitivity
• Skin, hair or nail changes
• Neuropathic pain (nerve pain)

Motor neuropathy

• Muscle pain
• Muscle loss
• Muscle cramps
• Muscle twitching
• Muscle paralysis

Autonomic neuropathy

• Bloating or Constipation
• Racing Heart
• Reduction in sweating
• Inability to tolerate heat
• Dryness of eyes and mouth
• Difficulty in eating or swallowing

Neuropathy pain relief

Some home remedies and non-prescription treatments for easing the nerve pain or neuropathy pain relief are as follows.

Home remedies

• Diabetes check
  If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar levels under control as this is the best possible treatment for diabetic nerve pain. One will need to keep a close watch on the blood sugar level to achieve neuropathy pain relief because the nerves get affected when the sugar level rises.
• Exercise
  More exercise releases more natural painkillers that are known as endorphins. It also helps to maintain a good blood flow in the body. You can start by walking every day.
• Physical therapy
  Nerve damage can cause a lot of muscle pain and weakness. Constant physiotherapy can help in easing the neuropathic pain, which will help in getting much-needed relief on a daily basis.
• Massage
  A light massage can always help in reducing the muscle spasms. It also helps with neuropathy pain relief.
• Warm bath
  It is the easiest and least expensive home treatment for nerve pain, providing effective neuropathy pain relief. Warm water can help release stress as well.
• Meditation
  Techniques such as meditation, biofeedback, and hypnosis teach you how to control involuntary bodily functions like heart rate and blood pressure. These techniques also help some people with nerve pain live better.
• Quit smoking
  Smoking has a very bad effect on the body and it can reduce the blood supply to the nerves and worsen the nerve pain. So, quit smoking for neuropathy pain relief.
• Healthy diet
  There is no such diet plan or specific instruction on what to eat and what not to eat but a balanced and healthy diet with lots and lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains provides you with the nutrients that your body needs.

Other Treatments

• Topical painkillers
  Many topical painkillers like creams, ointments, organic oils are sold for neuropathy pain relief. They help in numbing the pain in the area where they are applied.
• Painkilling medicines
  Some people are familiar with the painkilling medicines like aspirin and ibuprofen. These drugs can help with mild or occasional pain but not with severe nerve pain.
• Supplements and vitamins
  As explained earlier, the deficiency of vitamins causes nerve pain. Therefore, it is essential to take supplements and other vitamins like B12 injections in order to ease the pain.

So you can get relief from neuropathy pain if you make some lifestyle changes, eat the right food and try out some simple home remedies. If they don’t work, do consult a doctor.