People with diabetes have to deal with more than just balancing their blood sugar. Many other health issues can arise. Some of these occur when people don’t control their blood sugar effectively. One of the problems that can develop is diabetic nerve pain. While patients may feel the pain, they may not realize that it is a case of diabetic nerve pain.
For these patients, it’s important to be educated about diabetic nerve pain, as well as be familiar with its symptoms and what treatments are available.
What is Diabetic Nerve Pain?
Statistics show that diabetic nerve pain affects as many as half of all people who suffer from diabetes. Diabetic nerve pain is also referred to as diabetic neuropathy. Many people develop this condition when they have high blood sugar because high blood sugar can hurt the nerves throughout the body. Diabetic neuropathy mostly damages nerves in the legs and feet, but can also affect the hands and arms.
Diabetic Nerve Pain Symptoms
The nerves affected will determine what symptoms those with diabetic nerve pain experience. Some people experience pain and numbness in their legs and feet, while others may experience problems with their digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels, and heart. While some people may get severe pains, others may only get mild pains. The symptoms will also vary depending on the type of diabetic nerve pain that is diagnosed. There are several different types of diabetic nerve pain.
Peripheral neuropathy
This is the most common type of diabetic nerve pain. It first affects the feet and legs and then travels to the hands and arms. Symptoms are often worse at night, impacting sleep quality. They can include:
- Tingling or burning feeling
- Sharp pains or cramps
- Numbness and difficulty feeling temperature changes
- Foot problems such as ulcers, infections, and boing and joint pain
Autonomic neuropathy
If someone suffers from autonomic neuropathy, they will have different symptoms because the autonomic nervous system controls the heart, bladder, stomach, intestines, and eyes. These symptoms can include:
- Bladder or bowel problems
- Slow stomach emptying
- Changes in the way your eyes adjust from light to dark
Proximal neuropathy
Someone with proximal neuropathy will experience nerve pain in their legs, thighs, hips, and buttocks. It can also affect the stomach and chest. One key thing to know about proximal neuropathy is that the symptoms are usually only felt on one side of the body. These symptoms can include:
- Severe pain in the hip or thigh or stomach
- Trouble getting up after sitting
Mononeuropathy
Mononeuropathy damages a specific nerve. It can either be cranial or peripheral. Symptoms of this type of diabetic nerve pain include:
- Difficulty focusing
- Aching behind one eye
- Numbness or tingling in the hand or fingers
- Weakness in the hand
While some people with diabetic nerve pain may only experience mild symptoms, it can be painful and even disabling for others. Walking becomes difficult and even the softest touch can be excruciating. Nerve damage can also impact a person’s sleep quality and mood, leading to depression,
Treating Diabetic Nerve Pain
When nerves are damaged they can’t be replaced. But, some things can be done to treat diabetic nerve pain and get some relief.
Control your blood sugar. Since not controlling blood sugar can lead to diabetic nerve pain, it’s important to try to control it as much as possible. Your doctor can tell you the range where your blood sugar should be and tell you about ways to control your diet to keep your blood sugar in a good range. Diet and exercise can also help to decrease blood sugar. Maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking are also beneficial.
Take Care of Your Feet. Those who suffer from diabetic nerve pain should also take care of their feet. Check for swelling, cuts, sores, and other problems, even if you don’t feel pain in specific areas. They can get infected and lead to serious complications. Here are some other things to do when it comes to foot care:
- Wash your feet daily and dry them completely
- Applying lotion to keep them moisturized
- Wear comfortable, flexible shoes
Getting to the doctor for an annual foot exam is also important because it can detect peripheral neuropathy. This can catch nerve damage and other related problems.
Seek chiropractic care. Chiropractic care is known to bring alignment to all systems in the body. It can also address the nervous system. In turn, this can ease diabetic nerve pain and some of the numbness that comes with it.
Through chiropractic adjustments and other therapies, a chiropractor can help to ease diabetic nerve pain. Each type of recommended therapy will be different because each person’s pain level and symptoms are different.
At A Family Chiropractic Clinic, we offer a variety of pain relief techniques. These can include:
- K-Laser Therapy
- Massage Therapy
- Chiropractic Care
- Physical Therapy
When it comes to physical therapy, low-impact exercises can be the most effective because higher impact exercises can cause nerves to go numb. Physical therapy can not cure diabetic nerve pain, but it can treat it and make it more tolerable.
When you’re seeking physical therapy, it’s important to get help from professionals who have experience with nerve pain. They will know what treatments are likely to help.
Contact Us
At A Family Chiropractic Clinic, we have an experienced team of professionals to help treat diabetic nerve pain. We assess each patient to see their pain level and needs. From there, we can recommend a customized treatment plan to help ease your pain.
