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Supplements for Nerve Pain

Nerve pain can stem from numerous neurological conditions as well as from nerve injuries and nerve damage. There are dozens of prescription medications that can help alleviate nerve pain, but these medications can also cause several side effects. The use of supplements for nerve pain can be an alternative to medications. Several supplements have been found to be effective in alleviating nerve pain.

  1. Vitamin B-12

    • Patients who have low levels of vitamin B-12 in their bodies can experience nerve pain in the feet and hands and sometimes the pain will affect the face. Some patients will not be able to get enough vitamin B-12 from the foods they eat so a vitamin B-12 supplement for nerve pain can often be beneficial. Patients with a severe vitamin B-12 deficiency, also referred to as pernicious anemia, may need a series of vitamin B-12 injections before taking a supplement. According to the Diabetes Library Organization, vitamin B-12 aids in preventing nerve damage and helps promote healthy nerve function.

    Gamma-Linolenic Acid

    • Gamma-linolenic acid is a part of the omega-6 family and is categorized as an essential fatty acid. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, this type of supplement, when in the form of evening primrose oil, can help to promote healthy nerve function and aid in preventing nerve diseases. This supplement for nerve pain is most beneficial in alleviating diabetes-related nerve pain.

    Jamaica Dogwood

    • According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, this supplement for nerve pain is most beneficial in relieving stabbing and severe nerve pain, also referred to as neuralgia. Though Jamaica dogwood is said to be effective in alleviating nerve pain, it can be very toxic when consumed in excessive amounts. The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests that all patients using this supplement do so under a doctor's supervision. Patients who have consumed a toxic amount can experience numbness, salivation and sweating.

    Magnesium

    • Magnesium may be a beneficial supplement for nerve pain. According to Dr. Richard N. Podell, who practices holistic medicine in New Jersey, magnesium can help to alleviate nerve pain by blocking a pain receptor known as the NMDA receptor. It can also be beneficial in alleviating nerve pain because it aids several of the biochemical metabolic pathways.

    Omega 3 Fatty Acid

    • Omega 3 fatty acids can often be found in the foods we eat such as algae, fish oils and flaxseed oils. However, many people do not eat enough of these foods to get what their body needs. According to Dr. Podell, this supplement for nerve pain is crucial in the process of repairing and making nerve cells in the spinal cord, brain and peripheral nerves.

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