What Are the Treatments for Small Fiber Neuropothy?

Small fiber neuropathy is a condition characterized by damage or loss of the nerves that provide sensation to the skin and involuntary muscles. Treatments for this disorder vary according to several factors.

The Facts

• Small fiber neuropathy is a form of a larger syndrome called symmetric polyneuropathy, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Common symptoms of the disorder include numbness, pain and loss of sensitivity to temperature.

Underlying Causes

• Treatments for small fiber neuropathy must address both its underlying cause and neuropathic pain, notes the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine (CCJM). Common causes of small fiber neuropathy include diabetes, autoimmune diseases, sarcoidosis and celiac disease.

Pain Management

• Pain management of small fiber neuropathy may include medications, ice or heat treatments, massage or use of a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit, reports the CCJM.

Medications

• The CCJM cites medications commonly used for small fiber neuropathy pain that include tricyclic antidepressants (nortriptyline and amitriptyline), anticonvulsants (pregabalin and gabapentin), the opioid painkiller tramadol and lidocaine patches.

Considerations

• The CCJM notes that fears regarding the effects of small fiber neuropathy may worsen pain symptoms and trigger depression. Proper counseling may help ease these fears.