How to Reduce Neuropathic Pain

Your first concern in trying to manage your own neuropathic pain is to recall your medical history. Sometimes there are underlying illnesses that may contribute to this pain and which you should tell your doctor about. For example, a disease such as diabetes may be causing or adding to the pain. If that's the case, your doctor will likely treat the underlying condition first before attempting more advanced pain management for the neuropathy.

Instructions

• 1

  Start a plan to reduce neuropathic pain by following a consistent exercise regimen and eating healthier foods. In 2006, researchers from the American Academy of Neurology presented the findings from studies which demonstrated that patients who exercised and watched their diet reported having less pain and improved functioning of their nerves.

• 2

  Ask your pharmacist if he can suggest over-the-counter pain medications known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like Motrin or Aleve. These drugs relieve less-severe kinds of neuropathic pain, such as phantom limb syndrome or neuropathic pain caused by a slipped disk.

• 3

  Move on to prescription pain medications for neuropathic pain that does not subside after conservative treatment. For example, ask your doctor about Capsaicin, a topical solution made from the capsicum pepper plant. In 1991, researchers who formed The Capsaicin Study Group published an article in the Archives of Internal Medicine which explained why this drug is known for powerful pain-killing properties.

• 4

  Consider antidepressants such as imipramine and clomipramine. Aside from their ability to relieve clinical depression, these drugs have been shown to effectively reduce neuropathic pain when prescribed in the proper doses. That was reported by Kvinesdal, et al., in 1984 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

• 5

  Reduce neuropathic pain by taking anticonvulsants which operate as painkillers. In 1995, McQuay, et al., wrote an article for the British Medical Journal which explained that the use of anticonvulsants is based upon the belief that neuropathic pain is similar to epilepsy, a condition also treated by anticonvulsants.

• 6

  Consider taking steroid injections, which alleviate the inflammation that makes neuropathic pain worse. Corticosteroid injections provide longer-lasting pain relief.

• 7

  Opt for electrical stimulation procedures. These provide electrical shocks to the nerves that offer significant pain relief.