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Ice Burns and Peripheral Neuropathy

A person with peripheral neuropathy is at an increased risk for damage to his skin. It is important that he carefully monitor affected areas of his body for injury, including ice burns, when he has been exposed to cold or ice.

  1. Peripheral Neuropathy

    • Peripheral neuropathy occurs when nerve damage results in sensations of numbness or pain in a person's hands or feet. It can be caused by diabetes, injury or infection, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Ice Burns

    • A person with peripheral neuropathy should not use ice to try to ease pain from a sore muscle or sensations of tingling or burning. Because sensations in her hands and feet are reduced, she could experience frostbite, or ice burns, from contact with the ice and not realize it.

    Solutions

    • Doctors and physical therapists can recommend pain treatments that will not result in ice burns, including pain medication, paraffin baths and electrical nerve stimulation, according to "Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation."

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