Conventional Neuropathy Treatments

When learning about neuropathy, most people only hear of conventional medical treatments. Most patients who come to our clinic have seen multiple doctors (family doctor, podiatrist, neurologist, etc.) and have undergone extensive testing procedures such as NCV, EMG, blood work, CT, and MRI. 

Despite all the extensive testing procedures, doctors provide very few options for neuropathy treatments. Most of them only mask the symptoms and do not treat the problem. 

Medications

Medications are the first step in any conventional neuropathy treatment plan; however, they have various side effects that further damage the body. The side effects are listed under each of the links. 

Some of the most common medications include:

Anticonvulsants

Doctors use antiseizure medications, such as Gabapentin (Neurontin®), Topamax®, and Lyrica® (pregabalin), to relieve neuropathy pain; however, research shows that these drugs have less than a fifty percent success rate at reducing pain, while the risk of suffering side effects is high. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning that all antiseizure medications are associated with a slightly increased risk of suicidal thoughts or actions.

Antidepressants

Another conventional neuropathy treatment is prescribing antidepressants, including nortriptyline (Pamelor) and Cymbalta.

Painkillers

The most straightforward treatment is over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen), ibuprofen, or aspirin.

Over time, these medications fail to mask the pain, and the neuropathy progressively worsens. As a result, patients need more potent opiate pain relievers such as:

Topical treatments

Another conventional neuropathy treatment is topical lotions. These lotions include Lidocaine and capsaicin, which serve as numbing agents for temporary pain relief. Like the medications, these do not treat neuropathy. 

Injections or Nerve Blocks

The pain management technique, nerve blog, injects an anesthetic into the area surrounding an affected nerve. Doctors use this technique to treat neuropathic pain by interrupting pain signals to the brain.

While it does not treat neuropathy, the injection of steroids, local anesthetics, or opioids can effectively provide short-term back pain relief. 

Surgical Procedures

Surgical procedures are a standard conventional neuropathy treatment when doctors suspect nerve entrapment as the cause. Depending on where they believe the entrapment exists, doctors often perform surgical procedures in the lower back or lower extremity. 

Neuropathy Treatments That Work

These conventional neuropathy treatment plans only mask or manage symptoms rather than repairing the nerves. The nerves can repair even from severe damage when given the right environment. Dr. Coppola and Dr. Monteiro work tirelessly to help neuropathy patients regain their lives through neuropathy treatment plans that work.