When we are in pain, the only thing we think about is how to relieve ourselves from it, even if just for a couple of moments. In these instances, it’s easy to recollect how we were once carefree, how we took being healthy for granted, and that now we are suffering constantly. Thankfully, almost every pain and disease has a cure, or at least something to numb it. Diabetic pain is one of those circumstances so, here are some ways that you can get rid of pain in your feet when you are a diabetic.
1) Special Creams
Many creams on the market are made especially for diabetics. One of the most mentioned is the one containing capsaicin. Capsaicin cream uses a compound found in hot peppers to suppress pain impulses. Capsaicin cream, which can also be found as a lotion, jelly, or patch, can be applied to the skin to temporarily reduce diabetic nerve pain. Before taking capsaicin-based therapy, consult your doctor. It can cause allergic reactions, and serious adverse effects in open sores, inflamed, or sensitive skin. It may also increase your sensitivity to the sun and other sources.
When using capsaicin creams or lotions, avoid prolonged exposure to sunshine or heat. There is also a fast acting neuropathy foot cream that is designed to support diabetic nerve pain and neuropathy in the feet, ankles, and legs. It aids in the management of neuropathy, skin moisturization, enhanced blood flow, and the warming of your feet.
2) Manage Your Blood Sugar
Probably the most effective way of dealing with this kind of problem is to deal with the root of it, and that requires great commitment from you. Your blood glucose levels will get too high if you do not control your diabetes. Excess blood sugar can harm your peripheral nerves over time. Your brain and spinal cord are connected to the rest of your body by these nerves. Diabetic neuropathy could develop as a result of this. According to data from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, bringing your blood sugar into the safe range (a hemoglobin A1C measurement of 7% or lower) reduces your chance of nerve damage by 60%. Consult your doctor about establishing a blood sugar target and how to track it.
3) Medication
Your doctor may recommend that you try an over-the-counter pain treatment like acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen, which are all accessible without a prescription but can have negative effects. To control your symptoms, start with a modest dose for a brief time.
Did you know that antidepressants can also treat pain? While the most common treatment for depression is antidepressants, because they interfere with the chemicals in your brain that cause you to feel pain, they can also be recommended for diabetic nerve pain. Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, imipramine, and desipramine, may be prescribed by your doctor. Dry mouth, tiredness, and sweating are some of the side effects. Venlafaxine and duloxetine, for example, are serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors that have fewer negative effects than tricyclics.
4) Physical Therapy
Swimming, for example, is a type of physical therapy that can aid in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. High-impact workouts can quickly cause nerves to numb, so low-impact activities are the most beneficial. Choose a reputable physical therapist that is familiar with neuropathy, both diabetic and non-diabetic, to assist you in preventing future nerve damage through physical therapy approaches. An expert’s attention to physical activity can prevent more problems from arising. Keep in mind that physical therapy can help to relieve diabetic nerve pain, but it will not cure it.
5) Prevent Further Pain
Diabetic nerve damage causes pain and can impair your capacity to feel pain, so it’s critical to keep your feet in good shape. Even if you don’t feel any pain, check your feet every day for wounds, sores, swelling, and other concerns to take better care of them. They can become infected, and infections that go untreated can lead to major problems, including amputation. Every day, carefully clean with warm water and dry them afterward. Then, to keep them moisturized, apply a lotion. Make sure you don’t get lotion in between your toes. Wear shoes that are comfortable and flexible and allow your feet to move freely. Slowly break in new shoes to avoid injury to your feet. If your normal shoes don’t fit well, talk to your doctor about customized shoes.
6) Vitamin B
These are crucial for the health of your nerves. Nerve damage can occur if you don’t obtain enough vitamin B12. Vitamin B6 is necessary because it aids in the production of key chemicals in the brain that transmits information throughout our bodies. The majority of people obtain adequate B vitamins through their diet. However, consult your doctor if you should take a supplement, especially if you are vegan.
7) Vitamin D
This vitamin is produced by your skin in response to sunshine and may help to prevent nerve pain. Researchers from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom discovered that persons with diabetic neuropathy who had lower levels of Vitamin D also had increased pain. It’s difficult to receive the 600 to 800 IU of vitamin D that’s needed from food alone. Thus, you may need to take a supplement. Diabetic neuropathy patients who took a supplement once a week for two months experienced fewer symptoms, according to one study.
8) Show Your Feet Some Care
Your feet may lose feeling as a result of nerve injury. As a result, it’s possible that you won’t notice you scraped or cut your foot until much later. You may develop a more serious condition as a result, such as an ulcer or infection. To avoid this, clean and check your feet every day at the end of the day. Also, make sure you’re wearing comfy footwear. Too-tight shoes can cause harm by pinching your feet. Meditation, breathing exercises, massage, and yoga are all effective relaxation treatments, and help your feet to relax as well.
Hopefully, you can see here that that are multiple options to help you with your feet pain. It should be noted that you should not take anything before you consult with your doctor, because some products may cause more harm than good.