If there is one thing that we all arguably forget about taking care of, it’s our nerves! Muscle aches are easy to treat, bones become a major concern as we grow older, but nerves just aren’t mainstream when it comes to caring for our bodies.
Listen up moms and dads: nerve damage or neuropathy can happen to anyone! Even at an early age, you can already be diagnosed with the condition. Damaged nerves heal over time but if more than 50% of the nerve cells are affected, repairing them is going to be very difficult.
Every year, millions of people are affected by neuropathy – 1 out of 3 of those with progressing age, as well as many of those with chronic diseases such as diabetes, suffer from nerve damage. Excessive smokers and drinkers are also candidates for neuropathy, as well as those who perform repetitive movements daily such as typing.
Here are 5 symptoms of nerve damage you should not ignore:
- Numbness or Loss of sensation
- Muscle Weakness
- Tingling/pins and needles
- Burning sensation
- Muscle cramps
On the next page: Caring for our nerves
The silver lining is that taking care of our nerves isn’t as difficult as we think it to be. In the same way that we exercise regularly, eat healthy, get enough sleep, and take vitamins everyday, seeing to the health of our nerves can become routine.
Lifestyle changes (quitting vices, sleeping more, adding fruits, veggies, lean protein, and whole grains to meals) are always a good idea; so is consulting a health professional.
Doctors would first diagnose the type and severity of the patient’s nerve damage then proceed to give treatment options such as:
Topical solutions – usually applied products like creams, gels, and patches for isolated areas.
Medication and supplements – for severe damage, painkillers and anticonvulsants may be prescribed. For daily care and milder symptoms, B-complex vitamin supplements like Neurobion® are recommended.
Alternative treatments – acupuncture, electric stimulation, massage, are some of the ways to manage the symptoms of nerve damage.
READ: Breastfeeding and Diabetes – Can nursing lower the risk?
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