Let’s explore the best and simplest way, to tackle this painful condition and bounce back to a healthy, fitter, energetic and happy life.
Nerve pain / neuralgia / neuropathic pain occurs when a health condition affects the nerves that carry sensation to the brain. It is a particular type of pain that feels different from other kinds of pain – often feels like a shooting, stabbing, or burning sensation.
There are numerous causes attributed to nerve pain. The most common causes are physical injury or infection, degenerative joint or disc disease in the spine, uncontrolled diabetes, varicose veins, long term excessive alcohol intake, gastric surgery, nutrient deficiencies of B complex vitamins, vitamin C and omega 3 fatty acids
In people with diabetes, the body’s nerves can be damaged by decreased blood flow, oxygen and nutrient supply and a high blood sugar level. This condition is more likely when the blood sugar level is not well controlled over time.
Types of Nerves – Let’s know them!
Every nerve in your peripheral system has a specific function, so symptoms depend on the type of nerves affected. Nerves are classified into:
Motor nerves: These nerves send messages from the brain to the muscles so you can control your movements.
Sensory nerves: These nerves send messages from other body parts to the brain and trigger your senses such as temperature, pain, vibration or touch, from the skin.
Autonomic nerves: These nerves control involuntary and semi-voluntary functions including blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, bladder functions and sweating.
Causes of Nerve Pain
- Damage from physical injury or infection
- Degenerative joint or disc disease in the spine with spinal cord or nerve compression
- Herniated disc
- Body may send pain signals to the brain unprompted due to
- Diabetes
- Varicose veins
- Long term excessive alcohol intake
- Gastric surgery
- Vitamin B deficiency, Carpel Tunnel syndrome (A numbness and tingling in the hand and arm caused by a pinched nerve in the wrist), Thyroid problems, Facial Nerve problems, Arthritis in the spine
- Cancer, chemotherapy and radiation treatment
Nutrient deficiencies leading to Nerve Pain
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin C
- Omega 3 fatty acids
Symptoms of Nerve Pain
Symptoms of neuropathic pain may vary slightly, but few symptoms are generic and common. People with diabetes commonly experience loss of feeling and numbness, followed by pain, burning, and stinging, in their limbs and digits. This is Peripheral Neuropathy, which is a very common condition associated with Diabetes.
Natural Treatments for Nerve Pain
- Lifestyle Treatment: Physical, relaxation, and massage therapies are all used to relieve symptoms of nerve pain. These forms of treatment can help ease muscles.
- Proper techniques for sitting, stretching, standing, and moving definitely helps to alleviate pain.
- Cure of the underlying disease like Diabetes
- Nutritional intervention: B vitamins, Alpha lipoic acid, Acetyl L carnitine, curcumin, omega 3 fatty acids , vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B 12 and Niacin.
| Nutrient | Food Sources |
| B vitamins | Meat, poultry, and fish, seafood, eggs, low-fat dairy foods, fortified cereals, vegetables |
| Alpha lipoic acid (works as an antioxidant) | Liver, red meat, broccoli, spinach |
| Acetyl L carnitine | Meat, fish, poultry, dairy products |
| Curcumin | Turmeric powder |
| Omega 3 fatty acids | salmon, walnuts, sardines, canola oil, chia seeds, flaxseeds, cod liver oil, soybeans |
| Vitamin C | Citrus fruits and juices such as orange and grapefruit, kiwi, mango, papaya, pineapple, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, watermelon, guava |
| Vitamin B 12 | Chicken, fish such as, salmon, tuna fish, fortified breakfast cereal, low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs |
| Vitamin E | Sunflower, safflower, soybean oil, sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts, peanut butter, beet greens, spinach, pumpkin, red bell pepper |
| Niacin | Fish, chicken, many legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy products |
Correction of nutritional deficiency, control of diabetes and appropriate therapy can help to alleviate this pain.
