How to support your loved one with neuropathy
My father suffered from peripheral neuropathy. That is why I do what I do. I know firsthand what it’s like to have a loved one struggle through neuropathy day after day. If you’re reading this article, there’s a good chance that you are going through what I went through all those years ago. I would love to give you some extra support. First, it is important to understand that peripheral neuropathy can manifest in different ways depending on which nerves have been affected. For some people they may experience sharp and shocking pains, some have tingling and burning sensations, while others feel numbness and instability. These symptoms can make everyday tasks difficult in different ways. I’m going to go through a couple tips and the explanation as to why these tips may assist your loved ones with peripheral neuropathy.
First, I always recommend seeking professional advice if you have a suspicion that your loved one has peripheral neuropathy. Personalized recommendations can provide better results and ideally provide a route for recovery, rather than comfort. If you do not know who to go to, I would start by asking a professional that you trust. This could be your primary care physician, a neurologist, physical therapist, a podiatrist or a chiropractor like me. We are all in our profession with the same goal to help you and your loved ones feel better. Schedule an appointment for your loved one and see what they recommend specific to them.
My second piece of advice is a quick and easy habit to add to your routine: scan your loved one’s feet daily. Not only is it good to document changes that occur in the feet as the condition progresses, but it’s important to make sure there’s no new cuts or injuries. You’ve probably heard of people who have lost their toes or feet due to an infection. When you cannot feel your feet properly due to nerve damage, people are not always able to sense cuts on their feet. This can lead to infections. So, I would recommend doing a nightly inspection of the feet, and applying a simple, non-fragrance lotion or coconut oil before bed to help them stay moisturized.
Number three is a very common question I get from peripheral neuropathy patients: what diet should I be following? If there is a professional recommending a diet for your loved one, always follow their advice. However, for those that do not have that guidance, anti-inflammatory diets are typically recommended. What is anti-inflammatory? If you Google it, you will see it is pretty much what you already know. A couple examples are to cut out the processed sugars, add in more whole grains instead of refined carbohydrates, and ultimately eliminate foods made or processed in a factory. What we eat gives our body nutrients, so it is important that we are properly supplied and to not add inflammation into the body. A search engine can give you a general anti-inflammatory recommendation, and a nutritionist can give you a personalized one. Either way, limiting the amount of processed food going into your body is always a positive lifestyle change.
The fourth tip is if your loved one is experiencing numbness and lack of balance. For anyone struggling with stability, I would make the house as easy to move about as possible. It is very important that patients do not fall, as falls can cause serious long-term traumas and injuries and can even become life threatening. When your feet cannot sense the floor properly, items like rugs that are lifting on the edges, low seated chairs, throw pillows that fall often or high lipped bathtubs and showers become very difficult to manage and make for major tripping hazards. Consider having a conversation about removing non-necessary items like these before a fall occurs rather than waiting for them to happen.
I have seen many patients who have changed their lifestyle because of peripheral neuropathy. Maybe they can no longer play golf, play tennis or travel like they used to. It is heartbreaking, and I know for those of you reading this that it is not easy to watch the people you love go through it. That is why my first recommendation is always to seek a professional to see if the condition can be helped. In the meantime, scanning and taking care of the feet, changing the diet and making sure that there’s no additional obstacles in the house that may be dangerous for your loved ones can make living with neuropathy a little bit easier. I’m always wishing the best for our community, and hope this article gives a little guidance to those of you that just want to help the ones you love!
Dr. Kenneth Horup, DC is a Chiropractic Physician at Discover Specific Chiropractic, Board Certified in Neuropathy.
