Imagine the nerves in your body are like electrical wires running through a house. Much like these wires, your nerves send electrical impulses, carrying information along with them. However, when something happens to damage the nerves, be it trauma, surgery, infections, or chronic conditions, the wrong information can be carried back to the brain. This can range from mild numbness to indescribable pain that can last for long periods of time. This is a common cause of discomfort and numbness, known as peripheral neuropathy or simply ‘neuropathy.’
Causes of Neuropathy In The Legs And Feet
The causes of neuropathy are just as widely varied as it’s symptoms. Some of the most common causes of neuropathy come from the following:
- Nerve Trauma
- Surgery
- Broken Bones
- Stress
Many of these causes have one thing in common: pressure applied to the nerve. When your nerves are physically stressed, it can severely affect their function and disrupt signals from passing through the body as they’re supposed to.
How Neuropathy In The Legs And Feet Affects Other Areas Of Your Health
How does neuropathy affect your health overall? For many, the sensations of pain or discomfort alone can often be enough for many to consult their doctor. However, if the condition’s initial symptoms seem mild or inconsistent, seeking treatment may not be a priority. There are a number of reasons why this is a bad decision, and should be avoided at all costs.
Peripheral neuropathy is a progressive condition, meaning it will worsen over time if it’s not addressed. The affected nerves will continue sending pain or other signals, until it may even become a permanent condition, rather than chronic one. The lack of symptoms can also be damaging, in other ways. For those who experience numbness from neuropathy, it can cause them to not notice injuries where they are numb. Our bodies need to experience pain to know when something is wrong. While experiencing consistent and unending pain is not good, a complete absence of pain is not good, either.
Treating Neuropathy In The Legs And Feet
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely end and reverse neuropathy. The most common medications prescribed for neuropathy in the past are anti-seizure medications that don’t actually treat neuropathy; instead, they cover up the symptoms and offer up a load of serious side effects including loss of balance, depression, and memory loss.
There are other ways to successfully treat the symptoms of neuropathy without these conventional methods. Instead of building treatment plans that include drugs, side effects, or surgery, Maragal Medical focuses on conservative treatment methods.
Each person has unique health needs, medical history and symptoms, but doctors estimate that neuropathic conditions caught within three years of its onset have a higher rate of relief success. Your physician will always aim to relieve as much pain as possible. This is why an early visit to the doctor is crucial—it’s far easier and more effective to relieve mild pain than severe symptoms.