Neuropathy, commonly known as “nerve damage,” is a painful illness that affects many diabetics. Neuropathy affects the hands and feet, causing weakness, numbness, and pain. Neuropathy symptoms can have a significant influence on daily living, from sleeping to driving and beyond.
Here are some of our best recommendations for dealing with diabetic neuropathy and coping with it.
What to do if you can’t sleep at night due to neuropathy
Neuropathic pain can get worse at night for some people. Lack of distractions, focusing more attention on the pain in your hands and feet; temperature change, delivering confused messages to the neuropathic nerve system; and physical and mental stress from the day are all reasons why neuropathy may feel worse in the evening.
Calming the mind, caring for the body, and controlling the temperature are the greatest ways to treat neuropathic pain at night.
Is it safe to walk while suffering from neuropathy?
Tingling, numbness, and discomfort in the lower legs and feet are common symptoms that make any type of movement difficult. Simultaneously, we are frequently advised that exercise is one of the most effective methods to manage diabetes. What is a person to do in such a situation?
When persons have numbness in their feet, the American Diabetes Association recommends that they avoid weight-bearing exercise. While walking with neuropathy might be beneficial for people with less severe nerve damage, those with neuropathy must take these precautions:
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Walk only where emergency help or medical aids are available if needed
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Wearing good therapeutic shoes, even while moving around inside.
Is it feasible to drive when suffering from neuropathy?
Many patients with nerve impairment can drive with a little help.
Let’s start with why driving is difficult for those with neuropathy. Numbness in the feet is one of the most common signs of neuropathy. It might be difficult or impossible to drive safely when a driver loses feeling in their feet. Consider this: How would you know where the brake pedal is if you didn’t have working nerves? How would you know how much gas pressure you’re applying?
Fortunately, there are alternate technologies that can assist people with this problem in driving without having to use their feet to handle the brakes and gas pedal. For most drivers, the procedure goes like this:
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Working with a driver rehabilitation specialist to how to drive with these new controls; and
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Passing a special needs licensing exam if your state requires it.
For neuropathy treatment see us at Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management. Book your schedule online.
**Disclaimer: This content should not be considered medical advice and does not imply a doctor-patient relationship.
