Control The Pain Associated With Neuralgia

Neuralgia is any type of throbbing pain that extends along the course of one or more of the peripheral nerves. In some cases, doctors can’t find a cause; in others, the cause is an infection or underlying disease, such as arthritis, diabetes, or syphilis. Tumors, both cancerous and benign, can cause neuralgia, as do structural problems in which nerves become compressed or pinched. Sciatica, the throbbing pain that can extend from the lower back and buttocks to the feet, is one of the most common examples. Various medications, as well as arsenic and other toxins, can also produce neuralgia.

Nutrition Connection
-Maintain vitamin B12 levels. A deficiency of vitamin B12, found in all animal products such as poultry and beef, can lead to degeneration of the spinal cord and widespread neuralgia as well as pernicious anemia.
-Keep up vitamin B6. The long-term use of hydralazine (a powerful antihypertensive medication) or isoniazid (used to treat tuberculosis) can result in vitamin B6 deficiency, manifested by sensory loss and neuralgia. Anyone taking these drugs should follow a diet that provides extra B6. Good sources include lean meat, poultry, fish, spinach, sweet and white potatoes, watermelon, bananas, and prunes. A doctor may prescribe B6 supplements. Self-treating with high doses, however, can also damage sensory nerves.
-Pump up vitamin E. In rare cases, malabsorption problems resulting in low vitamin E levels can cause a type of neuralgia. Good dietary sources include nuts, seeds, wheat germ, vegetable oils, fortified and enriched cereals, eggs, poultry, and seafood. Doctors may also give supplements of 30 to 100 mg a day.
-Decrease alcohol consumption. Deficiencies of the B-complex vitamins can result in neuralgia involving numerous nerves throughout the body, a condition known as polyneuralgia or polyneuropathy. This condition often occurs in alcoholics, whose diets are generally poor.

Beyond the Diet
-Medicate to ease pain. Various medications can be used to control the pain associated with neuralgia. -Investigate other treatments. Other treatments may include physical therapy, nerve ablation, or local injections of pain-relieving medications.