Peripheral Neuropathy again

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http://www.neuropathy.org/mbrsrvce/information/how.html

How is Peripheral Neuropathy Treated?

The goals of treatment are twofold: (1) to eliminate the cause of the disease and (2) to relieve its symptoms. Treatment of the underlying condition depends on the cause. For example, vitamin deficiency can be corrected by the oral supplementation or injection of the deficient vitamin. Infections are treated with antibiotics or anti-viral agents. Autoimmune diseases are frequently treated by plasmaphoresis or immuno- suppression, using corticosteroid, intravenous gammaglobulins, or chemotherapy. In paraneoplastic neuropathies, treatment is directed at eliminating the underlying tumor. Toxic or drug- induced neuropathies are treated by removing the offending agent. In diabetes, dose control of the hyperglycemia helps slow the development of neuropathy. The major symptoms of neuropathy are pain and weakness. Pain can be alleviated with medications. Physical therapy and prosthetic devices, if necessary, can help maintain strength and improve walking. Depending on the cause, therapy can slow, halt, or reverse the neuropathy. Once the damage is stopped, the nerves can then regenerate. The extent of recovery depends on how much damage was done. The less the damage, the better the recovery. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose the disease as early as possible and begin therapy.

Getting help for yourself right now

People who notice signs and symptoms that we have talked about here should not wait to see what develops. Much as you may wish it, chances are that if your neuropathy is chronic, it is not going to go away by itself. Instead, the longer you wait, the worse it is apt to get and the harder it will be to treat successfully. Some neuropathies develop quickly, but most develop slowly over the years. So get busy now - even if you don't feel too badly. Nerve damage can be mild initially, but then if untreated, can spread and become much more serious, even irreversible. Find a good doctor. And don't be a passive patient. You don't have to accept a diagnosis that says nothing can be done about it. Instead, get other opinions. Read. Inform yourself. Find a support group and talk to others. Over two million people in this country have neuropathy in one form or another. Yet it has been called the silent disease because too few people, both patients and doctors, are aware of it. That's the reason neuropathy patients from all over the country have gotten together recently to form the Neuropathy Association, a national organization, with affiliated chapters forming in many areas. We have support group meetings, so you can get help from each other, a network of affiliated neuropathy clinics, medical and scientific advisory boards and a newsletter to keep you informed of the latest developments. We want to get the word out, so a cure can be found. Please help us and thus help yourself. If you're not yet a member, call 1-800-247-6968 and join. Together, we can beat this disease.