Nerve pain or neuropathic pain can be a severe condition. This condition can be a symptom of different diseases such as HIV, cancer, or diabetes. Nerve pain feels like a burning or sudden shock of electricity passing through your body. Nerve pain can limit your daily activities and can grind you down over time. Most people with nerve pain suffer from sleep problems, depression, and anxiety. Dealing with neuropathic pain can be hard since it cannot always be cured. However, there are some cheap options you can use to treat nerve pain. Both prescription and nonprescription treatments can help you relieve your symptoms. You can also use a combination of some of the nonprescription approaches with prescribed medication. As such, nerve pain is not expensive to control. Read on to discover some of the cheap ways to control nerve pain.
1. Topical Painkillers. You may have realized that most of the over-the-counter ointments are sold to control neuropathic pain. These ointments contain ingredients that act as a local anesthetic. As such, they can numb the pain when applied to a hurting body part. These ointments include natural ingredients such as capsaicin, a painkiller obtained from chili peppers, as their main component. The best thing about topical analgesics is that you can apply them precisely where you feel pain.
2. Painkilling Medicine. Some people prefer to use common over-the-counter painkillers to relieve neuropathic pain. These painkillers include aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen. Although these medications can relieve mild pain, they are not effective in controlling severe nerve pain. Some people may also begin to rely on these drugs too much. As such, it is advisable to follow the instructions on the package strictly. Moreover, it is not recommended to take these painkillers for more than ten days. If the pain persists, talk to your doctor.
3. Supplements. Lack of essential vitamins, such as B12, can cause or worsen nerve pain. If your doctor realizes that you have a deficiency of these vitamins, he or she can recommend injections or supplements of vitamin B12. Other supplements are also useful in controlling neuropathic pain. Some can even relieve the nerve pain caused by diabetes. Always ensure that you take supplements from reliable sources such as NervePainTreatment.org to avoid counterfeit products. You should also ensure that you talk to your doctor before you start taking any supplements.
4. Lifestyle Treatments. Easing your muscles can go a long way in treating nerve pain. Massage, physical, and relaxation therapies are some of the techniques you can use to reduce neuropathic pain. Your doctor can recommend the safest lifestyle treatment for you. For instance, if your symptoms increase after sitting for several hours, desk jobs may become difficult. As such, your doctor can teach you some sitting, stretching, and standing techniques to help you cope with the pain.
5. Treatment. The best way to reduce or eliminate neuropathic pain is by treating the underlying cause. If your doctor can identify the cause of your nerve pain, he or she can begin the treatment process. For instance, diabetes often causes nerve pain. Proper diabetes care can reduce or eliminate nerve pain. Such care may include regular exercise and taking a healthy diet. Watching your blood sugar levels is also another method of preventing neuropathic pain.
6. Antidepressants. Researchers have proven that some antidepressants such as doxepin and amitriptyline can relieve nerve pain. These drugs alter the chemical processes in your brain and spinal cord that allow you to feel pain. Other medications, such as serotonin and Cymbalta, can ease nerve pain caused by diabetes. However, you may experience some side effects such as nausea, drowsiness, and dry mouth.
7. Anticonvulsants. Anticonvulsants or anti-seizure drugs can also be used to control nerve pain. Health practitioners can prescribe anticonvulsants, such as Gabapentinoids, for nerve pain. These drugs interfere with pain signals and stop transmissions.
8. Injury. Injuries can also cause nerve pain when the impact affects a nerve. Although such neuropathic pain may improve with time, it is advisable to have your doctor check the injury. A doctor can help the injury from causing further damage, thus preventing neuropathic pain from worsening.
9. Nerve Blocks. Your doctor can also inject local anesthesia, or other pain relievers into the nerves that are responsible for pain signals. These drugs will then ease nerve pain. However, nerve blocks are temporary. Your doctor must repeat the process after a while to keep them working.
Nerve pain can negatively affect you if you do not take measures to control the symptoms. Fortunately, these affordable ways can help you manage neuropathic pain.
