Below are Effective Coping and Self-Care Skills:
Peripheral Neuropathy Management
The following suggestions will help you in peripheral neuropathy management:
You should take care of your feet, particularly if you are suffering from diabetes. Check the feet daily for calluses, cuts, or blister signs. Socks and tight shoes can worsen tingling plus pain and may result in sores. Wear loose, soft cotton socks along with padded shoes. Also, you can utilize semicircular hoops to ensure bed covers are not hot. Semicircular hoops are accessible in medical supply stores.
Quit smoking. Smoking cigarettes affects circulation, which eventually increases the risk of foot conditions and probably amputation.
Always eat healthy meals. In case you are at high neuropathy risk or you are suffering from a chronic disorder, healthy eating is crucial. Emphasize dairy products and low-fat meals and incorporate lots of vegetables, whole grains, and fruits in your diet, whereas alcohol should get drank in moderation.
Massage. You ought to massage your feet and hands or have another person massage them. Massage assists enhance circulation, stimulates nerves as well as temporarily relieves pain.
Evade prolonged pressure. You should not lean on your elbows or keep your knees crossed for long durations since it can lead to new nerve damage.
Skills for Coping with Peripheral Neuropathy (PN)
Living with a disability or chronic pain presents daily challenges. The following suggestions will make it simpler to cope.
You should set priorities – Select which tasks you ought to carry out on a certain day, for instance, shopping for groceries or paying bills, and which may wait until another moment. Remain active but you should not overdo it.
Acknowledgment and Acceptance – acknowledge and accept the negative factors of the disease, but then continue to become more optimistic to find what functions excellently for you.
Look for positive factors of the condition – Of course, you may think there is no positive thing about PN. Probably your perspective may assist increase empathy, and inspire you to ensure a balanced schedule, and maintain a healthier lifestyle.
You ought to get out of the house – Once you are in severe pain, it is natural to wish to be left alone. However, this merely makes it simpler to concentrate on your pain. Rather than focusing on your pain, you may go to the movies, visit a friend, and take a walk.
You should get moving – Establish an exercise plan that works well for you to keep your optimum health and fitness. It will give you something you will be able to control, as well as provide you multiple benefits to your emotional and physical well-being.
Seek & accept support – It is not a weakness sign to seek assistance once you need it. You should seek support from friends and family as well as consider joining a support group that deals with chronic pain. Support groups are excellent places to listen and hear about treatments or coping techniques that have been effective for others. Also, you will meet individuals who comprehend what you are going through. Your nurse, doctor, or county health department can help you find an effective support group.
Get ready for challenging circumstances – If something particularly stressful is emerging in your life, for instance, a new job or a move, understanding what you ought to do to succeed can assist you to cope with all situations.
Talk to a therapist or counselor – Impotence, depression, plus insomnia are probable peripheral neuropathy complications. If you encounter any of these complications, you may see it beneficial to talk to your therapist or counselor as well as your primary care physician.
Ways to Sleep with Neuropathy
Rest and sleep is a significant part of living – Sleep aids us to evade major health disorders and it is significant to our physical and mental performance. It influences our stress and mood along with anxiety levels. Insomnia or sleep disturbance is unfortunately neuropathy pain side effect. It is a prevalent complaint among individuals suffering from chronic pain. Approximately 70% of pain patients, comprising those suffering from back pain, PN, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and headaches, report they have problems sleeping.
Pain interferes with sleep because of a blend of problems. The list comprises reduced activity levels, discomfort, anxiety, depression, worry, plus medication use such as codeine to relieve pain but end up disturbing sleep.
Most professionals recommend approximately seven hours of sleep every night for adults. This may appear impossible to individuals with chronic pain. However, numerous steps can be taken to enhance your sleep and result in less pain plus lower anxiety and depression levels. First, you should talk with your physician to see whether there are drugs that can lessen your disturbance of sleep. Also, you should check with your physician to ensure your present medications aren’t leading to your sleep disturbance.
Past medications, there are numerous things you may do to yourself to boost your sleep.
- The following are tips to enhance your sleep:
- Minimize your caffeine intake, particularly in the afternoons.
- Limit naps to not more than one hour
- Omit or limit alcohol consumption
- Quit smoking
- Maintain a frequent exercise program. The exercise should get completed several hours prior to bedtime.
- Follow a frequent daily schedule comprising of getting up and going to bed at the same time.