Inclusion Body Myositis | Health Solutions Group

Entrapment Neuropathy…Pain By Any Other Name

Ever heard of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Repetitive motion disorder?

Nerve compression syndrome?

How about a “trapped nerve”?

Chances are, you’ve probably heard of at least one of these conditions.

These medical conditions are entrapment neuropathies.

Entrapment neuropathies or compression neuropathies are a type of peripheral neuropathy caused by direct pressure on one nerve. The pressure can be caused by trauma or injury to the specific nerve, repetitive use of a specific part of the body, a cast or brace that doesn’t fit properly or just frequently sitting with your arm over the back of a chair.

If you’re experiencing[1]

- A burning or stinging pain in one part of your body

- Tingling

- Numbness

- Muscle weakness

You could be suffering from entrapment neuropathy. To avoid permanent nerve damage, you need to see a doctor immediately, like your local NeuropathyDR® clinician, for proper diagnosis and treatment.

What Exactly Causes Entrapment Neuropathy?

You might be wondering why something as simple as sitting with your elbows on the table all the time can cause entrapment neuropathy for you but your Uncle Harry worked in a coal mine for 40 years swinging a pick axe and never had a problem with his arms, back or anything else.

Entrapment neuropathy occurs when some kind of external pressure disrupts the flow of blood through vessels that supply specific nerves.[2] This oxygen starvation can sometimes occur because of internal problems as well such as lesions, cysts or tumors or even substantial weight gain. When this happens over and over again, the nerve is starved of its oxygen supply and becomes damaged and eventually scarred. Once this happens, it no longer functions properly.

If you have a chronic condition like diabetes[3] that already compromises your blood flow, the fact that Uncle Harry never had these issues and you do is probably more indicative of your overall physical condition than genetics. Your body is just more susceptible to this type of injury. You need to be more mindful of how you move and use whichever part of your body is affected.

How Will My NeuropathyDR® Diagnose Entrapment Neuropathy?

The symptoms you report will vary depending upon which part of your body is affected by entrapment neuropathy. Your condition will probably start with tingling or pain in the nerves followed by loss of sensation or numbness. Muscle weakness will be the last to develop and usually occurs because the muscles have atrophied due to lack of use (i.e., your hand hurts so you stop using it as much).

Entrapment or compression neuropathy can usually be diagnosed based on symptoms. Be sure you keep a good record of when and how your symptoms started.

Your NeuropathyDR® clinician will probably use nerve conduction studies to confirm the diagnosis and rule out the involvement of other nerves. If entrapment neuropathy is suspected, your health care provider will then order an MRI to determine which nerve is damaged, how badly and to see if an internal issue such as a tumor or cyst is putting pressure on the nerve.

It is vitally important that you choose a health care provider with the clinical skills and experience to recognize your symptoms for what they are and distinguish them from other diseases. Entrapment neuropathies can mimic other conditions and vice versa. The longer it takes to get the appropriate diagnosis and treatment, like the treatment protocol used exclusively by NeuropathyDR® clinicians, the more likely you are to have permanent nerve damage.

Treating Entrapment Neuropathy

If your NeuropathyDR® clinician determines that an underlying medical issue is causing your entrapment neuropathy, such as a tumor, cyst, inflammation or even weight gain, steps will be taken to first treat that condition.

If a tumor or cyst is the underlying problem, surgery may be ordered to remove the growth. If you have issues with inflammation or weight gain, your NeuropathyDR® clinician will work with you to design a weight loss program and nutrition plan to resolve either of these issues.

The nutrition counseling provided by your NeuropathyDR® clinician is part of an overall lifestyle modification plan that will help you control your weight and increase your physical activity, within your abilities, to reduce the likelihood of your entrapment neuropathy causing permanent nerve damage or recurring once your immediate problem is taken care of.

In concert with these two steps to treat your entrapment neuropathy, your NeuropathyDR® clinician will also prescribe manual manipulation to readjust your skeletal structure and nerve pathways and nerve stimulation therapy to assist your damaged nerve in healing and open up the flow of blood to help the nerves repair themselves.

All of these steps are integral parts of the exclusive NeuropathyDR® designed specifically for the treatment of peripheral neuropathies, including entrapment neuropathies in all its forms.

For more information on coping with entrapment neuropathy, get your Free E-Book and subscription to the Weekly Ezine “Beating Neuropathy” at http://neuropathydr.com.

[1] http://www.emedicine.medscape.com/article/249784-overview

[2] http://www.neuropathy.org/site/DocServer/Entrapment_Neuropathies.pdf?docID=939

[3] http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/27/7/1783.full

Autonomic Neuropathy – Silent and Serious

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar?

∙ Dizziness and fainting when you stand up

∙ Difficulty digesting food and feeling really full when you’ve barely eaten anything

∙ Abnormal perspiration – either sweating excessively or barely at all

∙ Intolerance for exercise – no, not that you just hate it but your heart rate doesn’t adjust as it should

∙ Slow pupil reaction so that your eyes don’t adjust quickly to changes in light

∙ Urinary problems like difficulty starting or inability to completely empty your bladder

If they do, you could have autonomic neuropathy. Especially if you have diabetes, your immune system is compromised by chemotherapy, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, lupus, Guillian-Barre or any other chronic medical condition.

You need to see a doctor immediately. A good place to start would be a physician well versed in diagnosing and treating nerve disease and damage, like your local NeuropathyDR® clinician.

What Is Autonomic Neuropathy?

Autonomic neuropathy in itself is not a disease[1]. It’s a type of peripheral neuropathy that affects the nerves that control involuntary body functions like heart rate, blood pressure, digestion and perspiration. The nerves are damaged and don’t function properly leading to a break down of the signals between the brain and the parts of the body affected by the autonomic nervous system like the heart, blood vessels, digestive system and sweat glands.

That can lead to your body being unable to regulate your heart rate or your blood pressure, an inability to properly digest your food, urinary problems, even being unable to sweat in order to cool your body down when you exercise.

Often, autonomic neuropathy is caused by other diseases or medical conditions so if you suffer from

∙ Diabetes

∙ Alcoholism

∙ Cancer

∙ Systemic lupus

∙ Parkinson’s disease

∙ HIV/AIDS

Or any number of other chronic illnesses, you stand a much higher risk of developing autonomic neuropathy.[2] Your best course of action is not to wait until you develop symptoms. Begin a course of preventative treatment and monitoring with a NeuropathyDR® clinician to lessen your chances of developing autonomic neuropathy.

How Will My NeuropathyDR® Diagnose My Autonomic Neuropathy?

If you have diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDs or any of the other diseases or chronic conditions that can cause autonomic neuropathy, it’s much easier to diagnose autonomic neuropathy. After all, as a specialist in nerve damage and treatment, your NeuropathyDR® is very familiar with your symptoms and the best course of treatment.

If you have symptoms of autonomic neuropathy and don’t have any of the underlying conditions, your diagnosis will be a little tougher but not impossible.

Either way, your NeuropathyDR® clinician will take a very thorough history and physical. Make sure you have a list of all your symptoms, when they began, how severe they are, what helps your symptoms or makes them worse, and any and all medications your currently take (including over the counter medications, herbal supplements or vitamins).

Be honest with your NeuropathyDR® clinician about your diet, alcohol intake, frequency of exercise, history of drug use and smoking. If you don’t tell the truth, you’re not giving your NeuropathyDR® clinician a clear picture of your physical condition. That’s like asking him to drive you from Montreal to Mexico City without a map or a GPS. You may eventually get to where you want to be, but it’s highly unlikely.

Once your history and physical are completed, your NeuropathyDR® clinician will order some tests. Depending upon your actual symptoms and which systems seem to be affected, these tests might include:

∙ Ultrasound

∙ Urinalysis and bladder function tests

∙ Thermoregulatory and/or QSART sweat tests

∙ Gastrointestinal tests

∙ Breathing tests

∙ Tilt-table tests (to test your heart rate and blood pressure regulation)

Once your tests are completed and your NeuropathyDR® clinician determines you have autonomic neuropathy, it’s time for treatment.

Treatment and Prognosis

NeuropathyDR® clinicians are well versed in treating all types of peripheral neuropathy, including autonomic neuropathy. They adhere to a very specialized treatment protocol that was developed specifically for patients suffering from neuropathy. That’s why their treatments have been so successful – neuropathy in all its forms is what they do.

Autonomic neuropathy is a chronic condition but it can be treated and you can do things to help relieve your symptoms.

Your NeuropathyDR® clinician will work with you and your other physicians to treat your neuropathy and manage your underlying condition. They do this through:

∙ Diet Planning and Nutritional Support

You need to give your body the nutrition it needs to heal.

If you have gastrointestinal issues caused by autonomic neuropathy, you need to make sure you’re getting enough fiber and fluids to help your body function properly.

If you have diabetes, you need to follow a diet specifically designed for diabetics and to control your blood sugar.

If your autonomic neuropathy affects your urinary system, you need to retrain your bladder. You can do this by following a schedule of when to drink and when to empty your bladder to slowly increase your bladder’s capacity.

∙ Individually Designed Exercise Programs

If you experience exercise intolerance or blood pressure problems resulting from autonomic neuropathy, you have to be every careful with your exercise program. Make sure that you don’t overexert yourself, take it slowly. Your NeuropathyDR® clinician can design an exercise program specifically for you that will allow you to exercise but won’t push you beyond what your body is capable of. And, even more importantly, they will continually monitor your progress and adjust your program as needed.

∙ Lifestyle Modifications

If your autonomic neuropathy causes dizziness when you stand up, then do it slowly and in stages. Flex your feet or grip your hands several times before you attempt to stand to increase the flow of blood to your hands and feet. Try just sitting on the side of your bed in the morning for a few minutes before you try to stand.

Change the amount and frequency of your meals if you have digestive problems.

Don’t try to do everything all at once. Decide what really needs to be done each day and do what you can. Autonomic neuropathy is a chronic disorder and living with any chronic condition requires adaptations. Your NeuropathyDR® clinician knows this all too well and will work with you to manage your level of stress and change your daily routines to help you manage your condition and your life.

All of these changes in conjunction with medications, where needed, will make it easier to live with autonomic neuropathy and lessen the chances of serious complications. Early intervention with a NeuropathyDR® clinician is still the best policy if you have any of the underlying conditions that can cause autonomic neuropathy. But if you already have symptoms, start treatment immediately.

For more information on coping with autonomic neuropathy, get your Free E-Book and subscription to the Weekly Ezine “Beating Neuropathy” at http://neuropathydr.com.

[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001780/

[2] http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/autonomic-neuropathy/

Pain Management Options for the Peripheral Neuropathy Patient

If you’re a patient suffering from peripheral neuropathy as a result of

· Diabetes

· Post-chemotherapy

· Shingles

· Guillian Barre Syndrome

· HIV

· Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

· Or any other peripheral neuropathic pain

One of your greatest challenges (other than dealing with the pain and disruption of your normal daily activities) may be finding a medical professional to treat you with empathy and a real understanding of what you’re dealing with as a peripheral neuropathy sufferer.

Neuropathy pain can be hard to describe and even harder to measure. You can’t put a number on it and you can’t always give a concrete definition or explanation for your symptoms. That makes it difficult for the medical community, a community of science, to effectively treat you as a neuropathy patient.

The difficulty in finding a doctor well versed in treating peripheral neuropathy, in all its various forms, can make your life an exercise in frustration. Not only are you dealing with your peripheral neuropathy pain but you can’t find anyone to treat you with any success.

It might help to know what your treatment options are so you can interview your potential treater with some background knowledge about the pain management options available to you as a neuropathy patient.

Here are some of the options for pain management in peripheral neuropathy patients:

Medication[1]

The first line of therapy for peripheral neuropathy patients is usually pain medication, sometimes in combination with antidepressants. There has been some success with drugs used to treat epilepsy as well as opioids. Opioids may be effective but the dosages are very high and only help specific patients.

Always ask your treating physician about side effects from any medication prescribed. Many of the drugs used to treat neuropathy pain can have serious side effects and you need to take that into consideration before you use them.

Topical Treatments

Patches or creams can be help if you have small areas affected by your neuropathy. There may be some burning or pain at the application site (especially if the cream contains Capsaicin) but after 3 or 4 applications, this usually goes away. However, if you stop using the cream, you’ll experience the same pain when you start using the cream again.

Topical treatments usually don’t provide long lasting relief so talk to your doctor about a more permanent therapy if that doesn’t interest you.

Physical Therapy

Study after study has shown that active people heal faster. Period. By exercising your muscles, you will more easily adapt to your other physical limitations such as balance or gait issues.

Another benefit of physical therapy is that by keeping your muscles active and loose, you are less likely to suffer from muscle spasms, a common symptom in neuropathy patients.

But be prepared. When you first begin a course of physical therapy to treat your neuropathy pain, you will probably experience a little more pain than usual. You probably haven’t used those muscles in a while and they’re adapting to the treatment. If you need a boost in your pain medication until the muscle pain subsides, ask for it.

Psychotherapy[2]

Chronic pain or chronic illness leads to depression in many neuropathy patients. Treating the psychological aspects of your peripheral neuropathy pain is just as important as treating the physical symptoms. Any successful pain management therapy should include psychological counseling. Ask your doctor for a referral to a good therapist to talk about the emotional and psychological aspects of your neuropathy. You’re not overreacting to your pain and you’re not imagining it.

Alternative Therapies

A good body/mind therapy regimen can be really helpful in dealing with your peripheral neuropathy. Consider yoga, acupuncture, relaxation techniques, hypnosis, or any other meditation technique as a complement to your pain management program. Any of these alternative therapies can increase the production of endorphins in your brain and help the body manage your pain in unison with any other medical treatment.

Nerve Stimulation

The expansion of the gap between the nerves is a primary cause of neuropathy pain. Applying small amounts of electrical stimulation to the nerves has been successful in repairing them and aiding them in functioning normally again. The electrical current causes the nerve to expand and contract. Think of it as a “bicep flex” for your nerve endings. This stimulates the nerve to become active again and helps to bridge the gap between the nerve endings.

Ask your doctor about the ReBuilder™ treatment protocol or ask him to refer you to a NeuropathyDR™ clinician in your area. A NeuropathyDR™ is a specialist in using the ReBuilder™ treatment protocol to assist your nerves in repairing themselves and mending the gap between your nerves to allow them to function properly.

For more information on coping with your peripheral neuropathy, get your Free E-Book and subscription to the Weekly Ezine “Beating Neuropathy” at http://neuropathydr.com.

[1][1][1][1] See www.touchneurology.com/articles/treatment-options-neuropathy-patients

[2] See http://www.supportiveoncology.net/journal/articles/0102107.pdf

Neuropathy and Nutrition

If you suffer from peripheral neuropathy brought on by any of these medical issues:

· Diabetes

· Post-chemotherapy

· Shingles

· Guillian Barre Syndrome

· Lyme Disease

Or any one of a multitude of other health problems and your over-the-counter or even prescribed medication isn’t helping, you may be overlooking a very important link in the management of your neuropathy and your neuropathy pain. You may be missing a key element in your peripheral neuropathy treatment plan.

Look at what you’re feeding your body.

Many of the side effects from peripheral neuropathy you’re experiencing can be brought under control or possibly eliminated by following a good nutrition plan.

What Exactly Is “Good Nutrition”?

We hear so much today about the value of a good diet yet few people actually think about what they feed their bodies on a daily basis and what that food does to them.

A good way of thinking about it is “garbage in, garbage out”. It’s like putting a really cheap grade of gas into a Formula One race car. It may fuel the car, for maybe 100 feet from the starting line, but after that, the engine will sputter, stall and eventually just stop. It certainly won’t run at peak performance.

The same thing happens over time when we put bad food into our bodies. People who suffer from peripheral neuropathy are even more susceptible to the effects of poor nutrition.

Good nutrition involves putting the right mix of nutrients in the right amounts into your body. The right mix of protein, good fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals (and staying properly hydrated) all comprise a good diet. Even if you’re eating enough during the day, if you’re not getting the right mix of the ingredients that your body needs to function, you could be suffering from malnutrition.

Malnutrition leads to a host of medical problems and sometimes serious diseases, including diabetes. If you already suffer from peripheral neuropathy, you’re just making the problem worse by not giving your body the basic building blocks it needs to repair itself.

All the medications in every big pharmaceutical lab on the planet won’t fix your body if you don’t give it what it needs to fix itself.

The Link Between Nutrition and Neuropathy Treatment

Food is fuel. It’s what the body needs to function properly and support us in our daily lives. If you’re eating a healthy diet and giving the body what it needs to support you and take care of itself, it can not only lessen the effects of your neuropathy, it can even help you avoid other complications.

Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the last 20 or 30 years, you know the benefits of a healthy diet. Significant medical evidence has shown that, especially in the elderly and diabetics (two populations with a high incidence of neuropathy), a healthy diet can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, even certain types of cancer.

If you already suffer from neuropathy and you develop any of these other complications, your condition will be even more serious than for someone who doesn’t suffer from neuropathy.

For example, you already know that neuropathy can affect your sense of touch.

A further complication of that loss of sensation is that it can make it more likely that you will fall and possibly suffer broken bones. If your body doesn’t have the materials available internally to help mend those bones, your healing process can be severely compromised.

Even if your neuropathy is being treated with NeuropathyDR™ systems or other medical intervention, you still need a healthy diet to give your body and your mind what it needs to heal itself. It will help you keep your energy level high for your therapy sessions, keep your mind sharp to follow the doctor’s instructions and may even eliminate the need for medications with serious side effects.

NeuropathyDR™ Clinicians are up to date on the best diets for your particular case. Keep in mind that we’ll also typically recommend oral and sometimes topical nutrition supplements and dietary programs.

Does What You Eat Really Affect Your Neuropathy?

In a word, yes. If you want to be healthy and control or even stop disease, you have to eat a healthy diet. You can’t continue to put junk into your body and not expect the body to deteriorate. Especially if you already suffer from any of the health problems that lead to neuropathy.

One of the main components in diabetic neuropathy is metabolic syndrome. And that’s brought on by high blood sugar levels, high fat levels in the blood, and low insulin. If you’re not putting foods into your body that create those problems, you’ve already won half the battle.

Even beyond the blood sugar issues faced by diabetics, other neuropathy sufferers can be affected by diet as well. If you suffer from neuropathy, regardless of whether or not you have diabetes, here are some other problems you may be facing due to your diet:

Vitamin deficiencies – One of the most common is the lack of B-12. Even if you ‘re taking a supplement, your body may not be absorbing it properly and that can cause anemia and/or nervous system disorders. Talk to your NeuropathyDR™ Clinician about testing and what you can do to make sure you’re getting the right vitamins and minerals in the right amounts.

Alcohol abuse – In addition to what excessive use of alcohol does to the liver and kidneys, it can also lead to nutritional deficiencies because your body doesn’t properly absorb what you put into it. If you suffer from any form of neuropathy, your best course of action is to lay off alcohol.

Cancer – Studies have found a direct relation between certain types of cancer and poor diet and lack of antioxidants. Also, if you smoke, stop now. Cancer is one of the leading risks of smoking and other unhealthy habits but if you have neuropathy and you smoke, you’re a ticking time bomb.

Above all else, the best way to help your body fight your neuropathy symptoms is to give it the tools it needs to do it. Talk to your local NeuropathyDR™ Clinician about what you can do, in addition to their treatment, to feed your body well and give yourself everything you need to repair your body and fight your neuropathy symptoms.

Subscribe to our Weekly Ezine at “Beating Neuropathy” at http://neuropathydr.com to get your life back.

New Hope for Neuropathy Sufferers – Part 2

Chemotherapy Neuropathy Responds Exceptionally Well To NeuropathyDR Care

If you suffer from

· Diabetic neuropathy

· Post-chemotherapy induced neuropathy

· Postherpetic neuralgia (shingles)

· Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

· Or any other condition that causes nerve pain

You may not fully understand the root of your problems. To get a better understanding of how all this works, think about this…

Do You Know How Your Nerves Actually Work?

Think of your nerve impulses like the waves of an FM radio station. Not a straight line of current as so many of us think, but more of a wave-like motion. Each individual nerve has its own wave. When you suffer from neuropathy, your nerves have started to shrivel and retract. The gap between them is just too wide for the impulses to make it across. They stop communicating. Sort of like being in a dead zone with your cell phone. You know there are signals out there, you just can’t get them.

The ReBuilder® reads where those nerve impulses aren’t quite making it across the gap. And in an almost fluid, wave-like motion, it stimulates those nerves, helping them to regenerate and close the gap. The space between the nerve endings begins to close. The nerves learn to communicate again.

New Hope For Neuropathy Sufferers – Part 1

If you suffer from

· Diabetic neuropathy

· Post-chemotherapy induced neuropathy

· Postherpetic neuralgia (shingles)

· Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

· Or any other condition that causes nerve pain

Chances are you’re at your wits end when it comes to living with the pain of your condition.

Your doctor has probably prescribed medication…

You may have tried acupuncture…

You may have even consulted an herbalist for a more natural treatment regimen…

You’ve done everything you can think of and still haven’t found relief…

There is one more course of treatment to consider.

NeuropathyDR Treatment Protocol

Our clinicians are trained in a three-pronged approach to treat peripheral neuropathies and related disorders. First, lets talk about an amazing device, the ReBuilder® neurostimulator.

The ReBuilder® is a revolutionary advancement in the treatment of the pain of irritated nerve endings caused by neuropathy.

The ReBuilder® works by first measuring your nerve function and then adjusting to your specific needs. In the office, your clinician may apply this treatment in one of several ways with the professional units. But, if like most patients who undergo a successful clinical trial of care in the office, the next stage will be a home-care system. At home, all you have to do is sit in your recliner or even lie in bed with conductive socks and/or gloves while the signals from the ReBuilder® travel throughout your body – from your foot, up your leg, across your lower back and then down the other side.

All the while, the impulses are stimulating your nerves, relaxing and contracting atrophied muscles, and even inducing the brain to release endorphins to help relieve your pain.

All this from a small hand-held device that, once you’ve initiated treatment with a trained professional, can be used in the privacy of your own home, independently, on your schedule.

Stay tuned for more on this remarkable new treatment.

NeuropathyDr Clinics Advise Exercise With Caution – Part 3

If you have any of these conditions:

· Diabetic neuropathy

· Peripheral neuropathy

· Diabetes

· Post-chemotherapy neuropathy

· Autonomic neuropathy

You’ll want to keep this information handy when you’re starting an exercise program and adhere to these guidelines to make sure you don’t do more harm than good for your health:

Study This Checklist

Keep this “quick and dirty” checklist of things to think about when you’re ready to start exercising with you and refer to it often to make sure you’ve done what you need to do to have a successful exercise program:

- Talk to your doctor and get a medical clearance from him before you start any kind of exercise program - regardless of how “light” you think the exercise is.

- If you’re a diabetic, always test your blood glucose level before, during and after you exercise.

- General guidelines for exercising with caution:

· Always warm up and cool down

· Stretch and warm up your muscles before you start

· Know your target heart rate and stick to it – don’t exceed what you know it is safe for you to do

· Drink lots of water (regardless of the outside temperature)

· Get a good pair of exercise shoes and make sure they are properly fitted

· Keep a snack with you, protein and low glycemic carbs like maltodextrin

· Wear some kind of medical identification tag that tells people what your medical conditions are

Talk to your local NeuropathyDR™ doctor or physical therapist to find out how ready you really are for exercise and enlist their specialized knowledge in designing a safe exercise program before you start. You’ll get so much more out of it and you won’t hurt yourself and start the new year with a painful sports injury that could have been avoided with a little proper planning.

NeuropathyDR Clinics Advise Exercise With Caution – Part 2

In our last few posts we’ve talked at length about the virtues of regular exercise for helping with the symptoms of

· Diabetic neuropathy

· Peripheral neuropathy

· Diabetes

· Post-chemotherapy neuropathy

· Autonomic neuropathy

But what we haven’t addressed is that, depending upon what part of your you’re your neuropathy affects, you may need to modify your exercise routine to keep from developing some more serious problems.

Here’s something else to consider when designing your exercise routine:

Think About Your Heart and Circulatory System

If your neuropathy affects your heart or any part of your circulatory system, your exercise options could be limited. Discuss your options with your doctor before you start exercising. There are many options for exercise that will have a dramatic positive effect on your health but not push your heart beyond its limits.

Watch Out For Temperature Extremes

Neuropathy, specifically autonomic neuropathy, can have an adverse effect on how well your body regulates its temperature. If you don’t sweat like a normal person (you either sweat too much or not enough) your body is not regulating its temperature as it should. Also, avoid exercise in extreme temperatures (i.e., don’t do “hot” yoga or go for a walk when it’s freezing outside). Your neuropathy is going to limit how well your body can actually adjust to those temperature extremes.

And drink lots of water. A well-hydrated body is better equipped to control its temperature.

Next time, we’ll talk about a checklist of things you need to keep at the front of your mind as you design your exercise program for the new year.

NeuropathyDR™ Clinics Advise Exercising With Caution – Part 1

In our last few posts we’ve talked at length about the virtues of regular exercise for helping with the symptoms of

· Diabetic neuropathy

· Peripheral neuropathy

· Diabetes

· Post-chemotherapy neuropathy

· Autonomic neuropathy

Here are a few things to consider when designing your exercise routine:

First, ALWAYS talk to your doctor before you begin any exercise program. Ask him or her to do a complete examination of your feet and lets to make sure that you don’t have serious problems lurking that exercise may aggravate. If you do, get those under control before you start.

Precautions for Your Feet When Exercising

Make sure that your shoes are fitted properly to protect you from injury.

If your feet have nerve damage, don’t do any type of exercise that requires repetitive weight bearing – like jogging or step aerobics. That type of activity can cause ulcers or even fractures if you suffer from neuropathy in your feet and/or legs.

Always wear polyester or poly/cotton blend socks to keep your feet dry when you exercise. Invest in some good socks that will wick the moisture away from the skin. And even better- the new microfibers.

Handling the Holiday Stress-a-Thon – Part 6

For our final installment on doing what you can to reduce the harmful effects of holiday stress on your body, here is an easy stress management tool. When you come in from shopping, put away your packages, lie down for a few minutes and stretch the kinks out.

Stretching

You can stretch while lying in bed. This is a good stretching program that will give you a good total body stretch without ever getting on your feet. Do each of these small stretches 6 or 8 times:

• Start with your fingers and toes and gently stretch and contract them

• Next, move to your wrists and ankles and make circles with the joints

• Bend your elbows, bring your hands in to your shoulders

• Bend your knees, one at a time, toward your chest

• Bring your arms up to your ears and down, gently stretching your shoulder muscles

• Raise each leg, keep it straight, and raise it as far as you can.

None of these stretches requires a broad range of motion but will increase the circulation in your arms and legs and work your joints.

Remember, you don’t have to over exert yourself to stretch your muscles and improve your circulation. When you deal with debilitating pain, just doing those two things can lead to great improvement in your overall health condition.

781-659-7989

Entrapment Neuropathy…Pain By Any Other Name

Autonomic Neuropathy – Silent and Serious

Pain Management Options for the Peripheral Neuropathy Patient

Neuropathy and Nutrition

New Hope for Neuropathy Sufferers – Part 2

New Hope For Neuropathy Sufferers – Part 1

NeuropathyDr Clinics Advise Exercise With Caution – Part 3

NeuropathyDR Clinics Advise Exercise With Caution – Part 2

NeuropathyDR™ Clinics Advise Exercising With Caution – Part 1

Handling the Holiday Stress-a-Thon – Part 6

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