I live every day with the effects of nerve damage in my left leg, left foot, left arm, left hand, left shoulder and my low back. I drop things, stumble and loose balance. All of this stems from trauma to the body in an accident.
Nerve pain or Peripheral neuropathy may be damage to a single nerve or it may damage an entire nerve group. It may also affect nerves in the whole body.
Nerve Damage for me causes an obnoxious constant pain, sometimes it is like sharp stabbing needles other times a dull numb feeling. Pins and needles. Often sending stabbing, shocking pulses of electric current as it tries to heal!
The Neurologists have been amazing! Their years of experience in testing the causes, symptoms and treatment of nerve pain has me feeling very blessed that my accident did not happen 50 years ago or more.....
Common treatment for the pain is prescription pain relievers or anticonvulsants and antidepressants, as well as electrical stimulation and other techniques.
- Anticonvulsants. The name might sound alarming, but some of these drugs can help people with nerve pain. In fact, they're often considered a first choice. These drugs were originally developed for people with epilepsy to control seizures. It turned out that their effects on the nervous system could also help dull pain. Side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, and nausea.
- Antidepressants. Along with anticonvulsants, certain types of antidepressants can be the first choice for treating neuropathic pain. Nerve pain specialists often recommend two major type.
- Tricyclic antidepressants have been used for decades. While they're not used to treat depression as often now, they can play an important role in controlling nerve pain symptoms. Many studies have shown that they can help. These drugs can cause side effects, like dizziness, constipation, blurred vision, and upset stomach. They might not be safe for people with certain conditions, like heart problems.
- SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) are a newer type of antidepressant that seem to help with nerve pain. In general, these drugs have fewer side effects than tricyclic antidepressants. They might be safer for some, especially older people with heart problems. However, they might not be as effective as tricyclics in tackling nerve pain.
Gradually tapering off the medication and with the help of essential oils to deal with the with drawl symptoms....... three months later I am off all medications... no pain killers, muscle relaxers or nerve medications!
This by no way means that I am back to my pre-accident self but at least my reality is no longer masked by medication.
I am blessed to be healing and thankful for the compassion I have gained.
