Treatment of Neuropathic Pain

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Physical and occupational therapies are widely used to help people recover after injury and surgery. Many patients with nerve pain will benefit from a formal exercise routine. Even the lightest amount of exercise and stretching can be helpful. Certain physical therapy treatments can be very useful. For painful muscle spasms, manual (hands-on) therapy and therapeutic massage can help ease your pain. Splinting may help provide support for muscles that are weak because of nerve damage. Electrical stimulation therapies, such as TENS, helps relieve nerve pain for many people.
The Feldenkrais Method
The Feldenkrais method is a type of bodywork that uses gentle movements to promote personal awareness of the body, increase flexibility and improve coordination. One of the key philosophies of the Feldenkrais method is that there is no separation between the mind and body and that, as the body strengthens and gains new forms of movement, the mind will also strengthen and improve. Unlike manipulative physical therapies such as massage or Rolfing, Feldenkrais practitioners generally view the work as a way to expand one’s knowledge of self and promote the connection between the mind and the body. Classes – called “Awareness through Movement” – focus on teaching small, precise movements that can be beneficial to people of all fitness levels and abilities. One-on-one Feldenkrais is called “Functional Integration.” Many people find the experience relaxing and helpful. Diabetic neuropathy can produce severe pain. The purpose of this case report is to describe the alteration of pain in a patient with severe, painful diabetic neuropathy following application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to the low back. Case Description. The patient was a 73-year-old woman with pain in the left lower extremity over the lateral aspect of the hip and the entire leg below the knee. The pain prevented sound sleep. The intensity of pain was assessed with a visual analog scale. Intervention. The TENS (80 Hz) was delivered 1 to 2 hours a day and during the entire night through electrodes placed on the lumbar area of the back. Outcomes. Following 20 minutes of TENS on the first day of treatment, the patient reported a 38% reduction in intensity of pain. After 17 days, the patient reported no pain following 20 minutes of TENS and that she could sleep through the night. Application of TENS to the skin of the lumbar area may be an effective treatment for the pain of diabetic neuropathy.

Physical Therapy for Neuropathic Pain
Physical therapy is widely used following injuries to promote recovery. Many patients with neuropathic pain will benefit from a formal exercise routine. Even the lightest amount of exercise and stretching can be beneficial. Certain physical therapy modalities also can be very useful. For painful muscle spasms, manual therapy and therapeutic massage can be helpful. Electrical stimulation also helps many patients with neuropathic pain. This type of therapy is called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or TENS.
The Feldenkrais Method
The Feldenkrais method is a type of bodywork that uses gentle movements to promote personal awareness of the body, increase flexibility and improve coordination. One of the key philosophies of the Feldenkrais method is that there is no separation between the mind and body and that, as the body strengthens and gains new forms of movement, the mind will also strengthen and improve. Unlike manipulative physical therapies such as massage or Rolfing, Feldenkrais practitioners generally view the work as a way to expand one’s knowledge of self and promote the connection between the mind and the body. Classes – called “Awareness through Movement” – focus on teaching small, precise movements that can be beneficial to people of all fitness levels and abilities. One-on-one Feldenkrais is called “Functional Integration.” Many people find the experience relaxing and helpful.