Diabetic Leg Pain Home Remedy
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We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. Leg pain and cramps often occur as a result of diabetes-related nerve damage. This diabetes complication, known as neuropathy, can be a direct result of long-term high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia).
Managing blood sugars and certain medications can help treat this pain. Diabetes can lead to a variety of complications. Leg pain and cramps often occur as a result of nerve damage called diabetic neuropathy. If diabetes damages nerves in your arms or legs, it’s called diabetic peripheral neuropathy. This condition can be a direct result of long-term high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) in those who have diabetes.
Pain, burning, tingling, and numbness are common symptoms. Peripheral neuropathy can also result in serious foot and leg conditions. Catching nerve damage early is important in preventing symptoms. This can help prevent lower leg amputations. You have options for alleviating leg pain and cramps due to diabetic neuropathy.
Managing leg pain and cramps may also help prevent the condition from progressing and improve your quality of life. Diabetic neuropathy is most common in the legs and feet. Without treatment and management, it can become debilitating. The most important thing you can do to lower your risk of all complications, including diabetic neuropathy, is to keep your blood sugar level within the target range.
If you have neuropathy, controlling blood sugar is still very important. But there are some other steps you can take to help control this condition. One of the first courses of action is pain management through medication. Over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, may help alleviate mild to moderate pain.
duloxetine (Cymbalta)pregabalin (Lyrica)
Other medications and treatment options include the use of opioid medications, such as tramadol and tapentadol, and topical remedies and sprays. Certain dietary supplements may also help ease pain, including leg discomfort associated with diabetes. Some nutrients can possibly play a role in repairing nerve tissues and even protect from future damage.
alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) acetyl-L-carnitine vitamin B-12 vitamin D
ALA is an antioxidant that has garnered a lot of attention in home remedies for diabetes. While found in some foods like broccoli and carrots, ALA is also available as an oral supplement. People with diabetes take ALA to help alleviate pain and possibly prevent further nerve damage.
Some, but not all, studies support the use of oral ALA. Acetyl-L-carnitine mimics natural chemicals found in the body. It’s thought to help produce healthy nerve cells. This supplement has a risk of side effects, such as vomiting, and can interact with blood thinning medications. One study did find acetyl-L-carnitine beneficial in reducing pain in those with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Vitamin B-12 is present in meats and fish and helps support red blood cells. This vitamin may also potentially promote healthy nerve function to prevent damage. Metformin is a common medication used with type 2 diabetes. It’s known to lower the body’s vitamin B-12 level.
Talk to your doctor about making sure you are not deficient. A B-12 deficiency can lead to neurological damage and mimic diabetic neuropathy. Vitamin D can also help support healthy nerve functions and decrease swelling that can lead to pain. Recall of metformin extended release In May 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that some makers of metformin extended release remove some of their tablets from the U.S.
market. This is because an unacceptable level of a probable carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) was found in some extended-release metformin tablets. If you currently take this drug, call your healthcare provider. They will advise whether you should continue to take your medication or if you need a new prescription.
In diabetes, a healthy diet is critical for overall health and leg pain relief. Dietary supplements do not cure leg pain, and they are still being studied for safety and efficacy. Also, not all patients need these supplements because they get adequate nutrients from the foods they eat. It’s important to discuss supplements with your doctor before taking them for diabetic leg pain — especially if you take any medications.
Managing diabetes leg pain and cramps may require more than taking medications or supplements. While these methods may reduce inflammation and pain, they can take time to work. Additionally, it may be dangerous to take certain medications, such as opioids, for extended periods of time.
going for short, frequent walksusing a stationary bike to increase blood flowsoaking your legs in a warm bathusing a bed cradle at night to protect your legs from discomfort caused by bedding
Shop for bed cradles online at Amazon. It’s important to address any form of leg pain with your doctor, even if the symptoms don’t interfere with daily activities. Frequent cramps or shooting pain can indicate worsening diabetic neuropathy. Report frequent symptoms to your doctor right away.
- Even mild leg pain and cramps should be discussed with your healthcare team.
- Even if you do not have neuropathy, these can be symptoms of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
- Diabetes puts you at a greater risk for PAD.
- This is a serious condition characterized by blocked blood vessels in the legs.
- PAD also increases your risk for heart attack and stroke.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says diabetes is a risk factor for developing PAD. Most people don’t realize they have PAD because its symptoms are subtle. As a general rule, call your doctor if something just doesn’t seem right — it may potentially save your life.
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Where is diabetic leg pain located?
Proximal neuropathy (diabetic polyradiculopathy) – This type of neuropathy often affects nerves in the thighs, hips, buttocks or legs. It can also affect the abdominal and chest area. Symptoms are usually on one side of the body, but may spread to the other side. Proximal neuropathy may include:
Severe pain in the buttock, hip or thigh Weak and shrinking thigh muscles Difficulty rising from a sitting position Chest or abdominal wall pain
What is diabetic leg pain like?
7 Warning Signs of Diabetic Nerve Pain – Neuropathic Therapy Center | Loma Linda University Health If you’re living with diabetes and have experienced a tingling, burning sensation in your hands or feet, you may be suffering from diabetic nerve pain.
Diabetic nerve pain or “damaged nerves” are a result of an injury or disease. The restriction of blood flow to the damaged nerves leads to the chronic, debilitating pain. Nerve pain can make doing the simplest things very painful. Diabetes develops in children and adults typically as a result of the body not producing enough insulin.
What is insulin? It’s a hormone produced by your pancreas. The purpose of insulin is to help cells use glucose or sugar found in food to produce energy. Now, if there is too much sugar in the blood, this can lead to complications, such as diabetes. Often times affecting the kidneys, heart, nerves and eyes.
Numbness Sharp and burning pain Pins and needles pain Deformities on the foot (i.e. hammertoe) Sores or blisters Sensitivity to touch Tingling or stabbing pain
Diabetic nerve pain will vary for each individual based on the severity of nerve damage. For those suffering with sensitivity to touch, trying to get a good night’s rest can be difficult. It can seem like even the bed sheets are heavy and painful to lay down on.
- Don’t be surprised if you experience difficulty standing or walking.
- You may also experience difficulty picking up a spoon or fork to eat your meal or drop items on a regular basis.
- Most of this is contributed to diabetic nerve pain.
- For individuals who may have trouble feeling at all, it’s important to carefully monitor your feet and hands.
It can be challenging at times to know if something you’re holding is hot or cold. You don’t want to burn yourself or cause further harm. If you’d like to live free of diabetic nerve pain, there is hope. or INF™ is available for patients suffering with chronic nerve pain as a result of diabetes, chemotherapy or sports injuries.
Can massage help diabetic nerve pain?
Are foot massagers good for diabetic feet? – Massage can be great for those living with diabetic neuropathy. Massage has been used to relieve pain, improve blood circulation, and promote relaxation. These can all improve diabetic foot pain as the massage soothes the muscles in the feet. Foot massagers can also improve mobility and flexibility within the feet, which can further improve pain relief.
What foods cause diabetic nerve pain?
Foods that are high in sugar – Sugar can aggravate nerve pain and discomfort, so it is best to avoid foods that are high in sugar. This includes sugary snacks, desserts, and processed foods. Fried foods – Fried foods are unhealthy and can worsen neuropathy symptoms.
Why do diabetics legs hurt?
Summary – Many complications can develop as a result of uncontrolled diabetes, including diabetic ulcers and peripheral neuropathy. This type of nerve damage and injury can lead to pain in your legs. If you’re experiencing pain in your legs, it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider to determine the best way to manage your diabetes and prevent further complications.
Why is nerve pain worse at night?
Fewer Distractions – There are no meetings, phone calls, after-school events or errands to run when it’s time to go to bed. Instead, it’s just you, the bed and your thoughts. You become more aware of your surroundings. You notice your body is hurting more in the hands or feet that cause you to concentrate on the pain.
The brain becomes concerned with the nerve pain rather than simply shutting off and falling asleep. You may even find your bed sheets to be a culprit when it comes to fueling the pain. Almost as if the bed sheets themselves are stabbing you. What should you do? Visualize something you love. It can be your favorite food, a dream vacation or the ones you love.
Rather than focusing on the pain you feel or the focus to close your eyes, simply visualize a more positive picture.
What drug is best in severe pain in the leg?
How to Treat Leg Pain – How can you ease the discomfort of leg pain? Your treatment options depend on the underlying cause and severity of your leg pain. Treatment may start with conservative therapies, such as over-the-counter aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen.
- These nonprescription medications can be effective for certain types of leg pain when taken according to instructions.
- You may also consider home care such as drinking plenty of water to reduce leg cramps.
- Stretching and massage can also help.
- You may also try using heating or cold packs, taking warm baths or showers, and resting your legs.
Be sure to wear shoes that support the arch in your foot and are comfortable to wear. Elevate your leg when you sit or lie down. The pain management specialists at The Pain Center may also recommend the following interventional pain therapies to reduce your leg pain:
Prescription medications / medication management Topical agents (creams) Injections such as steroid medications Spinal cord stimulation Nerve blocks Biofeedback Physical therapy (can include exercises, losing weight if necessary, heat and cold therapy, electrical nerve stimulation) Alternative treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments and/or massage
Some of the interventional medical therapies we provide at The Pain Center include: Medication Management The pain specialist will prescribe and regulate the medication that you use to help control your pain. The pain management specialist will provide you with the knowledge you need to take your medications properly.
The Pain Center takes a conservative approach with medication management. We try to limit prescription medications to help avoid dependence. Steroid Injections One option for treating pain is injections of dexamethasone, a steroid that helps reduce pain and inflammation. This can be very effective for arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Nerve Blocks A nerve block is an injection therapy that reduces pain caused by a nerve(s). This can help treat peripheral neuropathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain. This procedure injects a combination of local anesthetic agents around the peripheral nerve branches for optimal pain relief.
Peripheral nerve blocks may provide relief that lasts from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the patient’s condition. Spinal Cord Stimulation Spinal cord stimulation is an FDA-approved, minimally invasive procedure that requires the implantation of a nerve stimulation device. This treatment delivers low-voltage electrical currents to areas of the spine, ultimately reducing pain signals caused by chronic pain.
Patients living with chronic back or leg pain, who have not responded to conservative treatments for at least six months, may be candidates for this procedure. A trial device is implanted before a permanent device is considered. Contact The Pain Center today to learn more about how we can help you effectively manage your arm pain.
How do you reverse diabetic leg pain?
It occurs when you have elevated blood sugar for a long period. The most common type of diabetes-related neuropathy affects your legs and feet. There is no cure for diabetes-related neuropathy. You can manage nerve pain with medication, exercise and proper nutrition.
Can metformin cause pain in legs?
Metformin is often the first medicine you’ll take if you have type 2 diabetes – for many reasons. It helps bring down your blood sugar level in three ways:
It tells your liver to make less glucose.It lowers your insulin resistance, which means it makes your muscles use insulin better so glucose can get into them instead of staying in your blood,It helps your intestines absorb less glucose from your food.
It can lower your A1c, the “average” of your blood sugar control over a few months. It can also delay prediabetes from becoming diabetes, Some brand names are:
Fortamet Glucophage Glumetza Riomet
All of those are pills except Riomet, which is a liquid. Some “combination” pills have metformin with another medicine, including:
Glipizide and metformin ( Metaglip ) Glyburide and metformin ( Glucovance ) Pioglitazone and metformin (Actoplus Met) Repaglinide and metformin (Prandimet)Saxagliptin and metformin (Kombiglyze) Sitagliptin and metformin ( Janumet )
Like any medicine, metformin can have side effects. Most are mild, but a few can be serious. Keep these in mind and talk to your doctor about what you can expect. Stomach trouble is the most common metformin side effect. About 25% of people have problems like:
Bloating Gas Diarrhea Belly pain Constipation Little appetite
Taking metformin with food can help. If you increase your dose, these side effects may return. While doctors used to avoid prescribing this drug to people who’ve had kidney trouble, it may be OK for someone with mild or moderate kidney disease, You might see the shell part of an extended-release pill in your poop,
If you do, don’t worry. The medication has gone into your body, and you shouldn’t take any extra pills. One large study has linked long-term metformin use to higher chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, But more research is needed to understand the connection better and what it means.
Some people (in one study, it was less than 5%) reported heartburn, headaches, upper respiratory infection, and a bad taste in their mouth when they took extended-release metformin. Up to 12% of people on the regular formula had those side effects. They also reported flu-like symptoms, sweating, flushing, heart palpitations, rashes, and nail problems,
Lactic acidosis This is a dangerous condition caused by the buildup of lactic acid, a chemical that your muscles and red blood cells make naturally. When it happens while taking metformin, it’s called metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA). The problem is very rare, happening in a tiny fraction of people who take the drug.
It’s more likely to happen if you:
Have kidney or liver disease Drink a lot of alcohol Have severe congestive heart failure Are sick with fever, diarrhea, or throwing upAre dehydrated
Many of the warning signs are similar to some metformin side effects, like stomach pain, dizziness, and weakness. Others are numbness or a cold feeling in your limbs, or changes in your heart rate, Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these problems.
Vitamin B12 deficiency A lack of this B vitamin can happen to anyone, but the risk is higher on metformin, especially over time. When you don’t get enough, it can cause peripheral neuropathy, the numbness or tingling in your feet and legs that’s already a risk with diabetes. It can also cause anemia, low levels of red blood cells.
Ask your doctor to check your B12 level regularly. Don’t wait until you have symptoms. It’s also a good idea to add foods naturally high in B12 to your diet. Beef liver and clams have the most. Chicken, beef, eggs, dairy products, and fortified cereals are good sources.
Supplements can also bring your levels back to normal, especially if you’re a vegetarian. Just talk to your doctor before you start taking one. Hypoglycemia Your blood sugar may fall too low if you take metformin while fasting or doing very heavy physical activity. If you’re taking a combination pill, or metformin with other diabetes medications or insulin, check with your doctor about how likely you are to have low blood sugars.
If you’re taking metformin by itself, you probably won’t have low blood sugars. Because of the risk of serious problems, your doctor will probably recommend a different medication if you:
Have had an allergic reaction to metformin or other medicinesHave diabetes that isn’t under controlHave liver or kidney problemsHave a severe infectionRecently had a heart attack or heart failure Have breathing or blood flow problemsDrink a lot of alcohol
Some side effects go away on their own over time. There are a few ways you can ease or avoid problems:
Ask to start at a low dose. This makes it easier for your body to adjust to the medicine. Take metformin with food. It’s OK to take the medicine on an empty stomach, but having it with a meal makes it easier to handle. Ask about the extended-release form of metformin. You’ll take it once a day rather than twice. Because it doesn’t release the drug in one burst, side effects are often milder. In one study, just 10% of people who took the extended-release form had diarrhea, compared with 53% of those who took the standard formula. Just 7% had nausea, compared with 26%. And fewer than 1% of those on extended-release metformin had to stop taking it because of side effects.
Metformin can cause problems with other drugs you take, including diuretics, glaucoma medications, corticosteroids, thyroid drugs, birth control pills and other estrogen drugs, and calcium channel blockers. Also, if you take metformin along with medicines for acid reflux, you could be more likely to have a vitamin B12 deficiency.
