One of my colleague is suffering from severe foot pain while sleeping. He is diabetic.

Dr. Julie Mercy J DavidPhysiotherapist24yrs exp

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If you are suffering from burning pain or tingling sensation in hands or feet; sharp shooting pain in legs; numbness in hands or feet, then you might be suffering from neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain is a special type of pain which occurs when there is damage to nerve fibres, which produces tingling or burning type of pain. It is of two types: 1. Peripheral neuropathic pain: it occurs when there is an injury to peripheral nerve fibres (a-delta or c-fibers) which carries pain sensation to the brain (thalamus) for interpretation. 2. Central neuropathic pain: it occurs due to sensitization of central pain interpreting mechanisms (thalamus) to falsely feel pain when peripheral nerve fibres are no longer sending pain impulses to them. Prevention of neuropathy: 1. Avoid alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking. 2. Maintain ideal body weight/bmi (body mass index) 3. Lifestyle changes: daily exercises (>30 minutes per day) or brisk walking or swimming; avoid prolonged sitting or standing (>30 minutes). 4. Food/diet should have following components: ?green vegetables e.g. Spinach, fenugreek leaves (methi), radish, etc ?coloured vegetables e.g. Tomato, carrot, capsicum (green/red), ladies-finger (bhindi) ?milk products e.g. Milk, buttermilk, curd, cheese (paneer) ?protein-rich foods e.g. Fish, egg, chicken, pulses (daal) ?fibre-rich foods e.g. Bran, oats, brown-rice ?fruits e.g. Apple, orange, guava, papaya, pomegranate, berries 5. Blood sugar control (in diabetics) 6. Care of feet: ?regular inspection of feet (with mirror) ?comfortable, well-fitted shoes ?regular consultation with a podiatrist ?treatment of wounds, foot deformities 7. Adequate sleep 8. Warm water bath (increases blood flow to the affected area) treatment: ?consult pain medicine specialist. ?neuropathic painkillers e.g. Amitriptyline, pregabalin, gabapentin, capsaicin, duloxetine, etc. ?vit. B12 supplements, anti-oxidants, multi-vitamins. ?transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (tens) ?acupuncture ?relaxation and yoga ?neural prolotherapy. 

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