Lifestyle & Home Remedies for Neuropathy

Introduction

Neuropathy affects the nerves that help you move, feel, and regulate body functions. Daily choices at home can make a meaningful difference in your comfort and safety. This guide gathers practical steps you can take right now, plus tips to bring to your next visit with your provider.

If you are living with diabetes or chemotherapy related nerve pain, these ideas can sit alongside your prescribed treatment. Always check changes with your clinician, especially if you have wounds, severe pain, or balance problems.

What lifestyle changes can help

Move safely and keep active

Regular movement can ease pain, support mood and sleep, and help you stay steady on your feet. Aim for most days of the week and start low, then build up slowly.

• Pick joint friendly activities such as walking, swimming, water exercise, stationary cycling, or chair exercises
• Add simple balance and strength work such as sit to stands, heel raises, or gentle tai chi
• Warm up and cool down to reduce cramping and stiffness
• If you feel numbness, use well fitting shoes and test surfaces before stepping

If you have diabetes, staying active also supports blood sugar goals that protect nerves over time. Ask your clinician about a safe plan and whether you would benefit from physical therapy for a customized routine.

An Understood Care advocate can tailor a safe activity plan, coordinate physical therapy if needed, and keep your clinicians updated; call (646) 904-4027 or sign up at https://app.understoodcare.com/.

Care for your feet every day

Daily foot care can prevent small problems from becoming serious.

• Check the tops and bottoms of both feet and between toes every day, or use a mirror or caregiver help
• Wash with warm not hot water and dry gently, then moisturize the tops and bottoms but keep the area between toes dry
• Trim nails straight across and file edges, or ask a podiatrist if you have trouble reaching or have thick nails
• Wear clean, cushioned socks and protective shoes at all times, even indoors
• Protect from heat and cold by avoiding heating pads, hot water bottles, and very hot baths. Test bath water with a thermometer or your elbow
• If you see redness, warmth, drainage, or a sore that is not healing, call your provider promptly

Protect your skin and nerves

Small daily habits can lower irritation and injury.

• Choose soft clothing and socks without tight elastic
• Keep pathways clear to avoid stubbing toes or catching on cords
• Use gloves for dishwashing or yard work if your hands are sensitive
• Avoid smoking and limit alcohol. Both can worsen nerve damage and slow healing

Eat to support nerve health

A balanced pattern with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats supports overall health. For some people, nutrient gaps matter.

• Vitamin B12 is essential for nerve function. Low levels can cause or worsen neuropathy. People who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, adults over sixty, and those taking metformin or acid reducing medicines should ask about testing and the best way to meet needs through food or supplements
• If you have diabetes, work with your care team on meal timing and carbohydrate balance to stay closer to your glucose targets
• Stay hydrated to reduce cramping and constipation related discomfort

Sleep, stress, and pain coping skills

Neuropathy pain often flares at night and stress can amplify symptoms.

• Keep a regular sleep schedule and a cool, dark bedroom
• Try relaxation techniques such as paced breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness
• Consider brief daytime rest periods rather than long naps
• A counselor, pain psychologist, or support group can teach coping skills that reduce pain interference with daily life

Alcohol, tobacco, and toxins

Alcohol overuse and exposure to certain toxins can injure nerves. If you drink, keep it light, and seek help if cutting back is hard. If you smoke, ask your clinician about quit supports. At home and work, follow safety steps that limit exposure to solvents and heavy metals.

Home safety and comfort

Prevent falls at home

A few simple changes lower your risk of tripping and falling.

• Brighten walkways, add night lights in the bedroom, hall, and bathroom
• Remove clutter and loose cords from floors
• Replace throw rugs or secure them with nonslip backing
• Add grab bars in the shower and by the toilet, and nonslip mats in the tub
• Keep commonly used items within easy reach to avoid step stools
• Consider a shower seat and a hand held shower nozzle for comfort

Footwear and assistive devices

Supportive shoes with roomy toe boxes and nonskid soles protect numb feet. Break in new shoes gradually and check inside for seams or pebbles. Your clinician may suggest custom inserts, diabetic shoes, a cane, or a walker to improve stability.

How Understood Care advocates can help

An Understood Care advocate can review your home for safety risks, coordinate grab bars and shower seats, arrange trusted home care services, and keep your clinicians updated. Learn more at https://understoodcare.com/care-types/home-care. For support, call (646) 904-4027 or sign up at https://app.understoodcare.com/.

Complementary approaches to discuss with your clinician

Exercise based mind body practices

Gentle programs such as tai chi or yoga may improve balance, function, and quality of life for adults with neuropathy. These practices can pair well with standard care and are generally safe when adapted to your abilities.

Acupuncture and physical modalities

Some people report symptom relief with acupuncture. Research across pain conditions is mixed, with modest benefits in some studies and limited or low certainty evidence in others. If you try acupuncture, choose a licensed practitioner and monitor your response. Treatments such as heat should be used with caution to avoid burns, especially when sensation is reduced.

Supplements patience and caution

Before starting any supplement, talk with your clinician and pharmacist. Supplements can interact with medicines and may not be effective for every person.

• Vitamin B12 supplementation is important when deficiency is present
• Alpha lipoic acid has been studied for diabetic neuropathy with mixed findings, and high quality recent reviews suggest little to no meaningful benefit for symptoms over months of use. Discuss risks, benefits, and cost before trying it

Advocates can help with transportation, research trusted options in your area, scheduling, and communication with your clinicians so you get the care you deserve.

When to call your provider

Call promptly if you notice any of the following

• A foot sore, blister, or cut that is not improving after a few days
• Redness, warmth, or drainage from a foot wound
• New or rapidly worsening numbness, weakness, or pain
• Dizziness on standing, fainting, chest pain, trouble breathing, or new bowel or bladder problems
• Severe burning or electric shock like pain that keeps you from sleeping or daily activities

How an advocate can support you

An advocate can help you prepare questions for your visits, coordinate referrals to podiatry or physical therapy, arrange transportation, track medications, and connect you with community resources and peer support. See the related Understood Care guides listed in the references.

FAQ

• What is peripheral neuropathy and why do lifestyle changes matter?
  Peripheral neuropathy affects the nerves that control movement, sensation, and body functions. Damaged nerves can cause pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness, especially in the feet and hands. Daily habits at home can ease symptoms, protect your feet, lower fall risk, and support the medical treatments your clinician prescribes.
• How can safe movement and activity help my neuropathy?
  Regular, gentle movement can reduce pain, improve mood and sleep, and keep you steadier on your feet. Joint friendly options include walking, water exercise, stationary cycling, or chair exercises, plus simple strength and balance work like sit to stands or heel raises. Start low and go up slowly, use well fitting shoes, and test surfaces if you have numbness. If you have diabetes, activity also supports blood sugar control, which helps protect nerves over time.
• What daily foot care should I do if I have neuropathy?
  Check the tops, bottoms, and between the toes on both feet every day, using a mirror or caregiver help if needed. Wash with warm, not hot, water, dry gently, and moisturize the tops and bottoms but keep between the toes dry. Wear clean cushioned socks and protective shoes indoors and outdoors. Protect your feet from heat and cold and never use heating pads or very hot baths on numb areas. Call your provider promptly for redness, warmth, drainage, or sores that are not healing.
• How can I protect my skin and sensitive nerves?
  Choose soft clothing and socks without tight bands, keep walkways clear to avoid stubbing toes, and wear gloves for tasks that bother your hands. Avoid smoking and limit alcohol, since both can worsen nerve damage and slow healing.
• What eating pattern supports nerve health?
  A balanced pattern with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats supports overall health and healing. Vitamin B12 is especially important for nerve function. People over sixty, those taking metformin or acid reducing medicines, and those who eat little or no animal products should ask about testing. If you have diabetes, work with your care team on meal timing and carbohydrate balance to stay closer to your glucose goals. Staying hydrated can also reduce cramping and help you feel better.
• How can I sleep better and manage stress when neuropathy hurts?
  Pain often worsens at night. A regular sleep schedule, a cool dark bedroom, and brief relaxation practices such as paced breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness can help. Short daytime rests are usually better than long naps. Counseling, pain coping skills, or a support group can make it easier to live with chronic symptoms and reduce how much pain interferes with your day.
• Do alcohol, tobacco, or toxins affect neuropathy?
  Yes. Heavy alcohol use and exposure to some toxins can damage nerves and worsen existing neuropathy. If you drink, keep it light and ask for help if cutting back is difficult. If you smoke, ask your clinician about quit supports. At home and work, follow safety rules to limit exposure to solvents and heavy metals.
• How can I make my home safer to prevent falls and injuries?
  Improve lighting in halls, stairs, and bathrooms and add night lights. Remove clutter and cords from walkways and replace or secure throw rugs. Add grab bars in the shower and by the toilet and use nonslip mats in the tub. Keep frequently used items within easy reach so you do not need step stools. A shower seat and hand held shower nozzle can make bathing safer and less tiring.
• What shoes and devices are helpful for neuropathy?
  Supportive shoes with roomy toe boxes and nonskid soles help protect numb feet. Break in new shoes slowly and check inside for seams, rough spots, or pebbles. Your clinician may recommend inserts, diabetic shoes, a cane, or a walker to improve stability. A podiatrist or physical therapist can help with fitting and training.
• Are complementary approaches like tai chi, yoga, or acupuncture useful?
  Gentle tai chi or yoga programs can support balance, confidence, and quality of life for many adults with neuropathy and can be adapted to different ability levels. Some people find acupuncture helpful, though research shows mixed and often modest benefits. If you try these approaches, choose licensed practitioners, tell them about your neuropathy, and avoid strong heat on areas with reduced feeling.
• Should I use supplements for neuropathy?
  Vitamin B12 is important when a true deficiency is present and replacement can help protect nerves. Other supplements such as alpha lipoic acid have mixed evidence, and recent higher quality reviews suggest little to no meaningful benefit for many people. Always talk with your clinician and pharmacist before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines or have chronic conditions.
• When should I call my provider about neuropathy symptoms?
  Call promptly if you notice a foot sore, blister, or cut that is not improving after a few days, redness, warmth, or drainage from a wound, new or rapidly worsening numbness, weakness, or pain, dizziness when standing, fainting, chest pain, trouble breathing, or new bowel or bladder problems, or severe burning or electric shock like pain that keeps you from sleeping or doing daily activities.
• How can an Understood Care advocate support me at home?
  An Understood Care advocate can help you review your home for fall risks, coordinate grab bars, shower seats, and other equipment, arrange home care or physical therapy, and keep your clinicians updated on symptoms and safety concerns. Advocates can also help with transportation, medication questions, and visit preparation so your lifestyle plan and medical care stay aligned. To get started, you can call (646) 904 4027 or sign up at https://app.understoodcare.com/.

References

• Mayo Clinic. Peripheral neuropathy symptoms and causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352061
• Cleveland Clinic. Peripheral Neuropathy overview including prevention and living with tips. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14737-peripheral-neuropathy Cleveland Clinic
• NIDDK. Diabetes and foot problems with daily care steps. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/foot-problems NIDDK
• NIDDK. Peripheral neuropathy information. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/nerve-damage-diabetic-neuropathy/peripheral-neuropathy
• National Institute on Aging. Preventing falls at home room by room. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/falls-and-falls-prevention/preventing-falls-home-room-room National Institute on Aging
• Sports Medicine Open. Impact of exercise training in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy an umbrella review. https://sportsmedicine-open.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40798-025-00863-4 SpringerOpen
• Scientific Reports. Foot ankle therapeutic exercise improves fast gait speed in diabetic neuropathy randomized controlled trial. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-11745-0 Nature
• NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin B12 health professional fact sheet including deficiency risks and metformin related issues. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/ Office of Dietary Supplements
• Cochrane review via PubMed Central. Alpha lipoic acid for diabetic peripheral neuropathy updated findings. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10782777/ PMC
• Mayo Clinic. Diabetic neuropathy and dietary supplements overview. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-neuropathy/in-depth/diabetic-neuropathy-and-dietary-supplements/art-20095406 Mayo Clinic
• NCCIH. Acupuncture effectiveness and safety summary for pain conditions. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture-effectiveness-and-safety NCCIH

This content is for education only and does not replace professional medical advice. If you have new weakness, severe pain, fever with confusion, chest pain, or trouble breathing, call emergency services.