Can Allergies Cause or Worsen Painful Peripheral Neuropathy?

The Complex Relationship Between Allergies and Neuropathy

For those suffering from peripheral neuropathy, a complex and often debilitating condition affecting the peripheral nerves, finding the underlying cause can be challenging. Allergies may, in fact, be a contributing and exacerbating factor in some neuropathy cases.

How Allergies Can Lead to Nerve Damage

Allergies cause an immune reaction that triggers inflammation in the body. This inflammation can potentially damage nerves over time. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), also known as Churg-Strauss Syndrome, is one example of an autoimmune disorder prompted by allergies that causes vasculitis, or inflammation of the blood vessels that supply nerves.

If left untreated, the reduction of blood flow can ultimately lead to peripheral neuropathy. Purines found in certain foods can also prompt allergic reactions and contribute to nerve inflammation. Eliminating triggers and getting allergy symptoms under control is key to determining whether allergies are a factor.

Antihistamines May Exacerbate Neuropathy

For those already displaying neuropathy symptoms, some medications used to treat allergies like antihistamines may potentially worsen nerve pain and damage. First-generation antihistamines in particular can have detrimental neurological side effects with both short and long-term use.

Talk to your doctor about alternative allergy treatment options if you find your symptoms flaring after taking these medications. Identifying connections with a comprehensive allergy and neuropathy history provides vital clues.

Lifestyle Changes to Control Allergy-Induced Neuropathy

If allergies prove to be contributing to your peripheral neuropathy, making certain lifestyle modifications can help control symptoms.

Avoid Allergen Exposure

Learning what substances you react negatively towards then strictly avoiding exposure is key. Common environmental allergens include dust mites, mold, pollen and animal dander. Track symptoms to detect patterns.

For food allergies, maintain a nutrition journal documenting what you eat and your reactions, sharing details regularly with both your allergist and neurologist. Identifying and eliminating triggers is essential.

Control Blood Sugar

Keeping blood glucose levels stabilized optimizes nerve health and function while also helping curb inflammation. Follow an insulin-balancing diet low on the glycemic index. Keep nutrient levels optimal and hydrate well to support nerve repair.

Increase Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Fueling your body with anti-inflammatory foods helps reduce nerve irritation and damage while providing nutrients that aid nerve regrowth. Focus your diet around antioxidant and omega-3-rich fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and fatty fish.

Complement with Nerve-Supportive Nutrients

Certain vitamins, minerals and compounds specifically support nerve health, repair damage, and ease neuropathic pain when levels are optimal. Be sure to get enough vitamin B12, alpha lipoic acid, acetyl L-carnitine and curcumin.

Consider Allergen Immunotherapy

Allergy shots and sublingual drops introduce incrementally larger doses of allergens to help build resistance and tolerance over time, eventually eliminating reactivity. This immunotherapy retrains the immune system while limiting inflammation.

The Impact of Food Allergies on Neuropathic Pain

Food allergies prompt complex immunological and physiological responses, triggering inflammation often linked to conditions like gastrointestinal disorders which already carry neurological components. However, evidence also suggests certain food intolerances directly impact nerve health.

How Food Reactions Damage Nerves

Research indicates that the antibodies produced by triggering foods in allergy-prone individuals contribute to nerve irritation and inflammation. Particularly in those predisposed towards autoimmune disease, nerves get caught in the inflammatory cross-fire.

Purine compounds abundantly found in alcohol, shellfish, aged cheeses and meats may also provoke negative reactions, causing vasculitis. Others report symptom flares after consuming common irritants like gluten, corn, soy or sugars. Pinpointing trigger foods provides direction.

Nutrient Deficiencies Compound Nerve Problems

Ongoing exposure to problem foods combined with genetics interrupting proper nutritional absorption often leads to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Lacking key nerve-supportive nutrients like vitamins B, C, D and E allows further nerve degradation.

Correcting deficiencies through diet adjustment, targeted supplementation under medical guidance, and limiting processed foods bolsters overall nerve health – especially important for those battling both food allergies and neuropathy.

Gastro Issues Create Additional Neuropathy Risks

When intestinal permeability leaks partially digested proteins and other molecules into blood circulation, nerves endure more inflammation and irritation. This also triggers heightened antibody responses, especially in those prone towards food and environmental allergies.

Healing a leaky gut by eliminating trigger foods, supporting gut lining integrity, and restoring healthy intestinal flora helps calm system-wide immune responses. Probiotic and gut-protective nutrition is vital for resolving PDN intensified by dietary and digestive issues.

Alcohol Allergy & Intolerance Impacts on Neuropathic Pain

While research on direct correlations remains limited, connections with alcohol compounding neuropathy have been established. Navigating causation helps determine suitable solutions.

Why Alcohol Worsens Neuropathy

Numerous mechanisms exist by which alcohol sensitivity potentially increases neuropathic nerve damage and irritation. Compounds prompt histamine release and vascular dilation; sugars and additives also provoke reactions.

Frequent and heavy consumption also depletes essential neuropathy-fighting B vitamins required for nerve health, allowing dysfunction. Liver issues born from alcohol abuse create toxic byproducts that further damage nerves.

Genetic enzyme deficiencies slowing alcohol metabolism also prompt nerve reactions. Identifying precise intolerance causes determines suitable dietary approaches for minimizing symptoms.

Abstinence Improves Neuropathy Outcomes

Eliminating alcohol provides the simplest solution for resolving nerve inflammation and pain related to consumption. This allows correcting nutritional deficiencies speeding neuropathy’s progression while stabilizing blood sugars.

For those opting to still occasionally imbibe, strict moderation remains vital. Pay attention to bodily responses and reactions to determine personal tolerance thresholds for minimizing nerve irritation.

Alternative Nerve-Soothing Beverages

While alcohol might seem relaxing initially, inflammation follows irritation. Seeking truly nerve-nourishing and pain-easing drink options better supports health.

Warming teas made with nervine herbs like passionflower, lemon balm and chamomile offer soothing comfort while also delivering key phytonutrients. For social gatherings, infused waters satisfy safely.

Gluten Sensitivity & Neuropathy – Possible Connections

For those adhering to gluten-free diets due to celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), dietary diligence offers added benefit of potential neuropathy protection and reduced neuropathic pain.

Why Gluten Prompts Nerve Miscommunication

Research reveals those with gluten issues experience heights of antibodies triggering immune responses, creating inflammation affecting nerves. Neurologic symptoms occur in roughly 10% of celiac sufferers.

Gliadins found in wheat gluten also interrupt synapses between gut and brain, promoting neuropathy development. Adopting reliable testing methods definitively determines whether avoiding gluten improves nerve health.

Gluten Elimination & Neuropathy Risk Reduction

For those with gluten sensitivity, diligent, long-term adherence to gluten elimination diets reduces inflammation and antibodies, allowing nerve repair and protecting future health. Strict avoidance also heals intestinal linings.

Noticeable improvements for peripheral neuropathy symptoms may manifest slowly over time as nerve regeneration occurs gradually. Patience during healing remains vitally important.

Nutrient Absorption Restoration

Eliminating reactive trigger foods enables intestinal villi to regrow, restoring nutrient absorption capacity crucial for resolving neurological deficiencies linked to peripheral neuropathy onset and persistence.

As digestion normalizes, consuming a well-balanced diet plentiful in neuropathy-fighting vitamins and minerals from sustainable whole food sources jumpstarts nutritional repair throughout the body – especially the sensitive nervous system.

Allergy-Friendly Peripheral Neuropathy Diet Essentials

Crafting a allergen-avoidant diet that also supports optimal nerve health and neuropathy pain reduction requires both restriction and enrichment. Work with knowledgeable practitioners to personalize an appropriate protocol.

Eliminate Suspected Triggers

Keep detailed food diaries tracking what you eat and how you feel. Identify and eliminate common irritants like dairy, eggs, soy, corn, sugars, nightshades, alcohol. Then methodically reintroduce one at a time, leaving out reactive items. Customizing this exclusion diet helps determine personal triggers.

Calm Inflammation

Chronic inflammation often exacerbates neuropathy. Intentionally choosing foods that help put out fires aids healing. Anti-inflammatory alliums, berries, citrus fruits, green tea, omega-3s from fish and seeds generously season meals while providing powerful phytonutrient compounds.

Improve Gut Integrity

Supporting intestinal tract health ensures proper digestion and absorption of nutrients crucial for neurologic function. Bone broths, fermented foods and high-fiber prebiotic plant foods feed microbiome allies that strengthen stomach and intestinal linings against leaky spots.

Nourish Nerves

Eating to specifically nourish nerves encourages regeneration and repairs protective myelin sheath damage contributing to painful neuropathy symptoms. Ensure B vitamins through whole food sources like fish, leafy greens, mushrooms and nutritional yeast.

Antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies deliver key polyphenols. Magnesium, vitamin D and healthy fats provide additional structural building blocks improving nerve cell fluidity and communication.

Seeking Safe Allergy & Neuropathy Relief

If you suffer from peripheral neuropathy with suspected allergy involvement, work closely with knowledgeable practitioners when making dietary changes or using nutritional supplements alongside standard medical protocols. Ensure proper balance and holistic support.

With some trial and error, an elimination diet and optimized nutrition plan tailored to your unique needs can help resolve symptom flares and irritation arising from food reactions and intolerances. Paired with proven therapies that address underlying neuropathy causes, substantial healing happens.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.