Neuropathy Management: 4 Ways to Prevent Foot and Ankle Wounds 

If you have peripheral neuropathy due to a chronic condition, such as diabetes or peripheral artery disease (PAD), wound prevention should be at the top of your list of health priorities.

The reality is that millions of Americans are in this same boat. For example, about half of the more than 38 million people with diabetes in the United States will develop peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage. In total, between 20-30 million Americans struggle with peripheral neuropathy and most of them should be on the lookout for wounds.

To help with these prevention efforts, we turn to Dr. Thomas Rambacher and the team at Foot Ankle Leg Wound Care Orange County who specialize in dealing with neuropathy and slow-healing foot, ankle, and leg wounds.

More specifically, our team has come up with four great wound prevention strategies that we share here.

1. Protect your feet

Your first order of business is to protect your feet as best you can. When it comes to diabetes- and PAD-related neuropathy, the nerve damage typically develops in the lower limbs, which includes your feet.

This means that your sensation may be compromised in these areas and you might not feel when something is injuring your foot. So, given this numbness, it’s imperative that you safeguard your feet, which means never going barefoot.

Whether you’re walking around your house, outside in your yard, or at the beach, we want you to have a barrier between your feet and the dangers that lurk on the ground.

2. Wear the right shoes

Now that we’ve established you should always wear shoes to protect your feet, we want you to pay close attention to your footwear. Wearing loose or poorly fitting shoes can lead to blisters, which people with peripheral neuropathy in their lower legs can ill afford.

Instead, we want to see you in snug, but roomy shoes that don’t crowd your toes.

3. Perform daily inspections

Another great practice for people who are dealing with nerve damage in their feet, ankles, and lower legs is to perform daily inspections of these areas. Nighttime, right before you go to bed, is a great time for this inspection.

You can combine the inspection with a relaxing bath for your feet. As you gently wash your feet, you can look for any signs of damage, bearing in mind that even the smallest cut can turn into a slow-healing wound.

4. Manage your health

We’ve mentioned the health issues that place you at risk for peripheral neuropathy, so it’s extremely important that you manage these conditions well. 

For people with diabetes, this means keeping your blood sugar levels in check, as well as eating healthier and keeping your weight within healthy ranges. 

For people with PAD-related neuropathy, losing weight, eating well, and exercising are great practices that boost cardiovascular health.

As experts in what happens when people with neuropathy develop foot wounds, we can assure you that a little prevention is very much worth your while.

If you have more questions about managing your neuropathy and preventing foot and ankle wounds, we invite you to call our office in Mission Viejo, California, at 949-832-6018 or request an appointment online today.