Alternative medicine

There are also many alternative therapies that may help with pain relief on their own or in combination with medications. But check with your doctor before using any alternative therapy or dietary supplement to make sure to avoid any potential interactions. For diabetic neuropathy, you may want to try:

• Capsaicin. Capsaicin cream, applied to the skin, can reduce pain sensations in some people. Side effects may include a burning feeling and skin irritation.
• Alpha-lipoic acid. This powerful antioxidant is found in some foods and may help relieve nerve pain symptoms in some people.
• Acetyl-L-carnitine. This nutrient is naturally made in the body and available as a supplement. It may ease nerve pain in some people.
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Your doctor may prescribe this therapy, which may help prevent pain signals from reaching your brain. TENS delivers tiny electrical impulses to specific nerve pathways through small electrodes placed on your skin. Although safe and painless, TENS doesn't work for everyone or for all types of pain.
• Acupuncture. Acupuncture may help relieve the pain of neuropathy, and generally doesn't have any side effects. Keep in mind that you may not get immediate relief with acupuncture and will likely require more than one session.