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New approaches to neuropathy: Germany is revolutionizing treatment
Check out this article on new approaches for chronic nerve pain in Germany - combining drugs with natural treatments! #NeuropathyRelief
New approaches to neuropathy: Germany is revolutionizing treatment
Patients with chronic peripheral neuropathy, a condition in which nerves outside the brain and spinal cord are damaged, often experience severe pain and impairment in daily life. Traditional drug therapies can sometimes cause unwanted side effects or fail to provide the relief desired. In such cases, complementary treatment methods are increasingly being sought to improve the quality of life of those affected.
A study published in January 2024 looked at two special, interdisciplinary forms of therapy that are used in Germany for more severe cases of peripheral neuropathy in an inpatient, acute medical setting: naturopathic complex therapy and multimodal pain therapy. Both approaches combine several different treatment methods and are carried out by specialized treatment teams. Their impact was assessed across six dimensions of the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), which measure quality of life in areas such as energy, sleep, pain, physicality, emotional response and social isolation.
The results show that both forms of therapy lead to a significant improvement in all dimensions of quality of life. What is particularly noteworthy is that even patients with acutely worsening pain and a high degree of chronicity benefit from the treatments. Naturopathic complex therapy offers additional advantages due to its versatility. It allows the integration of nutritional advice, phytotherapeutic methods and approaches from traditional Chinese medicine into the treatment; In this way, an individually adapted, holistic therapy can be carried out.
However, the study also makes it clear that interdisciplinary, holistic therapy is more complex for the treatment team and the patient, both in terms of time and implementation. This must be taken into account in the health systems, especially in the context of diagnosis-related case groups, in order to ensure the availability and financing of such therapy options.
The possible future impact of this research could be greater integration of complementary therapeutic approaches into standard treatment of chronic diseases. This could lead to better and personalized patient care that goes beyond just symptom control and improves overall quality of life.
Explanation of basic terms
- Periphere Neuropathie: Eine Erkrankung, bei der die peripheren Nerven – diejenigen, die außerhalb des Gehirns und Rückenmarks liegen – beschädigt sind.
- Naturheilkundliche Komplextherapie: Eine Behandlungsform, die verschiedene Methoden der Naturheilkunde kombiniert.
- Multimodale Schmerztherapie: Ein Behandlungsansatz, bei dem verschiedene Therapieverfahren zur Schmerzbehandlung kombiniert werden.
- Nottingham Health Profile (NHP): Ein Instrument zur Messung der Lebensqualität, das verschiedene Dimensionen des Wohlbefindens umfasst.
- Chronifizierung: Der Prozess, durch den ein Zustand oder eine Krankheit chronisch, also langandauernd wird.
- Diagnosebezogene Fallgruppen: Ein System, das in einigen Gesundheitssystemen zur Klassifizierung von Krankenhausfällen nach Diagnosen für Abrechnungszwecke verwendet wird.
Significant improvement in quality of life in chronic peripheral neuropathy through complex therapeutic approaches
Chronic peripheral neuropathy represents a significant burden for those affected and often leads to a reduction in quality of life. In addition to drug therapy approaches, which can be associated with undesirable side effects and intolerances, complementary and complex treatment methods are becoming increasingly important. In this study, two interdisciplinary complex forms of therapy - naturopathic complex therapy and multimodal pain therapy - were examined in their influence on the quality of life of patients with severe peripheral neuropathy. The six dimensions of the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) were used for assessment.
The results show a significant reduction in impairment in all NHP dimensions (energy, sleep, pain, physicality, emotional response and social isolation) in patients who underwent either complex therapy. In order to analyze the effectiveness of the forms of therapy taking into account various influencing factors, a multivariate analysis was carried out. In particular, the degree of chronicity of the disease upon admission to the clinic was recorded. It has been shown that even patients with acutely exacerbated pain and the highest degree of chronicity benefit from both complex treatments.
Naturopathic complex therapy expands the treatment spectrum to include aspects such as nutrition, phytotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine, which enables patient-centered, holistic therapy. However, such an interdisciplinary, holistic approach to therapy requires more time for both the practitioner and the patient. This should be taken into account in the context of diagnosis-related groups in the healthcare system.
The study shows the effectiveness and benefits of complex therapeutic approaches in the treatment of severe peripheral neuropathy. Given the significant improvements in quality of life dimensions, it is clear that these forms of therapy can represent a valuable addition to existing drug treatments. Further research is needed to determine the long-term effects and optimal composition of therapies.