INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Try over-the-counter pain relievers, including NSAIDs like ibuprofen, Motrin, and Naproxen, if your healthcare provider approves them for your use. If these do not relieve your pain, your healthcare provider may prescribe a stronger pain reliever or refer you to a pain clinic. If you don't experience any pain, then you do not need to take pain relievers. Always discuss any medications you are taking or plan to take with your healthcare provider and pharmacist to ensure that they are appropriate for you and will not interact with your other medications. Medications that are normally used to treat epilepsy can also be used to treat nerve pain brought on by neuropathy. These medications include Gralise, Neurontin, and Lyrica. Your healthcare provider can determine if they are right for you. These medications can cause drowsiness and dizziness. Try pain relievers before turning to an anti-seizure medication. Topical treatments that can help with nerve pain include capsaicin cream and Lidocaine patches. Capsaicin cream contains a substance found in hot peppers that can help relieve symptoms of neuropathy when it's absorbed through the skin. Lidocaine patches offer pain relief but require a prescription from your healthcare provider or a pain clinic. Only use these medications under your healthcare provider's supervision. Capsaicin cream can cause skin burning and irritation at the application site, which usually goes away after 2 to 4 weeks of continued use. If it does not, you may want to consider a different treatment. Lidocaine patches can also cause side effects, including drowsiness, dizziness, and numbness in the area around the patch. Some antidepressants reduce how much pain you feel by altering the chemical processes in your brain. Your healthcare provider can help you decide if this option may work for you. If you use an antidepressant, you may experience side effects, such as dry mouth, nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, decreased appetite, and constipation. Only use antidepressants under the supervision of your healthcare provider. TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. A healthcare provider or nurse will place electrodes on your skin. During the therapy, a gentle electric current at varying frequencies will travel through the electrodes and into your body, stimulating the nerves. This stimulation should reduce the amount of pain caused by your nerves. TENS therapy is usually given daily, with treatments lasting for 30 minutes. Your healthcare provider or therapist can provide you with a portable machine and teach you how to use it at home. Your healthcare provider should monitor your usage of a TENS machine. This treatment can help lower your immune response, which will reduce inflammation in your body that is causing your symptoms. While it sounds complicated, you will just need to allow a healthcare provider to draw your blood and remove the antibodies and proteins. They will then inject the clean blood back into your body. If you've experienced muscle weakness or are recovering from walking issues, a physical therapist can help you retrain your muscles. You may be able to maintain your mobility or correct issues with your walking. They can also help you adjust to your adaptive devices, such as hand or foot braces, a cane, a walker, or a wheelchair. If your neuropathy is localized to 1 area, a tumor could be putting pressure on your nerves. While the tumor may be benign, it should be looked at by your physician, and biopsied and removed by a surgeon if necessary.

SUMMARY: Take pain relievers if your pain is serious. Ask for an anti-seizure medication if pain relievers don't help. Use topical treatments to help relieve symptoms without oral medication. Take an antidepressant if your nerves are over-stimulated. Try TENS therapy to help relieve pain. Use plasma exchange therapy if inflammation is the cause. Complete physical therapy if your muscles have become weak. Consider surgery if the neuropathy is caused by pressure.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: When you have a new baby, you are going through a lot of changes. These changes aren't just physical. Pay attention to the emotional shifts that are occurring, too. Your emotional well-being is important when you are reestablishing a sexual connection with your partner. Start by accepting the changes that have happened. For example, you may notice that your breasts feel and look much differently. That's normal. Try not to let your feelings about your body impact your desire to have sex. Another common worry is that your body will feel differently to your partner after you give birth. It's possible that it might. Accept that your body has physically changed, and that sex will be different for both of you. But that does not mean that it is not still good. Pregnancy and giving birth greatly affect your hormones. Your hormones likely will not return to normal until you start menstruating again. For many women, this doesn't happen until for anywhere from 4-12 weeks after giving birth. When your hormones are out of balance, your sex drive can vary. Many women will feel ready to have sex, but just as many won't feel ready for several months. Remember that feeling either way is fine. And it's normal for your feelings to shift from day to day, and even hour to hour. You will also be spending most hours of the day holding and caring for your newborn. When it's finally time to take a break, you may feel the need for some personal space. It's ok if you don't feel like being touched. Try not to think too much about what other people do. Your sex life is between you and your partner. You two should resume having sex when it is right for you. Having a great sex life after a baby may take some adjustments, which is normal. The best thing you can do is to be patient with yourself and with your partner. Some couples begin having sex 1 month after giving birth. Others prefer to wait 6 months. Give yourself time to feel ready to be intimate again. If you feel nervous about sex, you won't feel aroused. Wait to try until you feel ready. Take it slow. Once you feel ready for sex, be gentle and take the process slowly. This can help ease your fears about physical discomfort. It's hard to feel sexy when you are exhausted and stressed. Taking care of yourself emotionally and physically can do wonders for your sex life. Pamper yourself a little. You will feel relaxed and ready for amazing sex with your partner. Allow family and friends to help. When you're a new parent, you might feel the need to be with your baby 24/7, which is normal. If a trusted family member or friend offers to give you a break, take them up on their offer. You and your partner deserve a little time for yourself. Consider treating yourself and your partner to a relaxing activity. It might feel good to get a couples massage or go out for dinner. Spending some time together as a couple can help you reconnect. This can inspire both of you to put more focus on recharging your sex life. It can be difficult to feel sexy after giving birth. Maybe you are stressed about losing the baby weight. Or perhaps you're uncomfortable looking at your stretch marks. If you don't feel confident in your body, it can be difficult to feel interested in sex. In order to start having great sex again, it's important to try to regain your confidence in your body. Remind yourself that your body is amazing--giving birth is no small accomplishment! If you feel up to it, start getting some exercise. You can take a long walk or attend a post-natal yoga class. Physical exercise can increase your confidence levels. Just make sure to clear it with your doctor before you resume your workouts. Try cleaning yourself up. It can be easy to forget to shower or put on actual clothes when you're a new parent. When you feel ready, dry your hair and put on an outfit that makes you feel good. This can make you feel more like yourself again, and ready for sex.

SUMMARY:
Accept the changes. Acknowledge your hormones. Be patient. Practice self-care. Regain your confidence.