Does anyone have neuropathy and what do you do for it?

[panader0]

I started noticing tingling in my right foot a couple of years ago. I thought at the time it
might be related to the DVT in that leg (For which I take Eliquis). Then I felt it in my left
foot. In the past year it has become more than a tingle, alternating burning or cold or numbness.
It's not debilitating but still bothers me when it's bad. Or when trying to sleep.
It comes and goes.
I've seen all kinds of different "cures" on line, but would like to hear from someone who has it.

[Patterson]

1. First, get checked for diabetes, which is a big cause of neuropathy.

Gabapentin is probably the first medicine a doctor would try. Alpha-lipoic-acid is a supplement that is purported to help. It's available at Amazon, Walmart, and health food stores over the counter.

[Quakerfriend]

2. I don't but, have had two

Diabetic patients who developed severely debilitating neuropathy in their hands bilaterally and both were significantly improved with high doses of biotin- It really surprised me. I don’t recall the exact doses given but, I believe it was > 1500mg/d- perhaps your MD can recd for u if he feels it might help.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. I've got diabetic neuropathy which is mainly in the feet, but the hands get wierd...

at times. Forget about online cures-- nerve damage is serious business and needs a real doctor. There are at least four varieties of neuropathy, and each has its own treatment.

First, get yourself properly diagnosed. You've already seen someone about DVT, so talk about the neuropathy and find out why. And see a podiatrist regularly.

If you are diabetic, find an ophthalmologist, too. Not an optician-- a real MD. High blood sugar can all too easily destroy the retina and optic nerve. Good idea to see an ophthalmologist anyway-- whatever else might be causing your symptoms might attack your retina and optic nerve.

Good luck. It's probably treatable at this point.

[mopinko]

15. this

i had it from a bulging disc. i ended up taking a long time to get it fixed, and i have a permanent reminder in a middle finger that is hypersensitive and sometimes tingles.

[sdfernando]

4. Have you tried Gabapentin? I know someone that uses it for his neuropathy.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6464253/

[dutch777]

5. I have it in the feet and the face of the right thigh. Bulging spinal discs are pushing on nerves

per an MRI that we finally talked the insurance company into. Doctor firsts had an xray taken which showed some arthritis in the spine but as otherwise inconclusive. He started me on a steroid and muscle relaxer mix which masked the symptoms until the steroids wore off after a week. Then the insurance company would not authorize an MRI until I did physical therapy for 6 weeks, which helped a bit but not completely and they refused to extend the PT for more than another two weeks. Finally insurance authorized the MRI so doc could get hard science on the internals. Doctor then ordered steroid injections into the channel around the lower spinal cord, basically calmed the yowly nerves by reducing the swelling in the discs and basically anestitized the area and made the thigh issue go away for a few months. The foot issue was less prominent but never went away entirely. Symptoms gradually returned after three months and I started taking one 25mg CBD capsule at night before I went to bed. Lessened the symptoms but they are still there. CBD also helps me sleep better. Given Covid I haven't been real interested in pursuing further but from what I can read, short of a partial lower spinal rebuild to fix the bulging discs, it won't go away. My big worry is should I fall or have another impact injury like a car accident or such, damage to the nerves could be made markedly worse fast. Hope that offers some perspective.

[Akoto]

6. I do as part of my disability. I take a number of pills from pain mgmt, Lyrica being for neuropathy.

There is also a predecessor to Lyrica, Neurontin, which is still in use. You can also try things like a TENS machine, which the pain management dept had me give a whirl. They'd probably advise trying 'nerve blocks' which are basically injections to numb the nerve. Unfortunately, neuropathic pain seems frustrating for them (and us) to treat.

I'm talking with a doctor today about going on medical marijuana after getting the blessings of my pain specialists. Fingers crossed.

[PortTack]

7. I do..I keep it at bay with a fat based B1 vitamin called benfotiathine

B vitamins are water soluble and difficult for the body’s nerves to metabolize since all things related to the nervous system occur in fat. Benfotiamine has been altered and tied to a healthy brown fat.

It’s an inexpensive supplement found online and in health food stores.

There those here that abhor the idea of ppl using supplements for their health. It’s just a b vitamin.

This of course is My educated informed experience

There are literally dozens of articles supporting its use..here’s just one

https://www.news-medical.net/health/Benfotiamine-Health-Benefits-and-Side-Effects.aspx

[PennyC]

8. Here's what's helping me

I get exactly the same problem in just one leg. It starts to bother me when I sit down on the couch for evening TV and really gets bad when I go to bed. After a physical therapist X-rayed everything and couldn't find anything wrong, I decided it was due to bad habits. 1) I started seeing the chiropractor again and 2) I ordered a new, firmer, and shallower couch. I believe it's mainly due to poor posture, because it's improving from 2x weekly chiro visits and NOT lying back on the couch (until the new one arrives).

One other trick I discovered: when I get into bed, I stretch the leg in question straight out and tuck the blankets under my foot snugly, sort of like traction. That prevents the twitchy tingles from starting. It works!

[multigraincracker]

9. My father, brother and myself suffer from it.

I find walking and running help the most. I also use Alpha-lipoic-acid and it does help some. I bought some cheap pills first and nothing, then I purchase some better quality ones that worked but cause some heart burn. Some one on DU suggested half a banana when I take it and that worked. I use NOW brand 600mg. Not a cure, but helpful.
I was falling down, tripping all the time. A doctor friend watched walk and jog and told me I was shuffling my feet and to try and roll off the toes with each step and I have not tripped once doing that. Before, I was always running and walking looking down to not trip. By rolling off the ball of my feet, I can now look around and enjoy my runs.

[panader0]

10. Thanks everyone for the advice and recommendations.

[GoodRaisin]

11. Mine started like yours. Then I got hit with new crippling symptoms similar to an MS relapse.

An MRI revealed I had Cervical Myelopathy that required spinal decompression surgery. That was 3 months ago and it left me with, among other things, neuropathy from my shoulder blades on down to my feet, and very severe in my hands and arms.

My advice is get it checked out and find out what is causing it in case there is anything serious you need to address before it becomes worse.

As far as treating it, the Pregabalin (Lyrica) has worked best for me. It doesn’t get rid of it but it does turn it down from high burn to medium burn. It took about a month for it to start working. Smoking a bowl also helps reduce the burn for me, and I think there are some states you can get a medical marijuana card for neuropathy (unfortunately not mine). Lorazapam reduces the burn for me as well.

[Mosby]

12. It might be Mortons Neuroma.

Different than neuropathy.

[yellowdogintexas]

13. I had a Morton's Neuroma in my foot

It is between the second and third tarsals, below the toes, feels like you are stepping on a sharp rock. I had it removed.

[yellowdogintexas]

14. I have fibromyalgia and tingling nerves are part of it

It comes and goes but mostly it is along the outer edges of my feet.

Usually a day of taking things easy and not letting myself get cold helps a lot.

Fibro is so weird