Coffee and Neuropathy

Coffee helped reduce pain so I could finally sleep at the beginning of my neuropathy/stenosis pain that hit most intensely at night. I take a couple of cups or coffee now a day in the morning. Over the last 3 years, the after effects of the nerve damage are still here and I need a walker to help my balance, but the pain is less and I have reduced gabapentin intake to 300mg at night with a doctor’s guidance. When the pain was strongest, I thought if that went away, I might deal with the rest of what neuropathy challenges me with more easily. That has been the case. Where coffee continues to fit in, I’m not sure, but it is my welcome wake-up in the morning, and was a friend in those killer pain nights when all this started.

Yeah, there’s lots of research Showing the pros of cannabis THC I’ve been smoking for 50 years last time. I had my lungs Capacity and I’m a very cautious driver. You’ve got autonomic neuropathy and something helps use it

I agree with your last sentence "You’ve got autonomic neuropathy, and something helps use it". I'd like to see the pros research that you mention. Send links please. As for you comment that you are a "very cautious driver", I feel you are just kidding yourself. The research you mention show the dangers of driving. Believe me I am not against you; I am very supportive of your willingness to try anything, and I wish you well. All I am saying is use it if you must but try to get someone else to drive. I have a few friends that died making poor judgements while stoned. Good luck, we have a battle ahead of us.

It seems for some NP sufferers coffee seems to help with pain. I wonder though, does caffein damage nerves as well.

What is the name of the cbd oil you use?

John @johnbishop , with all the crap floating around the internet, you should point out that NIH doesn't vet any of those articles on its website. If you read the disclaimer you'll see that the cited article needs only to be "published by academic publishers or institutions, scholarly societies, or government and non-governmental organizations." that apply to NIH as a publication, not each individual article. It is up to the original publication to decide if the study and/or conclusions merit scientific consideration. In my opinion, the first article (34509062) does not. It's poorly translated (AI anyone?) and one word can completely change the meaning of a scientifically precise statement. Plus, it does not meet the criteria of a "Valid" scientific study. (I.E. 16 people all from the same hospital, all Type 2 ...) A cursory read of the abstract will show that it is not to be taken seriously.

Welcome @gpanderson, Glad to see that you also read disclaimers and yes, I do hope that everyone reads them. AI worries me a lot now that it has raised it's ugly head in the medical world. I think it is a double edged sword that can do just as much harm as it can do good, depending on a lot of factors controlled by humans who may or may not have our best interests at heart. But hey, I'm human like everyone else with my own opinion. I do enjoy when I can find a research paper that is a double-blind study and written with a conclusion that is easy to understand.

If you don't mind my asking, can you share what brought you to Connect? Have you been diagnosed with neuropathy?

Hi John- I've been diagnosed with so many ailments that I can't remember them all. Neuropathy is just one of them. I'm hoping to find something better than Gabapentin because I don't like the possible memory issues. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Seems like we all have a little different neuropathy journey and what has helped each of us may not work for others but it is helpful to read the experiences of others while we search for a treatment that provides some relief. I shared my neuropathy journey in another discussion here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/310341/. Here's a link to other discussions on Connect where members have shared what treatment has helped with neuropathy - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=neuropathy%20what%20helps.

The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy is another good site to learn what treatments are available that may provide some relief - https://www.foundationforpn.org/living-well/.

Yes, I agree the THC helps at night. Morning I drink a few cups of coffee too. Plus I take 100mg Pregabalin(Lyrica generic). I still have pain at times but not what it was like a few years ago.