Eliminating Foods for Neuropathy pain

Posted by avmcbellar @avmcbellar, Jul 20, 2019

I have tried doing without certain foods and drinks containing caffeine and have discovered it helps me to lower my neuropathy pain to a level that is tolerable. It is not easy to eliminate chocolate, tea, and coffee from my diet.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

I'm trying to understand what anti-inflammatory foods are well-supported by evidence. I saw the old Multiple Sclerosis Diet book by Dr Roy Swank, which says to eliminate oils, dairy, processed and red meats, etc. I also just found this review from a couple years ago by Yasmine Abushukur and Rebecca Knackstedt (respectively from the Beaumont School of Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic) that says supplements of curcumin (turmeric), vitamin E, vitamin B12, melatonin, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), and CDP choline can help recover peripheral nerve injury (https://doi.org/10.7759%2Fcureus.25135). I'm already getting turmeric and other gingers in my diet. My issue isn't an injury, but an autoimmune disorder, so I wonder what could help.

As for caffeine, @mistyisle44, do you know of a study that has shown the reducing caffeine helps? I found this 2016 paper by Brian Cairns (https://doi.org/10.1586/14737175.2016.1157471) that says that although caffeine can be associated with pain, reducing caffeine doesn't always reduce pain. I've switched to one cup of half-caff coffee per day, which seems to help with anxiety, but I don't notice any improvement in my nerves.

REPLY
@jaredbernard

I'm trying to understand what anti-inflammatory foods are well-supported by evidence. I saw the old Multiple Sclerosis Diet book by Dr Roy Swank, which says to eliminate oils, dairy, processed and red meats, etc. I also just found this review from a couple years ago by Yasmine Abushukur and Rebecca Knackstedt (respectively from the Beaumont School of Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic) that says supplements of curcumin (turmeric), vitamin E, vitamin B12, melatonin, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), and CDP choline can help recover peripheral nerve injury (https://doi.org/10.7759%2Fcureus.25135). I'm already getting turmeric and other gingers in my diet. My issue isn't an injury, but an autoimmune disorder, so I wonder what could help.

As for caffeine, @mistyisle44, do you know of a study that has shown the reducing caffeine helps? I found this 2016 paper by Brian Cairns (https://doi.org/10.1586/14737175.2016.1157471) that says that although caffeine can be associated with pain, reducing caffeine doesn't always reduce pain. I've switched to one cup of half-caff coffee per day, which seems to help with anxiety, but I don't notice any improvement in my nerves.

Jump to this post

@jaredbernard - Thought you might find the following discussion helpful if you haven't seen it.
--- AIP diet for autoimmune illnesses: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/aip-diet-for-autoimmune-illnesses/

REPLY
@pfbacon

On rare occasions, I wake up feeling no pain - I wonder what I did right ! I try to correlate it to anything I did or consumed - to no avail. I am very regular about eating and working out, I do the same things every day, take the same meds, eat and drink the same things ... My doctors have explained that my nervous system is dying, it doesn't go smoothly, or quietly, it writhes unpredictably like a crocodile doing a death-roll. I plateaued for awhile, now the pain and numbness are advancing again. Peggy

Jump to this post

I have found some relief in doing the following leg stretches as my neuropathy pain & burning travel from my hips to my toes, both legs, 360degrees around my entire legs. It is excruciating.
While lying down I will stretch my feet straight out pulling my toes back to my body as far as is tolerable, while pushing forward with my heels. I will hold it for a few minutes until I feel the pain dissipating. My calves will stretch while my knees bend slightly backward. It will work the majority of the time unless I have grossly over caffeinated my body. (95% of my neuropathy pain occurs when I am in a prone position, usually in bed).

REPLY
@waad544

I have found some relief in doing the following leg stretches as my neuropathy pain & burning travel from my hips to my toes, both legs, 360degrees around my entire legs. It is excruciating.
While lying down I will stretch my feet straight out pulling my toes back to my body as far as is tolerable, while pushing forward with my heels. I will hold it for a few minutes until I feel the pain dissipating. My calves will stretch while my knees bend slightly backward. It will work the majority of the time unless I have grossly over caffeinated my body. (95% of my neuropathy pain occurs when I am in a prone position, usually in bed).

Jump to this post

Hello @waad544, Welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing what provides you some relief from the pain and burning. I don't have the pain and burning with my neuropathy. I'm one of the fortunate neuropathy members who only have numbness and some tingling. I do have aches and pains from other conditions and stretching in the morning does help get me going.

Have you been diagnosed with neuropathy? Do you have any other tips or suggestions that have helped you manage?

REPLY

Thank you - I will try doing the stretches you describe.

John - I'm glad you are still here! Peggy

REPLY
@johnbishop

Hello @waad544, Welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing what provides you some relief from the pain and burning. I don't have the pain and burning with my neuropathy. I'm one of the fortunate neuropathy members who only have numbness and some tingling. I do have aches and pains from other conditions and stretching in the morning does help get me going.

Have you been diagnosed with neuropathy? Do you have any other tips or suggestions that have helped you manage?

Jump to this post

Hello John, Yes I have been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, which started as extreme restless legs. I pray that yours doesn’t progress any further. While my pain isn’t constant, it usually deprives me of a nights rest, & I find myself doing the stretches almost automatically in my sleep. Tylenol Arthritis helps somewhat, but I am also on Clonazepam, 1mg @ night.
At a friends referal I have been using the over the counter Chinese Wellnee brand of Wormwood pain patches. Even tho they are for knee pain, they seemed to also help with my neuropathy. But only the actual Wellnee brand seems to work, as the other brands are thinner, don’t last as long, have less adhesive sticking power and hard to apply.

REPLY

I eliminated caffeine, sugar and red meat. Red meat due to the gastroparsis (from neuropathy) and how long it sits on my stomach.

REPLY

Anyone have complete list of foods and supplements to eat and foods to avoid to keep PN at bay?

REPLY
@ethanmcconkey

Hi @avmcbellar thank you for sharing some success you have been having decreasing your neuropathy pain by eliminating foods from your diet.

I wanted to tag @cocodab @grandmar @pfbacon and @steeldove as they may find this interesting.

Back to you @avmcbellar how did you come across the idea to do this? Was it per your doctor's suggestion?

Jump to this post

I am not the author - My Nephrologist said "caffeine is a kidney killer". Medical tests vaidated a decrease in creatin after I stopped using caffeine.

REPLY
@sash

Anyone have complete list of foods and supplements to eat and foods to avoid to keep PN at bay?

Jump to this post

Anything with caffeine in it - teas, coffee, sodas, caramel-colored sodas, energy drinks like Red Bull, chocolate. My Nephrologist summed it up nicely "caffeine is a kidney killer".

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.