Neuropathy: What works and what are scams?

Although gabapentin is used for treating diabetic neuropathy and non-diabetic neuropathy it's original creation is an anti-seizure medication you take that kind of dosage you're going to hurt yourself p

I take 2700mg of Gabapentin broken down into 3x per day. So far, after 2 months, I have some relief. Albeit, I feel sorta "high". I take Cat's Claw to see if that helps. Marijuana enhances the pain relief.

Cheers all!
Jill the Pill

I am not sure what is fake or a scam and what is real with nerve pain. My understanding is if a nerve is actually damaged then it will never return to normal. I take 100mg Pregabalin (generic Lyrica) twice daily. I am not exactly sure it works or if I just got used to certain types of pain. Right now I rub my feet with as high percent of a menthol based rubs. Plus I wear certain brands of shoes with an extra memory foam inserts. Plus I massage my feet when they do extra time on my feet daily. I keep active and I found it helps reduce the pain. I tried multiple treatments with a TENS device and it seemed to help a couple years ago. I am not diabetic but have had 2 liver transplants over the past 24 years. Doctor thinks my neuropathy is from taking Tacrolimus (Prograf genetic), a immune surpressant medication. I have an older sister who had been diagnosed with Parkinson's around 10 years ago. She is now 87, I am 68. I do use THC at nights that helps me sleep since marijuana has been medically legal in my state for the past 4 years and is now legal for adults 21 and older. My sister has had neuropathy and that is how she found out about Parkinson's. She has tried Red Light treatments to help stimulate her blood vessals in her feet. But, she felt this did not help her a lot. Plus she tried acupuncture and she felt it helped some. I read a lot about neuropathy and have not found any one thing that helps 100%. I still have some feeling in my feet but it's been rising up my legs now. I can feel some numbing and tingling.

I have tried sooo many things including several narcotics, marijuana, rub-on analgesics, NSAIDS, gabapentin, pregabalin, duloxetine, and others. Nothing has worked. Hope you have better results than I have.

After much trial and error (mostly error), I take 1000 mg (1 gram) Tylenol an hour or so before I go to bed which (usually between 11 and 12. I take 50 mg Tramadol about 1/2 hour before bed. That combo usually lasts 2 to 2 1/2 hours before pain returns. and I awaken. I am usually up for abut I hour during which I repeat the Tylenol-Tramadol combo. Often, I find that I might have to take 500 mg Tylenol a couple of hours later. Thus, in general, I get about 4 to 5 hours sleep although broken up. Again, I repeat, I DO NOT take any homeopathic meds, nor do I use any devices sold by the ESO people. ESO means Electronic Shake Oil). Also please be careful to not overtake the Tramadol and Tylenol. Best of Luck.

My Home Health nurse swears by a product called Cool Cayenne sold on Amazon for very reasonable price. He says that he has seen big improvements in his neuropathy patients and even more serious situations over his career.

My Axonal Neuropathy is so Severe I’m told there is no help. I do believe my US military did this to me. I don’t believe in any of those Scams out there I have been in concise severe pain prior to 2003.
VA has been trying in surgeries implanted a spinal cord stimulator. Now the pain is getting worse and the only way I’m able to get around is in a wheelchair. I hear some people say they have wonderful success from the procedure.

I think one challenge is that pain is a very personal and subjective thing — my 2/10 might be someone else's 8/10 (or vice-versa).

Some people dealing with nerve pain get great relief from CBDs, for example, but they did nothing for me when I was in hospital, and opiods just gave me weird, intense dreams (to the point I was afraid to close my eyes). Tylenol, Pregabalin, and Voltarin (ointment) were the only things that helped me, along with stretching and flexing as much as I was able.

That's why I doubt anyone's going to The Right Answer in this thread. There are just too many variables, and too much variation from person to person.

I am 8 weeks post op with scs by Abbott for PN. Worst decision ever! My trial was successful so I had the scs implant. Abbott rep has tried at least a dozen programs and none have worked. Pain is worse than the original pain. I am taking twice as much pain meds as before. They include Amitriptyline, gabapentin, CBD Delta8, Tramadol, Vicodin. I don’t take them all every day but the pain is bad even when I turn the scs off. The surgeon is no help. Says he is just the installing technician. I would love some advice.

Oh my goodness, so sorry to hear. My pain management doctor pulled the tramadol by stating "they don't do that anymore". Then offerred SCS, and some kind of compounded topical creme of Gabepentin, Lidocaine, and ketamine. I was afraid to get the SCS, and the topical is only marginally effective. I also have Gabapentin capsules. and this med doesn't work well. I have to keep it to 600mg only at night with the Gabapentin. I'm very sorry to hear of your experience with the SCS. Every other day, I contemplate getting it but choose not to. Thank you for reporting on it.