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Finally relief from peripheral foot neuropathy! (my story)
I have had peripheral foot neuropathy for a few years. At first it was just numbness and minor tingling. Then the tingling was so bad, it was like it hit me down to my very core. In December, I had a psychiatric hospitalization for bipolar mania. At that point, I was taken off a lot of the psychiatric meds I had been taking. I developed severe cramping in my feet following the hospitalization. I saw a neurologist who sent me for bloodwork and did an EMG. He found my iron was a bit low along with folic acid. I started taking iron supplements and folic acid. After the EMG, he diagnosed me with peripheral foot neuropathy and a pinched nerve in my neck and minor carpal tunnel syndrome. He came to the conclusion the neuropathy was idiopathic since I don't drink at all and I wasn't diabetic since my A1C was normal.
At that point he put me on gabapentin. I didn't really notice any difference. He add oxycarbazepine and I STILL didn't notice any difference. The foot cramping was especially bad when I lay in bed trying to fall asleep and made it difficult to sleep. I got discouraged I would ever find anything to help.
I tried a lot of different supplements people mention on this site. Still no improvement.
In late spring, I got severely depressed and the neuropathy was a huge part of it. I mean, I could see how people with neuropathy get so depressed they don't want to live anymore. I was at that point. My psychiatrist put me on Cymbalta 30 mg once daily for the depression. The Cymbalta started to help the depression quickly. After the first week, I started to notice maybe a minor improvement in the foot tingling. After a month to 5 weeks, the tingling was entirely gone. But I still had the cramping and that was just as bad as the tingling.
I recently had a round of mania. At which point my psychiatrist added Lamictal (lamotrigine) 200 mg twice a day to my psychiatric meds. Wow! Within 2 weeks the cramping was entirely gone.
I know the most of the literature out there says Lamictal only possibly helps with neuropathy and my neurologist wouldn't prescribe it for me; I got it from my psychiatrist as Lamictal is commonly used to treat bipolar disorder. Lamictal was incidently one of the medications the hospital had taken me off of in December, and that was exactly when the foot cramping began. My neurologist wouldn't prescribe it because of my mental health issues, but I got the picture he would have if I didn't have bipolar and panic disorder.
If you are at the end of your rope with foot neuropathy and your neurologist will prescripe Lamitical for you, it is worth trying. Better yet, if you go to a psychiatrist, see if he will prescribe it. Don't try it without being monitored by a professional doctor, of course.
I still do have the numbness with the neuropathy, but honestly, that is something I can cope with. The tingling and cramping not so much.
I realize this may not work for everyone, but I just wanted to share my story.
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I started having small fiber neuropathy in my fingers, feet and nose! After lots of tests and eliminations, it turned out to be the new statin drug I had started 5 months prior to the onset of symptoms. I stopped taking the statin and am about 70% better after 2 1/2 months. I’m currently taking no statin, but am very vigilant in eating a low fat diet and lots of foods that lower LDL and raise HDL. I haven’t had a lipid panel yet, but am hoping I can control my cholesterol on my own. I have list 4-5 pounds just eating right! Not that I was ever heavy, and I now weigh 125.
Wondering if you’re also taking a statin. The one that gave me symptoms was Rosuvastatin 20 mg.
Best of luck.
I had occasional PN issues in my toes and finger tips, in Sept 2022, I had a hip replacement shortly after PN from my hip to my knee. Dr said it would go away in a year. Well it hasn’t and it has progressed from my toes into my feet. I think my feet are from spine issues.
My hip surgery was a front surgery and done by Robotic. I’m wonder if that makes a difference.
Hi, thanks for your post. I was interested in it because of the connection to Covid. My nephropathy went from a 1 to an 8 or 9 right after the second shot. It's been a challenge from then until today.
The 2 nd night after my first knee replacement I had moving any like sensation in that leg and the pain of a sheet touching that leg began my 12 yr journey. Was Rx huge amt of Gabapentin and was told take a day at a time. Knee replacements are easy compared with all the problems of neuropathy. I can’t prove it was the knee replacement, just very possible except I quickly went to both legs? Both knees replaced now and hips. Good luck to you. Hoping for a cure.
So sorry!!! In the meantime, make sure you go to a neurologist.
Went to neurologist today for first time in 3 years. He did. Most of the talking, reading what the computer said about me out loud.
Said he is not convinced it is PN. Thinks my memory has not changed and is fine for 81 years old. Did a few memory tests ( all fine) , some physical challenges and had me limp up the hallway . Bottom line , just in case I will repeat the G, ordered an MRI of my cervical spine ( neck) and my brain. Will see me in February. MRI. 9/16/24🤷🤷🤷🤷Meanwhile , I suffer the nerve pain.
I was told I had peripheral foot neuropathy in early 2018 after my second liver transplant. I have not heard or seen much of why I have it now. My older sister of about 20 years has had Parkinson's for the past 12 or so years. It has caused her neuropathy.
So I am not sure why I have it now. I take 100mg of pregabalin (generic fir
Lyrica) sine around mid 2018 after a series of blood tests and a electric nerve test of my feet. I started on 50mg twice a day to now 100mg twiceva day. What I found through a medical marijuana program in my state, that the nightly marijuana started to help reduce my pain at night si I can sleep. The burning and cold tingling, numbness, and today it had traveled a bit up my ankles and below my knees. Pain is better but not exactly sure why other than the CDB and THC in the marijuana at night. It helped relax me and get to sleep.
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1 ReactionDoes it help during the day? What kind of CBD and THC help?
Welcome @felicelinda, While you wait for members to share their experience and respond I thought you might also be interested in the latest webinar from the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy on the topic.
FPN Webinar: Exploring the Use of Medical Marijuana in Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment
Can you say more about name and dosage? Sleep problems here