Anyone here dealing with peripheral neuropathy?

Posted by rabbit10 @rabbit10, Apr 9, 2016

Anyone here dealing with peripheral neuropathy?

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

@bob1946

I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy 10 years ago when I started tripping over the half court line. I am not diabetic nor do I take any medicine. Balance remains my #1 problem besides using braces to walk. I am looking at an infected machine to buy. There are several types, any recommendations.

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Bob - Mine started the identical way. I started tripping over nothing. Left foot is where PN started and left foot became the foot that first tripped. Tip of toe did not clear, sneaker got caught and I swore somebody tripped me, slammed into a wall head-first trip. Second time, few days later, down again. This was the start of drop foot. By the way, what is an infected machine? Ed

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@njed

Bob - Mine started the identical way. I started tripping over nothing. Left foot is where PN started and left foot became the foot that first tripped. Tip of toe did not clear, sneaker got caught and I swore somebody tripped me, slammed into a wall head-first trip. Second time, few days later, down again. This was the start of drop foot. By the way, what is an infected machine? Ed

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That was supposed to be infected . Bob

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@bob1946
If you are interested in buying any type of machine that claims to help neuropathy you might want to go to a clinic or someplace where they use the particular machine before investing mega bucks like some people have done.
Take care,
Jake

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@johnbishop

Hello @nanella, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @jillchristline and others. Sorry you haven't found much relief for your neuropathy. It sounds like you have tried a few different treatments. I thought I would share a list of complementary and alternative treatments from the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy in case you haven't seen them already - https://www.foundationforpn.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Complementary-and-Alternative-Treatments-Revised-2020-final.-1.pdf.

You mentioned you are taking B6 as one of your supplements. I shied away from taking any B6 because too much can make your neuropathy worse unless you are deficient in B6. There are quite a few other discussions on B6 if you want to read more - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=B6.

Have you had your blood tested for your vitamin B levels?

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I was taking too much b6. I quit taking a b complex and I improved not cured my pn. In fact I quit all my supplements. I take a high quality multivitamin and curcumin. I do feel better.

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@nanella

I have been dealing with small tissue PN for close to 17 years. I started with the simple feeling that an elephant had stepped on my toes leaving them numb. Frankincense Oil massages of my feet at night was all I needed. Then as it worsened I was put on gabapentin and duloxetine. I have suffered from back problems for years and following a fusion 3 years ago I found the neuropathy was really affecting my balance. I fell two years ago and broke both legs and required surgery for repair. By then walking was a real issue but I managed with a Rollinator. In January of this year I was diagnosed with covid and ended up with kidney problems and surgery for a sudden gastric ulcer. After a four week hospital stay I am home but can barely walk with a cane or walker. I have an electric small device called a Zinger which I use to move around the complex in which I live. I am now taking 1200 mg of Gabapentin, 90 mg of duloxetine, Vitamin B 6 and nightly ice packs and foot and leg massage. At the suggestion of many I have tried medical marijuana and while it helps it leaves me "hungover." Yesterday I took nearly 30 mg for pain and I finally was able to sleep but today I am exhausted. I have taken opioids but they also cause the next day hangover. I have used TENS machines, had acupuncture (helped for short time), and heavy duty electrical impulses at a Clinic. None helped longer than a few hours. Any new ideas or therapies I might try? I am really having a hard time. I turned 80 a few months ago and truly feel like my life is over.

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Hi Nanella, Honey, your life isn't over! It just stinks really bad right now...right? BIG BIG HUG!!
I just turned 84 (YAY Eighty Ladies!!!) and I also have constant, painful, exhausting, horrible, damn PN! But.,,and this is a big but,,, I decided I have IT...IT doesn't have me and so I make the very best of each day that I can. I know now that, for me...this pain is not going away. This pain is something I will need to live with. I need to put up with it...I need to deal with, because it's not going anywhere. I know that now, after years of searching for ways to stop it...to make it" go away". There are some things that take the edge off for a while: vigorous massage machines, tight compression wraps are a few.
I look each day for what little things make me happy, laugh, think, wonder, listen to, learn, create, help, to get through my days WHILE my PN is doing it's thing. I have Books on Tape...all kinds of topics! I call another couple of lonely seniors during the week through a county program. I watch silly cartoons or Youtube. I have a Master Class account (Christmas gift from my wonderful grandsons). I listen to the Classical or whatever radio station floats my boat at the time. I haul out my old photo albums and have a good laugh. I look up things on the internet. I also sleep when I can or have to. I have a good cry with a good friend once in a while when I need to do that too.
Find your "Things"

Good luck to you and lots of love 80's Lady

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Dear Judy in jeans,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your inspiring response. I think you have beautifully and honestly expressed what I really needed to hear. I am appreciative of your forthright and honest message. I have tried to accept this truth but I continue hoping for the miracle of a painless life.
I admit to a bit of self pity and I am at least aware of my penchant to feel sorry for myself. I have lived a good and interesting life and must realize that it is not over!
Appreciatively,
Nancy

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@bob1946

That was supposed to be infected . Bob

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This is the second time I’ve done this. Not infected, but inferred .

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I have numbness and tingling in my feet and numbness in my hands with burning in left thumb and forefinger. After a few misdiagnoses, we finally found the culprit. I drop things constantly and have left sided weakness and walk with limp. A year later and it was found that I have spinal cords impression in neck area and am having surgery soon. The question is after a year is the nerve damage going to be permanent!

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@asergio714

I have numbness and tingling in my feet and numbness in my hands with burning in left thumb and forefinger. After a few misdiagnoses, we finally found the culprit. I drop things constantly and have left sided weakness and walk with limp. A year later and it was found that I have spinal cords impression in neck area and am having surgery soon. The question is after a year is the nerve damage going to be permanent!

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I had similar symptoms in my arms, hands, and fingers in 2002. A CT Scan revealed two herniated disks in my neck. After surgery the normal sensations I had returned with several weeks. I now have polyneuropathy in both feet and legs so I underwent an EMG study and several genetic tests which indicate I have Chronic Sensorimotor Axonal Polyneuropathy plus CMT. No cure for these suckers but I get physical therapy and massage therapy twice a week to slow down the progression of these polyneuropathies.

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@mjpm2406

I had similar symptoms in my arms, hands, and fingers in 2002. A CT Scan revealed two herniated disks in my neck. After surgery the normal sensations I had returned with several weeks. I now have polyneuropathy in both feet and legs so I underwent an EMG study and several genetic tests which indicate I have Chronic Sensorimotor Axonal Polyneuropathy plus CMT. No cure for these suckers but I get physical therapy and massage therapy twice a week to slow down the progression of these polyneuropathies.

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How did your genetic testing go? I just did mine afraid they won’t find anything. All my blood work high for inflammation but test negative for everything.
I have severe axonal sensorimotor peripheral polyneuropathy
Small fiber neuropathy
Dysautonomia where the neuropathy has moved into my heart and organs

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