Coffee and Neuropathy

Posted by judyfrey @judyfrey, Apr 5, 2022

I've had neuropathy for years and currently take Lyrica to control the pain. It is only partly effective. Several months ago I read on a forum that coffee can reduce the neuropathy pain. I realize that most medical professionals advise cutting coffee intake but one night when I was about out of my mind with the tingling sensations I decided to drink a cup. Within 30 minutes the pain was reduced enough that I was able to go back to sleep. Luckily, coffee does not seem to affect my ability to sleep so now it is my go-to when I wake up with neuropathy pain.

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@artemis1886

Coffee has been proven to increase neuropathy pain. Coffee is a stimulant why would you drink something that will stimulate your nerves even more? I went through RN school and quit drinking coffee in 2005. I had mrsa bacterial spinal meningitis and suffered nerve damage. I drank coffee and Dr. pepper. I quit and the a lot of my pain went away. Then started the neuropathy I love vanilla cream cokes but not worth the pain. I have autoimmune severe axonal sensorimotor peripheral polyneuropathy,
cardiac autonomic neuropathy, dysautonomia, lupus and SFN along with asthma. My neurologist also told me to stop drinking caffeine. He was a neuromuscular neurologist and the research neurologist in Boston told me not to drink caffeine.

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I don't think you can categorically say coffee increases neuropathy pain. I have severe stenosis in my lumbar spine and pain in my glutes, hamstrings, calves and feet because of it. I found, quite by accident, that coffee seemed to help me. I am normally a tea drinker, but I recently went to visit a relative who only had coffee in her house. So for 5 mornings in a row, I drank coffee, and my level of pain improved noticeably. I have continued to drink coffee with no ill effects.

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@artemis1886

Coffee has been proven to increase neuropathy pain. Coffee is a stimulant why would you drink something that will stimulate your nerves even more? I went through RN school and quit drinking coffee in 2005. I had mrsa bacterial spinal meningitis and suffered nerve damage. I drank coffee and Dr. pepper. I quit and the a lot of my pain went away. Then started the neuropathy I love vanilla cream cokes but not worth the pain. I have autoimmune severe axonal sensorimotor peripheral polyneuropathy,
cardiac autonomic neuropathy, dysautonomia, lupus and SFN along with asthma. My neurologist also told me to stop drinking caffeine. He was a neuromuscular neurologist and the research neurologist in Boston told me not to drink caffeine.

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I have CIDP/AMSAN
Acute Motor/Sensory Axonal Neuropathy. I frankly drink a lot of coffee to counteract the fatigue caused by the desease. It does not increase my nerve pain. .

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I had two neurologist that told me to quit drinking coffee. I have been diagnosed with cardiac autonomic neuropathy ( my heart rate and blood pressure can’t be controlled), dysautonomia, severe axonal sensorimotor peripheral polyneuropathy ( no feelings in my hands or legs), Sjogrens, lupus, asthma, CIDP and SFN. I am constantly cutting my hands because I don’t feel it. I have tremors from the motor neuropathy. I can’t hold a glass without spilling it all over me (I can only drink out of cup with a lid. If it’s a plastic cup I can’t control how hard my hand squeezes and the cup goes all over me. Sometimes, my husband has to cut up my food) I no longer go out to eat in public because of the neuropathy. I have had it since 2002. The neurologist has now linked my seizures to the neuropathy. I was given eight years left to live with the cardiac autonomic neuropathy. I see a cardiologist and electrophysiologist medication does not work since the nerves are screwed up. It is also called CAN. It has already affected my bladder and kidneys. Where you have nerves neuropathy is going to affect it.

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I think what I’m reading from all of the feedback is to be cognizant of what other medical issues you may have, and get your doctor’s clear input on coffee drinking for your specific case. If you have cardiac/arrhythmia issues I have no doubt doctors will advise limiting caffeine, as a diabetic should limit sugar. Ask your doctor what he/she thinks would be ok for you to experiment with to collect data.

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Does it matter if it is regular or decaffeinated coffee?

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@felicelinda

Does it matter if it is regular or decaffeinated coffee?

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The coffee that seemed to help lessen my pain was regular, caffeinated coffee -- quite strong! 🙂

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@bayhorse

I don't think you can categorically say coffee increases neuropathy pain. I have severe stenosis in my lumbar spine and pain in my glutes, hamstrings, calves and feet because of it. I found, quite by accident, that coffee seemed to help me. I am normally a tea drinker, but I recently went to visit a relative who only had coffee in her house. So for 5 mornings in a row, I drank coffee, and my level of pain improved noticeably. I have continued to drink coffee with no ill effects.

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Hi, in your above reply, you mentioned you have severe stenosis in your spine and also pain in your glutes, hamstring, calves, and feet. I too have suffered from these conditions. Are you aware of spinal surgery that can correct each of these conditions? I have had surgery by a neurospecialist spinal surgeon which gave me immediate relief from spinal stenosis and your other pain also known as sciatica. I strongly suggest that you check into a back surgeon for surgeries that can correct these conditions. I also strongly suggest that it be a neural specialist, spinal surgeon. Hope this gives you some direction to achieve relief from your pain.

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