Does anyone treat their neuropathy without big pharma drugs?

I take Alpha lipoic acid 600 mg daily. I retired from nursing and two days later I woke up with full onset of pinpricks from head to toe and in my eyes. I specifically asked my neurologist how many of his patients woke up with full onset of pinpricks. He said none. It’s rare. When Covid first started I got my first shot then 3 weeks later my second shot. January. First week in March is when I retired. Ask your Dr about Alpha Lipoic Acid. I only take 600mg and it really helped. I get occasional pinpricks. Do not double your dose (I read about that and it says not to take more than 600 mg. Always Talk to your Dr. first if you have pin pricks and see about it. I have small nerve fiber that’s idiopathic (no known cause). It does not run in the family. I believe the Covid shots caused it. I continue to take Covid shots. It did leave me with a burning pain that comes and goes in my left hand. Quite frequently. @rnlorena

@annashby I actually went to another neurologist just to see if they could tell me anything else. I asked him the same question I asked the first one. He said, “that’s weird”. I swear. I wasn’t expecting that. He decided to give me gabapentin but I decided not to take it. For me the alpha lipoic acid is fine. I am definitely not telling you to take something or not take something. I am suggesting things that have helped me. That is between you and your Dr. What works for me alone may not for someone else. I do understand frustration because I have it. They tested me for everything. 20 tubes of blood in one visit. I had no symptoms except the pinpricks and burning sensation in my hand. I have done a lot of reading about autoimmune diseases of which I had none. But through reading I found out you can have one without symptoms. You learn something new always. Mine small nerve fiber was diagnosed by skin biopsy. I have three discs that are leaning down one without symptoms n annular bulge of 25-50 percent. The Dr I went to said, “My back issue will affect me.” I could guess that on my own really after seeing the film. Sometimes I think Doctors should think before they tell you certain things. How much pain do you have? On a scale of 1-10 how bad is it. Is it constant? Did he discuss that with you? I had a Lumbar laminectomy this past year. I was getting ready to see my brother and sister in Texas in November. I moved the wrong way and had a horrible pain. I saw my surgeon and he said he could give me a steroid shot. Not always guaranteed to work. I was lucky. It worked. I drove to Texas. One big problem though. My Blood pressure had been good. I woke up and I started noticing my BP was higher than normal. I woke up the next day and my nurse brain kicked in and my first thought could it be the steroid. I called and talked to a pharmacist. She said I needed to get the dose and how much. I called my Dr. and got the info. I did ask one more question. How long could it affect my BP. The girl said two weeks. I called back the pharmacist and told her she said 5 weeks. It lasted 5 weeks. They should have informed me of what could occur. But they didn’t but I always suggest for people to write down questions before a Dr visit. I have to. You really have to be your own advocate. Talk to a pharmacist. I have utilized a pharmacist often. I ask if there could be any issues if I take other meds. Talk to your Dr. about the medication. They do have to list all side effects that could occur on meds. Every persons pain tolerance is different. I do understand when you look at the side effects of some pills it could be overwhelming. Not everyone gets side effects. I wish you good luck with this.

My doctor told me to take 600mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid twice a day, which I've been doing for a few weeks, and it seems like it helps a little with the nerve pain.

I am allergic to lyrica, neurotin and ala. ( alpha lipoic acid). I am allergic to over 50 medications. I use magnesium cream with hemp on my feet and coconut cream on my legs to stop the itching. I sleep with socks over my feet it helps keep the magnesium on. I buy it off Amazon. Germany uses ala but by IV they say the pills don’t work as well they have been using ala since the 1960s.

The 2nd Phizer Covid shot also gave me PN. My doc said no more boosters for me…….

@sue4 I have taken all the Covid shots even after they discovered I had small fiber neuropathy. No doctor told me not to take the shots. When you visit a Dr. now you need to up on your game. I am saying this to everyone. Write down your questions and get answers if they have any. I recently went and got a steroid injection in my back. They didn't tell me it could increase my blood pressure. I went on a trip to see family and I woke up and saw my blood pressure was high. I called a pharmacist and she told me to get what kind and how much they gave me. I called her back with the information and she told me my Blood pressure could be up for 5 weeks. I asked my Doctors office when I called to find out and they said it would only be up for two weeks. No way.

I have MANY strategies for coping w Peripheral Neuropathy. I do take Alpha Lipoic Acid & Pregabulin (Gabapentin dod not help at all). I have had 12 acupuncture treatments and they helped. The weather is allowing me to ride my recumbent trike late afternoon and it helps. I also save my afternoon & evening dishes for late evening. I try to keep moving until 10 ish pm which helps w the pain. It was quite an adjustment for me to be active until almost bedtime. I am 79 yo As I am typing this I'm soaking my feet in Epson Salts. Wearing shoes and having my feet covered is painful so I keep my feet uncovered during the night. Sometimes I use Volutran. Soaking my feet in cool water helps too or rubbing my feet w a wet cold wash cloth w ice cubes is soothing for me. I am usually sitting on a hard chair. Soft chairs make the PN worse and even causes my fanny to go numb.

Hello @nfauser, Welcome to Connect. Thanks for sharing what helps you with your neuropathy symptoms. I shared my neuropathy journey along with other members in another discussion here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/member-neuoropathy-journey-stories-whats-yours/.

How long have you been dealing with neuropathy?

Barefoot shoes and boots simulate walking barefoot and add a layer of warmth. I had one winter where my feet were particularly cold sensitive so I purchased electric socks for around the house - they were great!

Barefoot shoes tend not to have any pressure points. When my neuropathy was painful, I wore memory foam slippers everywhere (inside and outside). After months of accupuncture, the pain subsided but I still had sensitivity and numbness. Then I discovered Barefoot shoes and now that's all I wear. The numbness and sensitivity is still there but improved.