Extremely painful toe/s

Welcome to Connect, @papabrody. As I'm sure you know, we can't offer a diagnosis on this patient-to-patient community. Rather than wait until Jan 1, you may consider going to a local emergency room to get pain relief and a diagnosis.

@johnbishop, do you have any thoughts for Brody?

Hello and welcome to Connect Irwin, @papabrody. I'm sorry to hear you are having pain and numbness with your feet. I have numbness in both of my feet but do not have the pain that a lot of people also experience with peripheral neuropathy. Are you taking any kind of medications for the pain or have you received a diagnosis yet? There are a lot of scams and products that prey upon folks with pain/numbness so you have to be wary. There is some information here to help avoid these types of products/services - http://mayocl.in/2gcdDNt.

That said, I have tried some of the well known products for pain/numbness and they did nothing for my numbness. I have found some minor relief using a magnesium lotion on my feet at bedtime. The one I use is Life-flo Magnesium Lotion which is available on Amazon.com. Others I know in a support group I belong to have used the following external use products that they say have helped them:

Life Flo Magnesium Lotion - soothing on the feet with anti inflammatory properties
http://amzn.to/2cj3az2
Life Flo Magnesium Spray - 100% Oil soothing on the feet with anti inflammatory properties
http://amzn.to/2c9hokR
Epsom Salts - 20 lbs of 100% magnesium salts for a soothing bath..
http://amzn.to/2ctBq8t
Epsom Salt Rub With Aloe
http://amzn.to/2cxXPBI
Neuro Eeze L-Arginine Neuropathy Cream
http://amzn.to/2d3dNAN
I think it's extremely important to meet with your doctor and get a diagnosis so that you know specifically what you are dealing with, also keep doing what you are doing - being proactive. It's really important as you are your best advocate. Also, if the pain is waking you during the night, do you think it might be the sheets or your blanket rubbing on your toes or feet aggravating the pain? I've heard that some folks have found that by putting something at the base of the bed to raise the sheets off of the feet helps with this. I'm sure there are many of these product available but also don't know if they will help. Here's a YouTube example of one - http://bit.ly/2hR2fX1.

Hoping you are able to manage the pain to get through the holidays until your doctor appointment in January.

John

Thank you both. John I agree with you that it is peripheral neuropathy. The underlying cause tbd. Due to new Insurance coverage I unfortunately have to wait till after the first of the year to see a doctor. I live in Rochester Minnesota and always use the Mayo Clinic.

Thank you for some of the things I can use until I see a doctor that might relieve some of the pain. Standing/walking there is very little to none on pain. Sitting, lying down, being immobile is when the pain sets in. Otherwise numbness.

I will keep you apprised as I go. Been a crazy year 2016: Had a hernia repaired, cataract surgery that resulted in a detached retina and more surgery (which is still in progress), and lost my wife to NSCLC in September. I am only 61 years old. Looking forward to a brighter 2017.

Irwin

Irwin, 2016 obviously threw you compounded curve balls. I sure hope the subsequent surgery goes well.
I'm sorry to hear about the recent loss of your wife. I'd like to introduce you to @IndianaScott and others dealing with loss and grief in the Caregivers group. You may wish to read and join this discussion "Loss and Grief in Caregiving" http://mayocl.in/2hBpFNf
To a brighter 2017.

I have the same thing and I know it is quite painful. I Have been using DermaTran and it is great to relieve the pain. I had to have a prescription from a Doctor and it was he that told me about this. It is DermaTran and you can get it for $50 at least that' what I pay. The Address is 2700 Stanley Gault Parkway,Louisville, KY 40233. Phone 855-675-5240
Hope I helped you some.

Thank you Colleen for the suggestion/referal concerning the grief counseling. I had some pretty intense one-on-one therapy for 2 months. Now go twice a month to a grief and loss group thru Seasons Hospice. All as helped even though I have a long way to go, I am doing much better. Again, thank you. Irwin

I had a "Morton's Neuroma" in my foot that really made my toes hurt. Go see a podiatrist. If you are doing toe stretches - Stop it.
Watch the yoga moves that make you bend your toes - you can go flat footed and achieved the same effect.
Rest, Love your feet, get a reflexologist.
R

Update: Neurologist prescribed Gabapentin 300mg twice a day. Wants me to try it for 90 days. I know this Dr. personally so I will take a chance. Been a week on it and the it has gotten rid of the pain though the numbness remains, which we all know is a tough nut to crack. Some on here have said that this is not a long term solution so I will keep you advised if the pain creeps back in.

Footnote: I go back to St Mary's tomorrow morning for my final eye surgery for the detached retina. Finally will be done with that mess. Irwin

Hi Papabrody, I hope the Gabapentin works for you. I doubt you'll be able to read this message today as you are in surgery for your eye. I just wanted you to have a message waiting for you when you return. We're thinking about you.

Hi Papabrody, I too hope the Gabapentin works for you to get rid of the pain. The sad news is there is no medication or topical cream/oil that will help with numbness from a discussion I had in March with my Mayo Neurologist. Praying that your surgery goes well. Have you considered being tested for peripheral neuropathy and meeting with a neurologist? Pain and numbness normally starts in the toes. I have the numbness without the pain which occurs for about 20% or so of folks with neuropathy.