Thank you for your very helpful response. I was put on R-Lipoic Acid shortly after being diagnosed with idiopatic peripheral neuropathy a few years ago, and I've been on it ever since. I, too, have only numbness.
At this point, ithe numbness seems to be spreading almost at a gallop. My left hand simply can't do many tasks it used to; it is losing fine motor control, which shows up primarily in the kitchen. It is very hard to hold things in or with my left hand like measuring spoons, or to separate pages in a magazine. I simply can't do it. Hands are loosing strength as well. And walking is becoming much more difficult.
I live alone and one thing I've done to help is have a woman come in one afternoon each week to help me do tasks that are difficult, and another woman comes in to clean every two weeks and occasionally to help with yard work.
Thanks for the info on alpha lipoic acid. I'll place my order for the R-form.