Has anyone had success taking Alpha lipoic acid for neuropathy?

@carol1024 Hello. I have a 50% balance loss in both ears. 25 years ago I went to balance therapy to retrain myself as to how to stand up and walk straight. It works. I still rely on those techniques today. Most physical therapist are trained in this regiment. They are often clinics just for this problem
One other very important issue is your core strength. As a senior with a balance issue and SPN staying strong is key to preventing falls. Your body has to be able to quickly ‘right’ you as you topple or trip. Just standing in place and lifting your knees high while looking straight ahead. Bonus point if you can do this NOT touching anything for balance. As a precaution always have a chair or maybe a kitchen counter to hold or touch.
I think most insurance will pay for this type of PT
Stay balanced in life😄
debbieo

@debbieod if I can get the neuropathy somewhat controlled that will fix a lot. The last 3 toes on each foot have neuropathy in them. The right is worse than the left. My falls have been the result of hitting my right toe on something and because of the numbness the relay to the brain isn't as fast as it should be. Lol
My balance issues are not from an inner ear problem. Its from neuropathy as a result of the chemotherapy. After I finish this 2nd session I hope it's enough that I can continue with maintenance immunotherapy and the neuropathy slowly gets better.

I took Ala and it seemed to help . However, I had heartburn . I'm gonna try the gummies and eat yogurt .

@carol1024 I have neuropathy also. I definitely understand what your referring too. Part of it is your pre propreception. Your brain and your body knowing where everything is
I take 1500 R- ala daily. Neurologist started me out at 600 per day. I do believe it has helped me. I did not feel results from S-ala .
Stopping the nerve damage is a definite goal. So I take a few other supplements that supposedly support nerve health
I am curious. Do you think the damaged nerves causing the neuropathy will regenerate after the chemotherapy ends?
Hopefully debbieo

@debbieod that's a loaded question that I do not have the answer to. Lol

From what I've read about it though, there's a favored probability that most of the feeling will return. I'd take the neuropathy over the cancer though, any day!! Treatment Monday, 24th, then 2 more and we'll see.

The neuropathy doesn't seem to be getting worse with this 2nd round but it is a cumulative thing too so I won't know or possibly see any beneficial results until way after chemo ends.

Not sure I understand the comment about pre propreception, my mind and body knowing where everything is......my mind and body do know where everything is but that doesn't stop me from having careless mishaps. 🤣

@boni4 oh I had it so bad I was beginning to wonder if I'd be worth it. I tried milk, food, and nothing helped.

One day I decided to take it with a soda. I keep ginger ale and Gatorade and such stocked for the week after chemo. I had mini bottles doctor pepper (bogo at publix).

My theory was it would fizz going down and help push the pill, because sometimes it seemed to get stuck, where it needed to go. I did not have heartburn. The pill didn't get stuck. So now I take them only with a soda.

Try it and let me know if it works for you. 😊

@debbieod NO, once a nerve is damaged or has died it can't be regenerated, it's permanent.

@mrmacabre I think it's nerves that aren't completely dead. There is evidence that the numbness and tingling gets better once chemo has stopped. It may be different for someone with a condition such as diabetes where it doesn't "get a break" like it does when chemo treatments end.

@carol1024 All I know is that my levels of numbness and pain has increased over the past 10 years, and I'm not diabetic, not even close. I'm one of the lucky patients that went through every test there is to try and determine the root cause of my neuropathy, and was given a diagnosis of idiopathic poly neuropathy, no cause can be determined. So I have a hard time reading about people who's symptoms have been improved, if indeed they have been permanently.
My doctor, as well as all 4 neurologists that I saw over the course of almost 10 years have all said otherwise. It's permanent, in my case at least.

@mrmacabre and I understand that. My point is that mine is caused by an outside source, chemotherapy. Yours is not and could possibly be autoimmune or something else. Once the source of the neuropathy is removed, as in chemo stopping, there's a probability the nerves start repairing themselves IF THEY AREN'T BEYOND REPAIR. I'm sorry you have no identifiable reason for your neuropathy but not all neuropathy is the same. Why don't you order some of this cream? You really have nothing to lose by trying. I know it says for oncology patients but still, you got nothing to lose by trying it.