Does anyone treat their neuropathy without pharmaceutical drugs?

Posted by annashby @annashby, Feb 1, 2025

I’ve recently been diagnosed with neuropathy and given gabapentin for pain. I am concerned about the many side effects of this drug. I don’t know why I have this condition as I am not diabetic and have no pinched nerves in my spine. I’m 78 and pretty healthy except for this. I exercise at the gym 4-4 times a week and walk several miles when I don’t go to the Y.
Anyone have suggestions for me?

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Profile picture for murirl @murirl

@dbeshears1
How long have you been on gabapentin and any side affects

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@murirl
Hi - I have been in Gabapentin and st a dose of 800mg 3x a day for about 9 years now. I am allowed to take an extra pill or portion of one if I ever feel the need, but I can’t recall tge rare times I’ve done that. On occasion I have missed a dose, but that’s not recommended!

I am lucky to not have any side effects. It is possible that u get a little brain fog or fatigue, but I’m not certain it’s not aging or just how I push my body. It’s important for me to take the med regularly, because I will usually feel the nerve pain start to kick in to remind me that I’ve missed a dose, then it may take a few rounds before the medication works at an even keel for me. It works great in eliminating my nerve pain to where I function without thinking about pain. Since I usually walk with a walker, my legs tire easily and if I over exert myself, the medication seems to wear off a little sooner and I look forward to my next dose. The medication is metabolized through your kidneys, so it’s easier on one’s liver. The medication does nothing however for numbness; that’s a non-stop symptom that I’ve never found anything to stop.

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Profile picture for Debbie @dbeshears1

@murirl
Hi - I have been in Gabapentin and st a dose of 800mg 3x a day for about 9 years now. I am allowed to take an extra pill or portion of one if I ever feel the need, but I can’t recall tge rare times I’ve done that. On occasion I have missed a dose, but that’s not recommended!

I am lucky to not have any side effects. It is possible that u get a little brain fog or fatigue, but I’m not certain it’s not aging or just how I push my body. It’s important for me to take the med regularly, because I will usually feel the nerve pain start to kick in to remind me that I’ve missed a dose, then it may take a few rounds before the medication works at an even keel for me. It works great in eliminating my nerve pain to where I function without thinking about pain. Since I usually walk with a walker, my legs tire easily and if I over exert myself, the medication seems to wear off a little sooner and I look forward to my next dose. The medication is metabolized through your kidneys, so it’s easier on one’s liver. The medication does nothing however for numbness; that’s a non-stop symptom that I’ve never found anything to stop.

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@dbeshears1
Debbie
Thanks for the email and I am very new to this and wondering what I should do
Martin

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Profile picture for gypsyblue @gypsyblue

@arcuri24,
I agree with your regime. I added Vit B6. Min 100 mg day. Check with your doctor about higher doses. It was recommended to me by a pharmacist over 25 years ago. He said he treated his wife with high doses and that within a year she was able to get out of her wheelchair and walk with a cane. He stated it stopped the progression of the nerve degeneration and greatly improved her pain. Just thought I’d share. Best of luck!

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@gypsyblue
I understood that a person has to be careful with B6. That having enough is, of course important, but too much can cause peripheral neuropathy. So anyone contemplating using this, do your own research research and proceed with awareness.
Betty

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I am not a diabetic rather, but for a few years my A1C has been in the pre-diabetic range. I have wondered if I am sensitive to this chronic higher blood sugar. I have started walking for 15-20 minutes (inside my large house😊) after each meal, and stopped eating white bread and adding sugar to foods. I am wanting my A1C to fall into the normal range again.

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Profile picture for murirl @murirl

@dbeshears1
Debbie
Thanks for the email and I am very new to this and wondering what I should do
Martin

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@murirl I hope you figure out the regimen that works best for you. I think most of it for all of us is trial and error, with no one solution that fits everyone. We all usually have other co-morbidities we’re working with as well. For me, the Gabapentin, B12, and a low dose of Magnesium keep me even keel. If I go without either of them, I can feel pain or weakness start to develop. I have had doctors suggest me try other medications, but I’ve been reluctant to change without a clear understanding of what improvements they would make since my current regimen is doing well for me and I’d hate to change and get a different set of problems. If anything would CURE this, I would consider it, but for now I’ve accepted doing what’s best to manage my symptoms.

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Profile picture for pgruetz @pgruetz

I tried Gabapentin with zero results and read about some horrible things that can happen like losing your foot, I don’t take any pain meds but just started standing on Himalayan course salt for 10-15 minutes and felt more results with that than anything else I’ve tried . Read up on it and try it I ordered it on Amazon it actually makes your whole body relax, after my liver transplant my feet have never been the same and one is numb 24/7 , give it a try

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@pgruetz the gabapentin really was hard on my body and I had to take more and more over
The years to control the pain, but it never went completely away. Clean cannabis gummies will take away the burning sensation. I’m really working towards natural solutions for pain. So far I don’t take any them anymore. It’s good to hear about the salt.

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Profile picture for leahinaustin @leahinaustin

@pgruetz the gabapentin really was hard on my body and I had to take more and more over
The years to control the pain, but it never went completely away. Clean cannabis gummies will take away the burning sensation. I’m really working towards natural solutions for pain. So far I don’t take any them anymore. It’s good to hear about the salt.

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@leahinaustin my next move is THC gummies I’m only on 3 transplant meds starting from 26 different ones I feel my body has been so chemical overloaded I feel much better and try the most natural solutions first like you

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Profile picture for greengold @greengold

@gypsyblue
I understood that a person has to be careful with B6. That having enough is, of course important, but too much can cause peripheral neuropathy. So anyone contemplating using this, do your own research research and proceed with awareness.
Betty

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@greengold, I agree with that as well. I never took more than 200 mg daily. OTC dose is 100 mg. I think the ALA helps with slowing the progression of nerve damage. I also have nerve damage in my left arm which seems improved after 2 years of taking ALA. With autoimmune diseases, it’s difficult to really single out working remedies. Something is always under attack. Like being on a revolving symptom train.

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Profile picture for pgruetz @pgruetz

@leahinaustin my next move is THC gummies I’m only on 3 transplant meds starting from 26 different ones I feel my body has been so chemical overloaded I feel much better and try the most natural solutions first like you

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@pgruetz good luck to you. Onward and upward.

Also, look up HYE Harvest.

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What I find interesting is that so many people are suffering with pain and I have PN caused by taking a cholesterol pill that turned me into a Type2 diabetic and that caused my PN, but I have zero pain, just weakness, numbness, and tingling in my feet. This is one weird illness.

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