Painful Neuropathy in feet - looking for new treatments

Posted by dennist0721 @dennist0721, Apr 29 11:11am

New member here. Type 2 for 6 years now. Blood glucose controlled but have developed painful neuropathy in feet. It's worst with cold and rainy weather. This Winter was tough. I currently have a Pain Managagement plan and care provider, take medications, supplements, PT, TENS, topicals, diet, and exercise, but still struggle. I'm always open towards new treatments, approaches, etc. Does anyone have experiences with new/novel treatments or approaches that have been particularly helpful for diabetic neuropathy? Any new insights?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

Welcome @dennist0721, Sorry to hear that you have diabetic neuropathy. There are a few other discussions you might find helpful;
-- Diabetic neuropathy: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/diabetic-neuropathy-3/
-- Has anyone tried treatment for diabetic neuropathy?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/has-anyone-tried-treatment-for-diabetic-neuropathy/

Here's a search of Connect with discussions and comments from members on diabetic neuropathy - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/.

It's good to hear that you have your blood glucose well controlled. While I don't have diabetic neuropathy I do think my idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy may be related to me being in the pre-diabetes category most of my adult life and related to the metabolic syndrome which is the case for folks with diabetes also. Once I found that out a few years ago I started changing my lifestyle and eating healthier, exercising more, losing weight, and trying to limit the amount of sugar I take in. I only have numbness and some tingling as symptoms but do feel that it helps some to control my symptoms and hopefully prevent any progression.

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Thanks for the links! I will definitely read them.

Like you, I was never given a definitive test to diagnose diabetic neuropathy, everyone just assumes it because I have Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2). I did have a nerve test done by a neurologist for major fiber neuropathy, which came out negative. He said that that didn't rule out small fiber neuropathy, but didn't suggest the definitive biopsy test. He did tell me that it didn't seem to him that I'd had diabetes long enough at that time to have developed neuropathy from it (this was 1 ago–I had been 5 years at that time with Type 2–considering my blood glucose had been well-controlled (A1C 6.0-6.4). So I was a bit confused, and I wonder if it could be idiopathic or have a different cause. Anyway, like you, I have lost weight (55 pounds in the last year) while on Zepbound and Mounjaro, and have lowered my A1C to 5.4. Still, my neuropathic symptoms haven't improved, and actually feel worse in some ways. Anyway, right now I am basically surviving and using all the tools in my bag to keep the pain level down as much as possible, and looking for alternative explanations and treatments.

Thanks again for your input and providing links for reading which I will take advantage of.

Dennis

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Profile picture for dennist0721 @dennist0721

Thanks for the links! I will definitely read them.

Like you, I was never given a definitive test to diagnose diabetic neuropathy, everyone just assumes it because I have Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2). I did have a nerve test done by a neurologist for major fiber neuropathy, which came out negative. He said that that didn't rule out small fiber neuropathy, but didn't suggest the definitive biopsy test. He did tell me that it didn't seem to him that I'd had diabetes long enough at that time to have developed neuropathy from it (this was 1 ago–I had been 5 years at that time with Type 2–considering my blood glucose had been well-controlled (A1C 6.0-6.4). So I was a bit confused, and I wonder if it could be idiopathic or have a different cause. Anyway, like you, I have lost weight (55 pounds in the last year) while on Zepbound and Mounjaro, and have lowered my A1C to 5.4. Still, my neuropathic symptoms haven't improved, and actually feel worse in some ways. Anyway, right now I am basically surviving and using all the tools in my bag to keep the pain level down as much as possible, and looking for alternative explanations and treatments.

Thanks again for your input and providing links for reading which I will take advantage of.

Dennis

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@dennist0721 - Don't want to overwhelm you with information but thought you might find these two YouTube videos helpful. They helped me understand how I could eat a little healthier.
-- Dr. Jay Wortman - 'Undoing Atkins: A Cautionary Tale'


-- Dr Jay Wortman Diabetes Remission is Surprisingly Simple!

After being told by all of my different doctors that I was pre-diabetic but not really knowing what that meant and none of my primary care doctors ever mentioning the metabolic syndrome. I started doing my own research. Here are a few of my favorite references:
-- Diagnosis and Management of the Metabolic Syndrome
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circulationaha.105.169404
-- The metabolic syndrome – What is it and how should it be managed?
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2047487319886404
-- A comprehensive definition for metabolic syndrome
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2675814/
-- The Metabolic Syndrome and Neuropathy: Therapeutic Challenges and Opportunities: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3881591/
-- Metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for neurological disorders
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21997383/

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Have u had B12 measured. It makes nerve insulation. Without it , nerves hurt.
Drinking stops absorbtion.
.

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Profile picture for John, Volunteer Mentor @johnbishop

@dennist0721 - Don't want to overwhelm you with information but thought you might find these two YouTube videos helpful. They helped me understand how I could eat a little healthier.
-- Dr. Jay Wortman - 'Undoing Atkins: A Cautionary Tale'


-- Dr Jay Wortman Diabetes Remission is Surprisingly Simple!

After being told by all of my different doctors that I was pre-diabetic but not really knowing what that meant and none of my primary care doctors ever mentioning the metabolic syndrome. I started doing my own research. Here are a few of my favorite references:
-- Diagnosis and Management of the Metabolic Syndrome
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circulationaha.105.169404
-- The metabolic syndrome – What is it and how should it be managed?
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2047487319886404
-- A comprehensive definition for metabolic syndrome
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2675814/
-- The Metabolic Syndrome and Neuropathy: Therapeutic Challenges and Opportunities: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3881591/
-- Metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for neurological disorders
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21997383/

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@johnbishop Thanks much for the links, I'll check them out!

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Profile picture for jamessaxo @jamessaxo

Have u had B12 measured. It makes nerve insulation. Without it , nerves hurt.
Drinking stops absorbtion.
.

Jump to this post

@jamessaxo I had my B vitamins checked last year and my doc said they were normal. That's interesting what you said about drink. I wasn't aware of that. I am starting a new Alapha Lipoic Acicid + B12 and no drink. Will be interesting how that works out!

Thanks!

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Profile picture for dennist0721 @dennist0721

@jamessaxo I had my B vitamins checked last year and my doc said they were normal. That's interesting what you said about drink. I wasn't aware of that. I am starting a new Alapha Lipoic Acicid + B12 and no drink. Will be interesting how that works out!

Thanks!

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@dennist0721 good for u. Alcohol damages intestine villi and stomach lining so reducing B12 absorbtion. And reduces intrinsic factor whatever that is .That's according to Google.

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