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Has anyone found a treatment that helps with peripheral neuropathy?
Neuropathy | Last Active: 6 hours ago | Replies (498)Comment receiving replies
@deanhobart
Say I have idiopathic sensory neuropathy. I go to an acupuncturist so far 6 treatments and need 4 more at $50 a session. I also take alpha lipoic acid 600 mg and was taking B complex but stopped it today as I want to check my B12 level as it was high normal last November. Of course, I bought it because she said it is a professional one - she knows the scientists and chemists. So, if it comes back normal I wont take them - ridiculous but think the acupuncture and the alpha lipoic acid is doing all this plus my exercise. Gabapentin and Lyrica are awful drugs - that's all they want to give you - I took Lyrica maybe a few days the lowest dose and I was so tired I could hardly walk to my car - there had to be another way. Anyway, I found an acupuncturist in Hays which is 30 minutes from here. My primary care doctor said there wasn't anyone around here. BS. I researched on my computer and found her - she has a 5 star rating and has been doing chiropractic and acupuncture but don't do chiropractor because I have osteopenia - anyway, try this alpha lipoic acid - I got it at a nature store and Source Naturals is a good brand - I take it on an empty stomach for an hour in the morning. I googled it and it said it works better and takes 3 or 4 weeks to notice anything but am already noticing but not sure if it is the acid or the acupuncture or the exercise but do all 3 as I don't like pin and needles and numbness. So, you have to work hard at this to not take those stupid drugs. Good luck.
Replies to "@deanhobart Say I have idiopathic sensory neuropathy. I go to an acupuncturist so far 6 treatments..."
@gnocchi Thanks for the information about acupuncture. I see that many people take Alpha-Lipoic Acid. I'll give that a try but will check with my Primary Care Doctor first to see what she thinks. I was taking a high dose of Gabapentin for months but don't think it was helping with the discomfort so weaned off it. Someone mentioned electrical stimulation at a certain frequency with a footbath and red light therapy. I hadn't heard of that for Neuropathy but sounds like something to look into. Haven't had my B12 tested but will ask the doctor if she'll add that onto my blood test. Has anyone had nerve testing done? If so, was it helpful for healing your neuropathy?
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@gnocchi
I take a standard B vitamin supplement for my peripheral neuropathy that was caused by chemo during pancreatic cancer treatment last year. The supplement also has alpha lipoic acid. The ALA helps with nerve repair and blood circulation by working as an antioxidant. ALA is also helpful in mitochondrial function to help the cells turn glucose into cellular energy, which then is supposed to help improve slow nerve conduction velocity.
I also use L Carnitine, which acts to stimulate nerve fiber generation and also helps with mitochondria dysfunction. Peer reviewed studies also show that taking 1,500 to 3,000 mg per day in divided doses provides the optimal benefit for most people. I get the fermented kind because it is easier to metabolize. Some clinical trials have also shown it helps with fatty liver.
I dont want to mask the "pain" because they "pain" is caused by nerves misfiring and or misinterpreted by the brain. That is why drugs such as lyrica/gabapentin are useless to me (plus i get similar side effects as you describe). I want to help my nerves and small blood vessels repair and help my brain interpret the nerve firings correctly. That is why I do daily stretching of hands and feet. Compression socks help when walking around, and I try to wear shoes with a little give where I can do exaggerated heel to toe walking. I also use a Dr Schols shoe insert with many little bumps on them to get contact all over my foot. A pedicure every 3 months with foot and ankle massage and hot wax also helps with my recovery. I imagine acupuncture and foot massage would also help, but I find pedicure is less expensive and I get good toenails out of it.
It is supposed to take a couple of years to get the nerves to regrow and the brain the interpret the signals correctly. I am aware, however, that recovery might not ever be 100%.
I dont know anything about peripheral neuropathy caused by anything else but chemo damage. I understand there are other causes such as diabetes, alcoholism, physical nerve damage from injury/surgery, chronic liver and kidney disease, and other causes cited at Mayo Clinic overview of Peripheral Neuropathy ( you can search under Diseases and Conditions). The things I mentioned above may help, but probably won't fully resolved until underlying condition is treated. I no longer get chemo, and some of the chemo drugs I was given have known nerve damage as side effects.
Hope this helps someone.