Living with Neuropathy - Welcome to the group

Have chronic coat hanger pain (among others). Nothing seems to help.

Hello @sevenwoods, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I wasn't familiar with coat hanger pain but did find a YouTube video that might provide some helpful information.

Has your doctor or care team provided any suggestions to help with the pain or have you tried any alternative treatments/therapy?

@sevenwoods You might try doing vagus nerve resetting exercises to help your neck pain. You have 2 vagus nerves running through your neck, and exercises for them may help. Go to youtube for vagus nerve resetting videos. I think a lady named Suki Baxter does them. LoriRenee1

Hello to the group. I worked as a Respiratory Therapist for 40 years. I loved my job, but as a result of the work and genetics, I have osteoarthritis and now neuropathy in my feet and hands. Not sure where to turn. I have had injections in my feet and it made it worse. I will not due surgery.

Thanks. I'll look it up

Very interesting and true. But I to sit down or at least stop moving some time!

Ted. My wife, Cheryl, has neuropathy. It is a result of POEMS Syndrome. She was misdiagnosed in 2006, CIDP. Diagnosed correctly in 2009. She is in pain most days. Always looking for something new.

Hello @mce, Welcome to Connect. I also have osteoarthritis and idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy. I didn't know they did injections in the feet to help with neuropathic pain. If you are looking for alternatives, the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy website has some information you might find helpful.

Complementary + Integrative Therapies: https://www.foundationforpn.org/living-well/integrative-therapies/

There is another discussion you might find helpful where members share their personal journeys with neuropathy.
- Member Neuropathy Journey Stories: What's Yours?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/member-neuoropathy-journey-stories-whats-yours/

Are you able to share a little more about your symptoms and anything you've tried that provided some relief?

Hello @takjack, Welcome to Connect. I know it must be hard for both you and your wife when she's in pain and nothing seems to help with the POEMs induced neuropathy. One of the things that helped me was just learning as much as I can about my health conditions so that I could ask better questions of my primary care doctors. I've also learned the hard way to write my questions on a list to take with me so I won't forget. I'm not sure if you have seen these pages but thought they may be helpful.

An update on the diagnosis and management of the polyneuropathy of POEMS syndrome:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6343023/
Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy - POEMS - Treatment & Therapy:
- https://www.foundationforpn.org/what-is-peripheral-neuropathy/causes/autoimmune-disease/poems/
POEMS syndrome care at Mayo Clinic:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/poems-syndrome/care-at-mayo-clinic/mac-20352681

You may also be interested in this Mayo Clinic Newsfeed page on POEMS which has a link to a clinical trial that may still be available.
- POEMS: An expertise in the rare leads to a rare opportunity: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/hematology/newsfeed-post/poems-an-expertise-in-the-rare-leads-to-a-rare-opportunity/

Has your wife found anything that helps with the neuropathic pain?

@mcel Dear fellow suffer from osteoarthritis. Have u tried seeing a Rheumatologist or your PCP has done any blood work to figure out if it is diabetic Neuropathy or what type of Arthritis or if it is nerve pain related?

At least go get it checked out by a Neurologist to see what exactly is causing it. There are alot of different forms of treatment for osteoarthritis, without surgery.
Hope u feel better. Try Voltaren gel yet?