Ideas for pain relief from Small Fiber Neuropathy (SFN)

Thank you Somisgirl for sharing. I too was diagnosed almost 1 1/2 yrs. ago with ideopathic SFN, am 72 yrs. old and otherwise in excellent health. I exercise regularly, drink no alcohol, take R-Ala, magnesium citrate, Vit. C, D, omega 3 liquid and collagen peptides plus gabapentin 300 mg. at night. I have the burning/tingling and some numbness in my feet and hands and cramping/tingling in my legs mostly at night. It has only gotten slightly worse during that time. My neuro has suggested I try nortriptylene along with the gaba to help with anxiety/dep. side effects from the gaba but I am reluctant to risk more side effects. I think my game plan is working so far, I consider myself very fortunate and continue to keep my fingers crossed and pray for everyone experiencing pain that something better is coming soon.

@somisgirl, Thank you for taking the time to let us know of your positive efforts to live a healthy life with your neuropathy in control by wearing compression socks, exercising, and drinking less caffeine among other things. Keep us informed so that we can follow your journey. And have a peaceful evening. Chris

Good evening @helennicola. Thank you for sharing an update of your status at this time. It appears that you are committed to your program and it works for you.

When my depression got really bad and I was scary “suicidal”, my neurologist sat with me and told me that he wanted me to try nortriptylene to lift the hopeless grey cloud hanging over me. We have partnered on medication choices and so I listened.

The end result.....I started nortryptaline two years ago in concert with the gabapentin just as you mentioned. The impact was immediate and positive. I am a much happier SFN patient and a lot easier to be with. It is great not to spend so much time planning your own demise. Since I no longer spend much time dwelling on my issues, I have time for family and friends and a genuine interest in their lives. May you enjoy happiness and the causes of happiness. Chris

@artscaping I have been treating my depression, etc., for around 16 years. It took a long time of trial and error until I landed on meds that helped. By the time that happened I was attempting suicide. From the suicidal period it took about five years of therapy to climb up out of the depression hole. Now it's just a passing thought, thanks be to God. I think that pain plays a significant role in the level of depression.

I have a spinal cord stimulator, and this morning I met with a doctor who does dorsal root ganglion stimulator implants. We agreed that the time may come when I'll have run out of options, but she wants to discuss the adjustments to my stimulator with the Abbott tech who does that. I guess that a drg stimulator is kind of the last resort, so we're going to hold off as long as possible. I have an appointment with the pain specialist on Monday, and will talk about all this stuff, and where he thinks I should go.

I'm alive today and stay alive with the help of medications that have stabilized my mental state. (I was going to say mental anguish, but thought mental state was a little more couth.) As you know, nothing stays the same. My level of depression does still fluctuate, but it doesn't get as far down as it did for many years.

Jim

I think the depression and the pain go hand in hand. It's one thing to have pain from something that will eventually be resolved, quite another to think that there is no end in sight.

I so agree.

Chris, thank you so much for your advice and insight, having another personal trusted opinion is invaluable. I think that I keep waiting to feel better mentally and trying to employ “mindfulness” because I think that issues outside of my neuropathy have caused my present lapse in the ability to feel good. But, I guess the reason doesn’t really matter. I think I’ll wait a little while longer and see if there is any change before trying the nortriptylene. Helen

Hi @somisgirl. I have decreased my caffeine intake and agree it does lessen the pain for my neuropathy on my left leg. I am not a diabetic. I do not take any medications. I learn by trial and error to see what works best for me. I am also interested in taking the evening primrose oil. How much do you take in a day? I know you can increase the dose slowly. Glad you are feeling better and keep trying new things. Your efforts are certainly helping.

1000 mg daily of Evening of Primrose, also taking 600mg ALA 2x day. And the DMSO cream really helps with immediate relief Here is a web site about this.....https://www.salubrainous.com/evening-primrose-oil-for-neuropathy/

@somisgirl, thank you for your response. I am currently not using any creams. Good to know about DMSO. Thanks again for the information.