Topical cream to stimulate numb feet/ankles?

Hi @stefspad, I remember you. I recommended the foot roller to help your feet. To me it seems that because your feet are numb, they are less able to be stimulated from outside the foot such as by a topical anything. Not sure how you'd counteract that except in the brain. Maybe some type of neuroplasticity exercises might help? There is a discussion on that here under the Neuropathy group. Sorry, not to be much help. Perhaps John @johnbishop might have an idea or two. Best, Hank

Thanks, Hank. My brand of neuropathy doesn’t have its source in my brain but in my spine. So says my neurologist. Still, I consider what I do neuroplasticity: exercise classes, self massage, etc. I feel as if I’m teaching my body as opposed to my brain. But maybe it’s all connected.

@stefspad So when you ask about a topical cream, what you are wanting to do is sort of "wake up" the nerves. Have you (I am already guessing yes is the answer) tried switching from hot to cold to hot to cold on your feet? Have you tried other stimulative techniques? Yes, it's a quandary. I wonder if it is possible to "awaken" numb nerves or if there have been any cases of someone doing it? Haven't heard anyone here talking about having done it. Some people use a spinal cord stimulator to stop pain, I wonder if one could be used to enable feeling?

@stefspad I'm not sure if the cream Topricin would wake up the nerves or not this cream is for neuropathy as well as Fibromyalgia and the nerve problems there .Haven't heard of anything else like Hank

@stefspad, I have idiopathic small fiber PN with numbness only. I have tried pretty much every topical on the market and have found zero, nada, nothing that helps with the numbness. I've even tried essential oils for neuropathy mixed with other carriers all to no avail... which is what my Mayo neurologist told me when I was first diagnosed - no help from topicals. I also tried a TENs unit which some folks have found helpful although it didn't help me. There is another discussion that you may want to follow here:

Neuropathy: Numbness only, no pain: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/neuropathy-numbness-only-no-pain/

@stefspad I can't believe I am saying this instead of @johnbishop John, but John has had some luck with his numbness in his feet by using the Protocol 525 set of supplements which originated out of a neuropathy-based Facebook group. My wife tried it (briefly) and stopped because of a bad reaction to the high R Lipoic Acid recommended (1200 mg/day). There is a discussion (started by John) about it on here on Connect:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/have-you-tried-the-new-protocol-525-product-for-neuropathy-relief/
Because he has had some improvement by adhering to this regime, perhaps you would too. Maybe you are already familiar with it, but if not you might want to check into it. Best, Hank