Neuropathy and Blood Flow

Posted by growyourflow @growyourflow, Jun 7, 2017

Can increasing blood flow help me manage pain in my extremities diagnosed as peripheral neuropathy?
Gf

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

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jun 7, 2017

@growyourflow Thanks for posting this interesting question. I did a little research and came up with one website regarding Blood flow in the diabetic neuropathic foot: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7060850 I'm going to invite one of our volunteer mentors, @johnbishop into this discussion as well as he has experience with neuropathy. Teresa

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jun 7, 2017

Hello @growyourflow, welcome to Connect. You did pose an interesting question. I have had small fiber peripheral neuropathy for over 15 to 20 years. I do take a lot of supplements and one that I take sodium stablized Alpha Lipoic Acid mentions helps with blood flow. I don't have a medical background or any training but have done a lot of my own digging and searching for answers. I only have numbness with my neuropathy - no pain. The one thing I've found is that all of the drugs for neuropathy only address the pain...and they do that by masking it and not really fixing anything.

I did do a search on http://scholar.google.com which does give you the ability to refine the search so you can look for the latest information on your topic, etc.. I used the search phrase - increase blood flow for neuropathy and it found quite a bit of info:

http://bit.ly/2r6rmWR

John

growyourflow | @growyourflow | Jun 19, 2017

Thanks John and Hopeful,

I have been offered a trial at a clinic that uses noninvasive transdermal CO2 therapy-specifically targeting pain and numbness...I will keep you up-to-date on my progress....I am looking at management tools that I can use at home or at least independently, to mitigate the symptoms I have from Diabetic Neuropathy and Arthritis.

Be Well,
GF

Rosie | @rhepler74 | Jun 19, 2017

May I ask whether a Tens Unit is part of your therapy for pain, as well as for numbness?

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jun 20, 2017

In reply to @rhepler74 "May I ask whether a Tens Unit is part of your therapy for pain, as well..." + (show)

Hi Rosie,
I'm tagging @johnbishop on this question. John, you use a TENS unit, do you not?

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jun 20, 2017

In reply to @rhepler74 "May I ask whether a Tens Unit is part of your therapy for pain, as well..." + (show)

Hi Rosie (@rhepler), I have used a Zopec DT-1200 tens unit for my feet which I have numbness but no pain. I found out about it from the Minnesota Neuropathy Association when I read about things that have helped others on their website -
http://www.neuropathy-mn.org/

It is a programmable device but has several built-in programs for neuropathy. I used it for 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening for about 2 months with mixed results. There were times when I thought it made my feet feel a little better but it was really hard to tell since I don't have the pain with my small fiber peripheral neuropathy. Some others in the group report that it has helped them but I stopped using it since I didn't really see the results I was expecting. If you are looking at a tens unit and the price is not too much it might be worth trying. Here's a YouTube video of the device treatment:
http://bit.ly/2toWIKx

Hope this helps...

John

janetdh | @janetdh | Jun 20, 2017

I am very interested in this topic as well. I have both a neuropathic disorder called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and diabetes. My diabetes was controlled until I got the CRPS and related medications to address neuropathic pain. Now my blood sugars are all over the place. I also have numbness and pain in my right foot and calf as well as my left knee and calf and in my hands to some degree. I have been experiencing increased edema in my legs over the past two months. Would be very interested in anything that could help increase blood flow in my extremities (have tried diuretics to reduce edema, but they are impacting my blood sugars). I also tried a tens unit a few years ago and as someone else indicated it didn't really help me. Would appreciate it if you cold keep me posted. Good luck!!

peach414144 | @peach414144 | Jul 17, 2017

without using addictive pain medication for active psoriatic arthritis where pain also is in the tendons as well as the tissues and joints how can i get pain relief. cannot use advil as i have kidney problems. (tylenol does NOTHNG) help!

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jul 17, 2017

In reply to @peach414144 "without using addictive pain medication for active psoriatic arthritis where pain also is in the tendons..." + (show)

Hello @peach414144, welcome to Mayo Connect. Sorry to hear you are having trouble finding pain relief. Has your doctor given you anything to try to help with the pain? or is that the addictive pain medication you mentioned? Mayo Clinic lists some treatments but maybe you already know about them:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/psoriatic-arthritis/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20233909

John