Living with Neuropathy - Welcome to the group

Welcome to the Neuropathy group.
This is a welcoming, safe place where you can meet other people who are dealing with neuropathy. Let’s learn from each other and share stories about living well with neuropathy, coping with the challenges and offering tips.

I’m Colleen, and I’m the moderator of this group, and Community Director of Connect. Chances are you’ll to be greeted by volunteer patient Mentor John (@johnbishop) and fellow members when you post to this group. Learn more about Moderators and Mentors on Connect.

We look forward to welcoming you and introducing you to other members. Feel free to browse the topics or start a new one.
Let’s chat. Why not start by introducing yourself? What concerns would you like to talk about?

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

@johnbishop

@bcool123 and @artscaping, The posts in a discussion are in chronological order but when you reply to a post it will go at the bottom of the order but will include the post you were replying to above it - you just have to click +(show) to show it and then Jump to this post link if you want to go to that post in the discussion.

Here are two tips you might find helpful...
-- Replies and @mentions: How do I know who is replying to whom?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/newsfeed-post/replies-and-mentions-how-do-i-know-who-is-replying-to-whom/
-- [TIP] Customize the Order You View Posts - See New Posts First: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/new-customize-the-order-you-view-posts-see-new-posts-first/

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John thank you for your response. I am so technically challenged… So I just go to the neuropathy pages and click on the “last” and hope I catch the new ones. There’s so much information on this site.
I have a problem I don’t read much about my feet occasionally get hot but usually they are cold. Coldness started about a year ago in the tips of my toes and now cold and numb up to the balls of my feet. It’s causing me to lose my balance. Also my legs are getting weak and for a while I developed plantar fasciitis but have corrected that with wearing splints at night and changing my shoes. Anybody else have cold numb feet? And does the neuropathy cause weak legs?

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@arlenereiss55

what do you do for the numbness? Anything other than Gab & Fentanyl?

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@burningfeetinphoenix
@kansasgal
The above members talked about 10%Phentoin cream. (Phentoin is a seizure medication. I have heard some people get relief from it. It has to be made at a compounding pharmacy. Hopefully they will let us know how it’s been working.
Jake

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@jakedduck1

@burningfeetinphoenix
@kansasgal
The above members talked about 10%Phentoin cream. (Phentoin is a seizure medication. I have heard some people get relief from it. It has to be made at a compounding pharmacy. Hopefully they will let us know how it’s been working.
Jake

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Yes, I tried the Phentoin cream and sad to say it did not work for me. But, that doesn't mean it won't work on someone else. Good luck in your journey. Kansas Gal

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@kansasgal

Yes, I tried the Phentoin cream and sad to say it did not work for me. But, that doesn't mean it won't work on someone else. Good luck in your journey. Kansas Gal

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@kansasgirl
Thank you for replying!!!
Jake

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@artscaping

Hi there, @bcool123. I think what you are requesting is something like your online bank account. You want to specify and receive only the dates or days that include the information you are seeking. Is that correct? I am going to ask @johnbishop if that is conceptually possible. John?????

Chris

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Chris, I am really only interested in recent information about neuropathy. If that’s not possible I can sort through the messages and find what I need. I appreciate your concern. I really appreciate this website.

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@bloufitz

I was diagnosed with triigeminal neuropathy many years ago! Left side of my face. Mainly, I just live with it. Not much else I can do! Also, had Moh's micrographic surgery in 2000 close to the same area for basal cell skin cancer. Sometimes, I find I have a bit of a problem applying lipstick evenly.

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My dad developed trigeminal neuralgia and he also thought it may have been a result of a MOHS surgery on his temple. He is under the care of a neurologist and the medication he is on relieves the pain but makes him sleepy. Good luck!

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@jetsetter

My dad developed trigeminal neuralgia and he also thought it may have been a result of a MOHS surgery on his temple. He is under the care of a neurologist and the medication he is on relieves the pain but makes him sleepy. Good luck!

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Hello @jetsetter and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Thank you for joining and connecting with @bloufitz when you noticed a similar experience to that of your dad's.

Can I ask how long ago your dad developed trigeminal neuralgia?

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@bcool123

Chris, I am really only interested in recent information about neuropathy. If that’s not possible I can sort through the messages and find what I need. I appreciate your concern. I really appreciate this website.

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Good evening once again. I am sorry I was unable to give you what you want. I think it is time to ask @johnbishop to share the links to the sites with the latest information including national organizations and his favorite Google Search.

As you are probably aware, there is currently no cure for neuropathy. And sometimes there is no cause to be identified. ....And there are reportedly more than 200 different types of neuropathy. We try to mitigate the pain, the numbness, the tingling, and any other symptom that rears its ugly head.

I have had diagnosed neuropathy since 2013 when surgery and fusions in the cervical area were attempted to try to relieve distressing and debilitating pain in my arms, wrists, and hands. I now have two sessions of MFR. myofascial release therapy, every week to keep me walking without assists. Medical cannabis is my only choice for pain control.

I think that John will also warn you to avoid falling for the scam artists that prey on our desire to find a solution.

How long is "recent"?

May you have comfort and contentment.
Chris

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@artscaping

Good evening once again. I am sorry I was unable to give you what you want. I think it is time to ask @johnbishop to share the links to the sites with the latest information including national organizations and his favorite Google Search.

As you are probably aware, there is currently no cure for neuropathy. And sometimes there is no cause to be identified. ....And there are reportedly more than 200 different types of neuropathy. We try to mitigate the pain, the numbness, the tingling, and any other symptom that rears its ugly head.

I have had diagnosed neuropathy since 2013 when surgery and fusions in the cervical area were attempted to try to relieve distressing and debilitating pain in my arms, wrists, and hands. I now have two sessions of MFR. myofascial release therapy, every week to keep me walking without assists. Medical cannabis is my only choice for pain control.

I think that John will also warn you to avoid falling for the scam artists that prey on our desire to find a solution.

How long is "recent"?

May you have comfort and contentment.
Chris

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Hi @bcool123, Neuropathy definitely is a bummer with no cure as @artscaping can confirm. I think the best we can hope for until a cure comes along is to find something that provides relief from the symptoms of neuropathy. I have a couple of websites that I try to keep an eye on for research information. The first one Neuropathy Commons is really good for learning more about neuropathy to give you a better understanding of what you are facing. The second one is The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy which I like because they try to stay on top of newest research and have a good section on complementary and integrative therapies for neuropathy. The other one I use to see if there are any new information on specific treatments is Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/) because you can easily sort the results by the year and it

-- Neuropathy Commons: https://neuropathycommons.org/
-- Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy: https://www.foundationforpn.org/research/

Example: Google Scholar search using "latest developments in the field +neuropathy" --- https://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_ylo=2021&q=latest+developments+in+the+field+%2Bneuropathy&hl=en&as_sdt=0,24

There is also a good older discussion here on Connect on How to Avoid Quacks and Snake Oil Treatments: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-to-avoid-quacks-and-snake-oil-treatments/. Then there are a couple of sites I use if I happen to be looking at something that I think may be too good to be true 🙂

FDA's Health Fraud Page
-- https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ProtectYourself/HealthFraud/ucm539101.htm

NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) which offers guidance about integrative health and how to evaluate it.
-- https://nccih.nih.gov/health/decisions

@bcool123 You mentioned in an earlier post that your feet and toes get cold. My feet and especially the toes get cold in the winter living here in Minnesota. I found some neoprene toe sleeves that work really well to keep the heat in the front part of the foot, but I only use them in the winter time -- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076B3VTRM/

Hope this helps!

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@bcool123

John thank you for your response. I am so technically challenged… So I just go to the neuropathy pages and click on the “last” and hope I catch the new ones. There’s so much information on this site.
I have a problem I don’t read much about my feet occasionally get hot but usually they are cold. Coldness started about a year ago in the tips of my toes and now cold and numb up to the balls of my feet. It’s causing me to lose my balance. Also my legs are getting weak and for a while I developed plantar fasciitis but have corrected that with wearing splints at night and changing my shoes. Anybody else have cold numb feet? And does the neuropathy cause weak legs?

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@bcool123
“ And does the neuropathy cause weak legs?”
Yes it can, in fact it can be one of the first symptoms.
I have completely numb feet but not cold or hot. But my numbness didn't happen until nearly 30 years after my diagnosis.
Does your numbness cause you gait or balance problems?
My primary problem is balance & gait but seizures, treatments & related comas contribute greatly to these issues.
I go put my shoes & socks on multiple times a day but there already on & vice verse.
Jake

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