Living with Neuropathy - Welcome to the group

Hello @sun2long, Welcome to Connect, an online community where patients and caregivers share their experiences, find support and exchange information with others. You have asked the same question many of us have asked or thought about when we started our journey of learning more about our neuropathy and what treatments are available that might provide relief from the symptoms. There is no easy answer because a lot of it depends on your diagnosis, possible causes and options available that will help treat the symptoms.

You might want to read through the posts in the following discussion to learn what other members have shared helps them -- Member Neuropathy Journey Stories: What's Yours?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/member-neuoropathy-journey-stories-whats-yours/

Do you mind sharing a little more about your diagnosis and any treatments you are on or have tried?

I have diabetes type 2 for 5 years and the pain and numbness gets worse not better and so does the depression that goes with it

I have diabetes type 2 for 5 years, does the intense craving for donuts, cake ever lessen or go away? I have eaten those all my life

Hello @benjamincat1, Welcome to Connect, an online community where patients and caregivers share their experiences, find support and exchange information with others. Sorry to hear you are struggling with type 2 diabetes. I know it is a constant battle to control cravings for those things you have learned to love over the years. Donuts and cake were especially hard for me because coworkers and myself would bring them into work to make the coffee breaks more enjoyable.

I thought you might find the following discussions helpful.
-- Type 2 diabetes - Snacks and meals: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/food/
-- Neuropathy due to long untreated diabetes: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/neuropathy-2/

I have small fiber peripheral neuropathy and my doctors have always been on my case telling me I am prediabetic but I mostly ignored it until my neuropathy started progressing a few years ago. Then I started looking at lifestyle changes to lose more weight and eat healthier in hope that I could slow or reverse my neuropathy progression. Intermittent fasting has helped with the weight problem and I'm working on eating fewer carbs to take it up a notch. Here is a discussion you might find helpful if you are looking to make some changes.
-- Low-carb healthy fat living. Intermittent fasting. What’s your why?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/low-carb-healthy-fat-living-intermittent-fasting-whats-your-why/

Have you tried any alternative treatments or therapies to help with the pain and numbness?

Hello, and I’m so glad to find this group.
My neuropathy is not diabetes related. I’m 69, generally healthy, but with severe arthritis in
neck and lower spine.
The neuropathic symptoms in my lower left leg have grown more pronounced and more constant in recent months. It’s silently driving me nuts! Not sure whether to be concerned or not, or how much.
Have just completed a course of Medrol (first time in two years) so pain is not currently an issue. It’s just a constant mental preoccupation — I find I can’t successfully ignore it, and the distraction’s getting to me.
Would love to know how others deal with this side of the condition.
THANKS,
Alice in Maine

Hello Alice @alicealna. Welcome to Connect, an online community where patients and caregivers share their experiences, find support and exchange information with others. The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy has some good information on lifestyle type changes and alternative treatments that you might find helpful - https://www.foundationforpn.org/

Do you think your neuropathy might be related to severe arthritis in your neck and lower spine?

Hello @benjamincat1, Welcome to Connect. So sorry that I missed your first post. My doctor says I'm pre-diabetic but it's not the cause of my neuropathy. I used to really crave sweets and especially donuts. I will have one occasionally now but I no longer crave them. I think I just learned to manage the cravings by not giving in to them every time I see a donut laying around and calling my name. I'm wondering if you might find the following website helpful.

Curbing Sugar Cravings: https://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/blog/curbing-sugar-cravings/

Are you able to keep your diabetes under control?

Hello, John, and thanks so much for your kind, prompt reply.
Quick answer: Yes, it is connected to arthritis and pressure fractures in lumbar spine, and in cervical spine, where I had a four/level fusion done almost 50 years ago. I consider myself very lucky to have made it this far… but the constant neuropathy (which I’ve had before, but not for such a consistent and protracted period.

Hello @alicealna I've joined but my husband is the one who has the idiopathic peripheral neuropathy. He is also in his 60s healthy and in good physical shape other than dealing with this pain which he thinks could be related to a ruptured disk in the lower lumbar however since it presents itself bilaterally the doctors don't think so. He has been getting acupuncture the past year and a half (went through several before finding the right one) and while he still gets terrible pain so far it hasn't seemed to get worst. Also takes Gabapentin and a very small dose of doxipene at night and lots of supplements.

Hi, I’m wondering if anyone has a balance problem when walking. There are lots of comments on pain etc. But I’m not sure I’ve seen anything about walking and moving around. My case is one of Polyneuropathy with hardly any pain at all. I’m retired but I can’t see how I would be able to work. I need a rolling walker to move around and even with that I get tired fast. The neurologist is sending a occupational therapist to see if I need a motorized wheelchair. Any thoughts?