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Peripheral Neuropathy - has anyone had any real relief.

Posted by Sleepygirl @alvamaeyaert, Aug 8, 2022

I have diagnosed peripheral neuropathy caused by trauma from a herniated disk in my lower back. I had surgery 20 yrs ago.
The pain for me is in my feet and lower legs and my hands.
I have prickly, pins and needles shooting pain. On the top of my right foot about 3”above the base of my big toe the sensations is so disruptive to me with tingling and pins and needle that even during the day it disrupts my train of thought. At night it keeps me awake.
The neuropathy has gotten worse over the years, I’m taking 1200 MG of Gabapentin and 125MG Amitriptyline through out my day, any more really affects my head and I work as a special ed Para in a elementary school so taking more drugs is not the answer for me.

Has anyone gotten good relief thru their nutrition, paleo diet, low carb, no processed foods etc. I’m not a real healthy eater currently, so I guess I wanted to hear if those types of diet would be worth the effort. If not then what kind of products do you use, like creams, ointments, tonics and supplements, and how do you use them.
I really need something to help me at least with sleeping.
Thanks for reading this long post!
Wishing us all a good night sleep😌

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

Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Aug 8, 2022

Hello Sleepygirl @alvamaeyaert, Welcome to Connect. You ask some really good questions. I think the answer is a mixture of yes, no and maybe depending on who is asked. I think this is because neuropathy has such a wide variety of symptoms and each of us are a little different in how we are affected and react to the symptoms. I have idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy and shared my story in another discussion along with other members here -- Member Neuropathy Journey Stories: What's Yours?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/310341/.

Here are a few discussions you might find helpful:
-- Small Fiber Neuropathy: What helps?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/small-fiber-neuropathy/
-- Eliminating Foods for Neuropathy pain: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/neuropathy-pain-1/
-- See the list of all discussions in the Neuropathy group: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/neuropathy/

You mentioned you really need something to help you sleep. Is it your pain from neuropathy that keeps you awake? Do you try to keep a regular sleep schedule?

REPLY
1 reply
Sleepygirl | @alvamaeyaert | Aug 8, 2022
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello Sleepygirl @alvamaeyaert, Welcome to Connect. You ask some really good questions. I think the answer..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hello Sleepygirl @alvamaeyaert, Welcome to Connect. You ask some really good questions. I think the answer is a mixture of yes, no and maybe depending on who is asked. I think this is because neuropathy has such a wide variety of symptoms and each of us are a little different in how we are affected and react to the symptoms. I have idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy and shared my story in another discussion along with other members here -- Member Neuropathy Journey Stories: What's Yours?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/310341/.

Here are a few discussions you might find helpful:
-- Small Fiber Neuropathy: What helps?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/small-fiber-neuropathy/
-- Eliminating Foods for Neuropathy pain: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/neuropathy-pain-1/
-- See the list of all discussions in the Neuropathy group: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/neuropathy/

You mentioned you really need something to help you sleep. Is it your pain from neuropathy that keeps you awake? Do you try to keep a regular sleep schedule?

Jump to this post

Hi John,

Yes it’s the neuropathy that keeps me awake, my feet mostly sometimes my hands too. they tingle, pin and needle, throb, jolting sharp pain that is just relentless I can not lay still always moving and bouncing my legs. 3-4 nights a week I have to get up and lay somewhere else as not to bother my husband, he says I move all the time when I’m sleeping.
As far as a sleep schedule I do pretty good during the school year but in summer it’s harder we have livestock and a large acreage to keep up so I get pretty busy up till dark so having a bed time ritual is not easy. And we eat supper/dinner way to late.

I guess what I’m looking for is a way to keep the pain from disturbing me as I try to fall asleep once I’m asleep I don’t often wake up from the symptoms.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Aug 9, 2022
In reply to @alvamaeyaert "Hi John, Yes it’s the neuropathy that keeps me awake, my feet mostly sometimes my hands..." + (show)
@alvamaeyaert

Hi John,

Yes it’s the neuropathy that keeps me awake, my feet mostly sometimes my hands too. they tingle, pin and needle, throb, jolting sharp pain that is just relentless I can not lay still always moving and bouncing my legs. 3-4 nights a week I have to get up and lay somewhere else as not to bother my husband, he says I move all the time when I’m sleeping.
As far as a sleep schedule I do pretty good during the school year but in summer it’s harder we have livestock and a large acreage to keep up so I get pretty busy up till dark so having a bed time ritual is not easy. And we eat supper/dinner way to late.

I guess what I’m looking for is a way to keep the pain from disturbing me as I try to fall asleep once I’m asleep I don’t often wake up from the symptoms.

Jump to this post

There is another discussion that you might find helpful:
-- Neuropathy Pain at Night: What helps?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/night-pain-2/

There's also some information on the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy website you might find helpful - https://www.foundationforpn.org/living-well/lifestyle/managing-peripheral-neuropathy/

Hoping you find some relief soon.

REPLY
alfer | @alfer | Aug 10, 2022

I also have idiopathic peripheral neuropathy in my feet. I cannot take meds they make me nauseous and get headaches from them. I have found that B-complex vitamins especially B-12 and ALA(alpha lipoid acid) helps. Also I use compression sleeves (open at the toes) and neuropathy creams help.

REPLY
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