Coffee and Neuropathy

Hello @judyfrey, Welcome to Connect. I had really never heard that coffee can help reduce neuropathic pain. In fact most of the information I've read is the opposite due to coffee being a stimulant. So it was really interesting when I read your new discussion. I used to drink a lot of coffee but now just a few cups in the morning and maybe one or two later in the day. I did find a couple of references that support what you say which I thought were interesting.

-- Effect of caffeine on the possible amelioration of diabetic neuropathy: A spectroscopic study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34509062/
-- The Role of Caffeine in Pain Management: A Brief Literature Review: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5018099/

Are you able to share a little more about your neuropathy diagnosis and how long you have had it?

I received my neuropathy diagnosis over 30 years ago but can recall having symptoms as early as my 20's. I don't have diabetes. I took gabapentin for many years but when I got up to 3000 mg a day with declining results, my dr. switched me to Lyrica. I've taken 300 mg/day for about 4 years and am now experiencing an increase in pain. In the past, I've been able to ignore daytime symptoms but in recent weeks I have started having bothersome late afternoon tingling in addition to often being woken after a few hours sleep. I have an appointment with my dr. next week to discuss the issue.

Do coffee effect GERD and neuropathy?

I, too, have often wondered about the affects of caffeine and neuropathy.

However I can promise you, if you have GERD and drink coffee, it will affect you. It may be pain, heartburn or trouble keeping food down.... but, it will catch up to you.

Don't know about GERD but I still drink a couple of cups a day and it doesn't seem to bother me. Of course we are all different so I really don't know. I post some information earlier in the discussion here that talks about coffee and neuropathy -- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/696322/

I feel immediately the pain and tingling when I drink coffee.

I do not have diabetic neuropathy, but have been diagnosed with pleural neuropathy. It started out as osteo arthritis in my feet years ago, have some in my lower back with toe deformation that started tingling when I was in my early 50s. Now at 72 this is a daily feeling accompanied by pain in my calves in particular. Regular hiking seems to help, some form of vigorous daily activity. It's worst in the morning and lessening as I become more active. I used to drink only decaffeinated coffee but found that I really do like the caffeine. I don't get any real effects from it and it doesn't keep me awake. My question, is there anything bad about drinking caffeinated coffee that would increase the painful symptoms of this neuropathy? I can stop the caffeine for a week or two and see, probably the best test. Anyone else have anything to add? Thanks!

Welcome @monsieurbj, I post some information earlier in the discussion here that talks about coffee and neuropathy — https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/696322/

For my neuropathy, coffee hasn't made a difference either way but then I only have numbness. It does seem to help with other aches and pains or maybe it just makes it where I don't notice it as much.

Your idea might be a good test if you don't mind going caffeine free for a week or two.

Thanks John. I am going to write a brief note to my neurologist and ask him as well about it. Love the stuff, something about caffeine that I never drank before that I enjoy now. Strange, no boost from it just enjoy the flavor. Maybe it does something for me or reduces stress, unsure. I'll see what my doc says and post it in this thread. Thanks, Bob

I kind of laughed at myself when you said it doesn’t give you a boost. I realize it doesn’t for me as I wish either, yet wonder why I drink it anyway… perhaps maybe because I’d be less energetic? But you nailed it - it’s obviously giving us some pleasure, and we deserve it, and if that’s our worst vice, we’re doing pretty well! Provided it’s not making PN worse. I stopped for 6 weeks once and saw no change, and have switched between decaf, light, and super. It will be interesting to see what your doctor knows or feels.