Hi Margaret and welcome to Mayo Connect.
I've had peripheral, and some autonomic, neuropathy for about 15 years supposedly due to Sjogren's Syndrome. I currently take an immunosuppressant for that but generally for the symptoms due to neuropathy I also take gabapentin but 2400 mg/day and occasional tramadol for breakthrough pain. Of non-standard therapies have you ever tried a TENS unit, local electrical stimulation? Seems to do some good.
Here's an outfit who exists for such matters and maybe they can give you some ideas. They list some of the things you mentioned.

As far as Alternative/Integrative medicine in general, this site is one of the better ones I've found. Its cancer-centric but holds a broad range of information.

Dealing with PN is frustrating but if you do try some other therapies give them time to work. There are no rules as far as what might or might not work for you so patience is a plus.

Hope this helps

If you have a TENS machne, but have forgotten how to use it, ask any Physical Therapist and they can teach you. Also your doctor can help. @gailfaith

Hi Margaret - there is also a list of supplements put together specifically for peripheral neuropathy. I found the list on the Facebook group - "The Solutions to Peripheral Neuropathy Pain & Discomfort" – (Closed Group – 1700+ members)." more info in a previous post above. I only have the numbness and have not taken any Rx for pain - neurologist told me there isn't anything for numbness that works. Quite a few people in the group using the protocol of supplements have reported being able to complete get off of the pain meds or reduce the amount they are taking. I have ordered the supplements - all but one through Amazon, which is the R-ALA. I had ordered that through Amazon but found out it's the 50% S-ALA and 50% R-ALA which supposedly doesn't work so had to order it through the manufacturers website to get the 100% R-ALA which is better absorbed into the body. I'm planning to start taking the supplements next week and keep a journal to see if it also works to reduce numbness. Will post an update either way - works for me or not. Hope you find some relief. The only other thing I've tried which may help is the tens stimulation some others have found helpful. I have a Zopec DT-1200 with the footpads so it's easy to use - just dial in a program (6 or 8 available on the device plus you can create your own), set the amount of the pulse, then set the timer for the amount of time. I have found it reduces the numbness a little and provides some relief but it doesn't take it away.

Thanks, John. I'll take a look at the Sloan-Kettering integrative medicine info. I'm familiar with the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy website. In fact, I'm attending a local chapter's meeting on Sept. 17 at which the director of FPN is speaking. There are a couple of other health care professionals presenting also. If I learn of anything interesting at the meeting, I'll pass it on.

CHECK WITH MAYO CLINIC OR ANOTHER WEBSITE, MAYBE WEBMD.COM,FOR CRAMPING.<br><br>I THINK CRAMPING MEANS *DEHYRATIAN AND,OR, MINERAL DEFICIENCY, MAYBE<br>POTASSIUM OR MAGNESIUM OR ZINC.*<br>

Margaret,
Well now I feel kind of bad that here you are a practicing health care professional and I sent you pretty vanilla stuff. I gather that you are looking for personal testimonials rather than searches? All I can do in that domain is re the TENS. That little thing is my friend, although I go long spells forgetting to use it. Meloxicam is good stuff but as rough as any other NSAID, COX-2 bias or not. I have had acupuncture for back pain and wasn't particularly impressed. It may have been the practitioner.
By all means fill us fellow suffers in with what you glean from the conference.
Hope this helps.

Oh, no, I didn't mean to give you the impression that I'm a health care professional, but I can see from the email I sent that you might infer that. I work in the legal profession, actually. What I'm looking for is any feedback on alternative remedies, like acupuncture. I may try it, as I have a referral from a doctor who practices integrative medicine. I'm skeptical, though. The TENS unit is also an option; I have a friend who uses one for sciatica. It seems there are a number of things I haven't tried yet, so this is a good forum for me to be on. As an aside, my neurologist believes that my neuropathy is a result of Guillan-Barre Syndrome; he thinks I just don't remember having the flu or upper respiratory infection that led to the neurological symptoms.

Again, I'll post anything interesting I learn from the Sept. 17 conference and whether the food was any good. : )