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Anyone here dealing with peripheral neuropathy?
Neuropathy | Last Active: 9 hours ago | Replies (2946)Comment receiving replies
I’ve had PN for about six years, mainly on my left foot. I don’t have pain, just numbness. Of course, I’ve been taking the go-to drug, Gabapentin. When my neurologist first put me on Gabapentin, he did mention Lyrica as an alternative. However, I know I cannot drink alcohol on Lyrica, and I do like a glass (or two - 😱) of wine at night.
My problem with Gabapentin is that it does absolutely nothing for my numbness, and herein lies the problem! I’ve never really had pain with my PN, just the numbness.
Until last February, I’d been using a cane; however I’m now on a walker because I fell and broke my hip in three places. When it rains, it pours, but that’s a story for another day…..
I’ve been told vitamin B12 shots will help with the PN. I have an appointment with my primary care doctor Thursday, so I think I’ll try to start those.
Anyone else have more suggestions for this numbness?
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Hi @wascaly - I think you might want to have a discussion with your neurologist or doctor about stopping gabapentin as it is only used to treat the pain caused by neuropathy and does nothing for numbness. There are no drugs that help with neuropathy numbness. Before I was diagnosed with idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, my primary care doc had me on gabapentin for a couple of weeks and I told her it wasn't helping with my numbness. She consulted with her Mayo doctor team and they told me it only works for pain. I was later diagnosed by a Mayo neurologist and he said the same thing, there are no drugs or topicals that help with numbness from neuropathy.
You might find some suggestions in another discussion here:
--- Neuropathy: Numbness only, no pain: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/neuropathy-numbness-only-no-pain/