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Neuropathy of the feet: Any advice on how to eliminate the numbness?
Neuropathy | Last Active: Jan 31 10:46am | Replies (162)Comment receiving replies
I was diagnosed with idiopathic small fiber neuropathy in both feet this September 2023. The “trigger” was an arthritic, gouty big toe that flared three times in a six week period. The result was it was difficult to walk normally for about three months. In September I resumed exercising (walking, biking, water jogging and lifting weights). Unfortunately, both feet are now very sore. It’s been one medical issue after another and doctors, podiatrists and therapist do not seem to want to engage or understand what I am going through. I am very motivated to keep moving and hope to learn techniques or tools to help manage this disease. I will certainly look into the Rocksauce and wonder if a foot massager makes sense.
Mark
Replies to "I was diagnosed with idiopathic small fiber neuropathy in both feet this September 2023. The “trigger”..."
Hello Mark @mfullbri, I want to thank you for the private message and the kind words. I also wanted to give you a belated welcome to Connect and apologize for not seeing this first post of yours. Gout in the big toe is definitely the pits. My first flare up of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) back in 2007 included gout in my right foot and toe and it was debilitating so I definitely know how difficult dealing with it is. I had been dealing with neuropathy for a long time but fortunate for me it was only some numbness in the feet. I didn't bother to get a diagnosis because all of my primary care docs had said even if it is neuropathy there are no meds that will help with the numbness. I finally decided in 2016 to see a neurologist at Rochester Mayo and was diagnosed with idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy and was pretty disappointed coming away from that appointment with the same prognosis as all of my PCPs over the years had given me. Actually that was the beginning of my searching and how I found Connect. Connect is a great resource to learn from other members experiences with different treatments that have helped them.
I'm very happy to hear that you are motivated and learning as much as you can about your condition and treatments that might provide some relief. Is your neuropathy just affecting your feet currently?
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@mfulullbri I bought a RENPHO foot massager on Amazon a year ago. A year later, I use it on occasion. But I don't know that I could say it was really worth the $160. It does knead the feet and toes, and there is a heating element, but it barely gets warm. Perhaps others here have had more positive experiences, and each of us is different. If you do a search of the neuropathy support group for "foot massager," I'm sure you will find lots of input. Take care! Mike