Is the danger of feet amputation real for Neuropathy Sufferers?

Scare tactics and miracle cures sell a lot of different products. The best thing you can do is learn as much as you can about your condition, symptoms and treatments available from reliable sources. Here are a few sources you might want to use for evaluating a so called miracle cure.

Quazar's guidance about avoiding scams and snake oil cures
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-to-avoid-quacks-and-snake-oil-treatments/

FDA's Health Fraud Page
-- https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ProtectYourself/HealthFraud/ucm539101.htm

NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) which offers guidance about integrative health and how to evaluate it.
-- https://nccih.nih.gov/health/decisions
-- https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/pain

I've had neuropathy for over 30 years but am fortunate that I only have some numbness and no pain. I've never been worried about amputation of my feet. My younger sister who has passed away some years ago had diabetes along with other complications and was close to having one of her feet amputated but it never got that bad.

From your previous posts it sounds like you have been dealing with a lot of pain in your legs and feet and have tried a lot of different treatments. Have you looked into any of the complementary or alternative treatments on the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy website? - https://www.foundationforpn.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Complementary-and-Alternative-Treatments-Revised-2020-final.-1.pdf

Not sure what this is about but my wife has been a type 1 diabetic 45 years. Never a mention from endocrinologist about foot removal. For diabetics, foot care is paramount. No denial it can happen, but as John Bishop mentioned, scare tactics sell products.

John thank you for mentoring all of us. My first neurologist visit to Doc Cut Off wanted to amputated as medicare pays NOT for non diabetic Neuropathy. I along with other reported him and now he is being investigated, however far that will go. The Neuropathy Support group and Protocol Works brought me back to walking without support inside my home and I use a walking stick outside for safety. Lotsa snakeoil snakes out there thanks for keeping us informed.

Amen to all comments- also to all the scammers out there including professional ones- God Bless The Almighty Buck!! It's bad enough to be going through any situation in your life- medical or other wise - with out dealing with shake down quacks- I've dealt & still dealing with- shingles- covid- RSV- neuropathy (brother has it also) I'm 84 from old school of dealing with challenges do a lot of research + cross research - ask questions share like in this marvelous blog - we also have nurse's in the family which are front line
personal hands on experience- I do a lot of natural supplements vitamins creams etc- I can only take so much of we don't know that much about it- don't bother getting across the board the shots (this was before Covid now everything is a wonder cure best thing sense sliced bread ) no good -doesn't work - cost to much @ $189.00 co pay for office visit ( senior on fixed income it does add up very fast) per pop so far I'm doing OK- God Bless You All PS didn't list any names of products simply because everyone one is a individual what works for one simply is useless to another everything is expensive

Diabetics run the risk of limb or appendage amputation when diabetes goes unchecked for too long. Also, for some unfortunate patients just having diabetes for so many years the disease can damage blood vessels leading to amputations. For just PN without underlying diabetes amputation is not performed unless the blood supply to the appendage is compromised.

Does neuropathy lead to amputation?

Hi Wayne, I moved your question about neuropathy and amputation to this existing discussion.
- Is the danger of feet amputation real for Neuropathy Sufferers? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/is-the-danger-of-feet-amputation-real-for-neuropathy-sufferes/

Click the link to read the helpful posts from the beginning.

Do you have diabetes as well as neuropathy?

I am interested in this as I have neuropathy in arm and diabetes with nerve damage in legs. I’ve had that thought run across my mind. I have a foot dr appointment in a few weeks. If I find out I’ll post what I learn. Ps: the nerves in legs has to do with nerve roots but affects the feet and legs none the less.

Not very often. It usually is in combination with uncontrolled blood sugars and/ or an injury which can happen easily if your feet are numb. Good foot care and footwear are essential. As was mentioned before, some unfortunates like me get nerve and blood vessel damage even with good diabetes control. Everybody is different and I don't know your specific situation. This is just my opinion based on knowing a lot of people with neuropathy (both diabetic and non) and have never encountered anyone who was amputated solely because of neuropathy.

I understand my neuropathy (numbness and pain) are merely symptoms of possible wounds that may become badly infected to the point where amputation of some limb part may be necessary. I lost a lower leg after a seven year bout with a Charcot boot rubbing my ankle bone; the infection finally breaking through the bone. My toes on the other foot were amputated, some seven years later after becoming infected. I now am nearly healed from lower leg ,l swelling and "leaking" wounds. I will probably have to wear some elastic device on my leg for life. I am now 86 years old.