1. < Neuropathy

Cold Feet/Legs, Pain, and No Sleep

Posted by msnyder910 @msnyder910, Jul 27, 2022

Hi, my name is Mike. I am writing on behalf of my dad. He will be turning 80 in Sept. He has had neuropathy for roughly 15 years and also dealing with Alzheimer's. We have been struggling with his moods lately - he's miserable. The biggest issue is his neuropathy. He complains of pain in his feet, which he says is unbearable, but his legs from the knees down are freezing all day every day. Bed time is the worst and he often gets agitated and upset. He turns the fireplace on, a space heater, blankets, socks (thick wool), . . . he gets upset when my mom turns the AC on or a fan saying that those things are "killing him." Long story short, does anyone have advice to hopefully alleviate the pain and cold? He's on meds for mood stabilizing/sleep (Seroquel) and had just started 300 mg/day of Gabapentin. Thanks!

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gregd1956 | @gregd1956 | Apr 4 10:20am

I had a “cold feet” (just a foot only) from my TBI - 12 years ago) from my bicycle accident. My brain-problem broke my right-side of my brain and moved down my leg and down to my foot. It turned to cold. My left-side is normal. Being cold is ok, too. But that’s strange of my TBI.

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0612judy | @0612judy | Apr 5 10:33am

You might try Salonpas patches on his feet. These are over the counter meds. They can only be on for 8 hours and then they need a bit of a break. But they have been veru effective in killing the pain in my legs so I can sleep.

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bunnybear | @bunnybear | Apr 6 7:26am

When I can’t get my foot coldness and pain from my neuropathy to quiet down, I wrap my feet in a heating blanket. It’s really a heating pad but a little larger like a small blanket. That does the trick. You are kind to be searching out solutions for your dad.

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1 reply
gregd1956 | @gregd1956 | Apr 6 11:16am

Let me add the following.

>Sleep: I sleep more than before my TBI. When my doggy, Pepper, wakes me up between 5am-6am. After I’m done. I go back to sleep. That takes me 9+hours per day.

>Meds: 900 Gabapentin (300 3-times-a-day, plus another one twice a day) is for anti-seized from my TBI. Pain? No, daggoneit 😟

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fala | @fala | Apr 6 8:48pm

Sounds like me...but I have nobody to complain to.
Here is my pain reliever. (Nothing over the counter.)
Then, my Doctor gave me an address.
A new Doctor introduced me to CBD. ( years ago.) The the only thing that gives me relief is rubbing THC cream on my feet every night. I am in my 80's and have had PN diagnosed over 8 years ago...(actually had it many years before that). The pain is double without it, so I hope you get relief from something! Best wishes!

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1 reply
rmshackelton | @rmshackelton | Apr 7 2:38pm
In reply to @bunnybear "When I can’t get my foot coldness and pain from my neuropathy to quiet down, I..." + (show)
@bunnybear

When I can’t get my foot coldness and pain from my neuropathy to quiet down, I wrap my feet in a heating blanket. It’s really a heating pad but a little larger like a small blanket. That does the trick. You are kind to be searching out solutions for your dad.

Jump to this post

I have foot warmers you put in the microwave till they are warm enough for you. I have to make sure they are not too hot because I cannot feel my right foot because of CRPS for over 20 years!!! The foot warmers are great. Also, the hospital uses soft thick boots for people on their backs all he time so they do not get ulcers on their heels. My brother was in the hospital and had them and I stole them when he got out. They are nice and warm!!! Good luck. Keep me posted please.

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Lynn Brooks | @lbroomayo1 | Apr 7 8:11pm
In reply to @lbroomayo1 "I have a similar problem as your Dad keeping my body warm and also hip pain..." + (show)
@lbroomayo1

I have a similar problem as your Dad keeping my body warm and also hip pain when sleeping, since my early 50's. I have developed a moderately sucessful solution for my particular problems. Some of the things I do are:

* Switched my bedding to down. I use a down comforter & pillows instead of other bedding. It is light weight but insulates far better other products.
* Keep digest tract, large intestine, and colon clear at night. Use a heavy fiber such as Meta Mucil 4-in-1 to help with digestion and gas, use a mild laxative or stool softner with the fiber treatment if necessary. My leg pain reduced by 90 per cent after I improved my digestion and excretion.
* Exercise daily, especially lower trunk & pelvis area if possible. Jane Fonda has a wonderful senior workout CD.
* You should actually use light weight socks for sleeping not wool, use a good hand cream on you feet before putting the socks on. It helps the circulation.
* I use Arthritis Strength Tylonol and diclofenac for joint swelling and pain. I also have allergies, so I take over the counter antihistamines which help with sleep.
* Wear long underwear in winter. I wear leggings in summer under pajamas. I enjoy sleeping in air conditioning, but it activates my arthritis. My body temperature averages under 97 degrees so I have to work to keep my body warm. I live in a warm climate, but I enjoy my visits to MN in the winter when I visit the Mayo Clinic. I'm a cold weather lover living in the Appalachian Mountains over 18 years. Therefore, I do use long underwear under dresses, while sleeping, and out for a walk in cold climates. Hope everyone manages their symptoms!

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Just an update. Tendons in my knee pulled during my dancing workout. Trying to get my knee fixed at the Sports Medicine Clinic.

Got accepted to university trying to earn a BSN (my 7th degree) but I’m barely passing nursing physiology. Everything else is going well.

On my previous advice, watch use of bisacodyl & diclofenac. My labs say my liver isn’t happy.

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Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Apr 8 1:00am
In reply to @fala "Sounds like me...but I have nobody to complain to. Here is my pain reliever. (Nothing over..." + (show)
@fala

Sounds like me...but I have nobody to complain to.
Here is my pain reliever. (Nothing over the counter.)
Then, my Doctor gave me an address.
A new Doctor introduced me to CBD. ( years ago.) The the only thing that gives me relief is rubbing THC cream on my feet every night. I am in my 80's and have had PN diagnosed over 8 years ago...(actually had it many years before that). The pain is double without it, so I hope you get relief from something! Best wishes!

Jump to this post

Good evening, @fala. Thanks so much for posting about the pain reliever you discovered for your feet. Please answer a couple of questions for me.
1. You mention that your doctor introduced you to CBD, and then you say that you are using straight THC. What prompted you to change from CBD to THC?
2. Is the cream in a jar, or are you using a rub-on stick like a deodorant?
3. How long does your relief last......all night or throughout the next day?
4. Is this "THC" stick available in dispensaries?

I use CBD/THC tinctures and balms. I have seen the stick online and would like to try it. Just so you know I am over 21 and have been using medical cannabis for 11 years. This sounds like it would be much better than my tinctures.

May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris

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fala | @fala | Apr 8 8:50am

Hi
I have had PN for many years. What worked at first, does not continue to work as the years go by. Is it because my pain is more severe? Is there a change is the remedy? All we really know, is that we need to stay ahead of the pain. Well, that is a phrase, but it is not really the way it works. We need to keep from severe pain, we want to function, sleep, things like that, right? I simply move to the next thing when the old remedy stops working. Right now, THC cream in a jar has been my constant "go-to" in the morning and at night. It never takes the pain away, but takes the edge off. I will take any help I can get! Best wishes!

REPLY
1 reply
0612judy | @0612judy | Apr 8 2:56pm
In reply to @fala "Hi I have had PN for many years. What worked at first, does not continue to..." + (show)
@fala

Hi
I have had PN for many years. What worked at first, does not continue to work as the years go by. Is it because my pain is more severe? Is there a change is the remedy? All we really know, is that we need to stay ahead of the pain. Well, that is a phrase, but it is not really the way it works. We need to keep from severe pain, we want to function, sleep, things like that, right? I simply move to the next thing when the old remedy stops working. Right now, THC cream in a jar has been my constant "go-to" in the morning and at night. It never takes the pain away, but takes the edge off. I will take any help I can get! Best wishes!

Jump to this post

I use a CBD creme in the morning and before bed. It is good for 3-6 hours of relief. If I wake up in the night and my feet and leg hurt, I slap on salonpas patches which quiet the pain so I can go back to sleep. I use a THC tincture (1:1 CBD and THC) to get to sleep. I tried gabapentin for a few weeks but it only worked on my feet, not on my leg. It DID put me right to sleep but I just never felt awake the next morning or the entire next day plus it wore off about 4 in the afternoon, so I quit.

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