Hi I just found out recently I had neuropathy

Hello, memyselfi (@memyselfi)

I'm not an authority on this, but as a recovered alcoholic (35 years' sobriety) and someone with idiopathic polyneuropathy, I can share what I've been told by a number of neurologists and their NPs: that it takes a hefty amount of drinking over a longish period of time before alcohol can be thought of as a possible suspect.

I drank rather heavily beginning in my late teens, then on through my 20s, 30s, and into my 40s (I'm 79 today). I hadn't made an alcohol/neuropathy connection until only two years ago when one of my neurology NPs pointed out a "shadow" on a brain MRI. "That's very likely not the cause of your present-day balance issues," she said. "But heavy alcohol use will leave is trace, even decades later."

I'm reasonably sure the "little bit of drink" you mention is OK.

Ray (@ray666)

Whatever works for you!! I am just saying i could not walk or talk till i went alchohol free.

Oh I'm not telling anyone to drink for pain mitigation. And I certainly know that drinking has ruined mana a lives. I was just remarking that when I come home from work after a ten hour day and NOTHING I have tried (Chiro, massages, handfuls of supplements, 25 minutes of yoga/physical therapy exercise each morning, torturing my legs on machines at the health club to get the most circulation I can into them, Lyrica, etc...) has mitigated the pain in my legs and feet so far. Nothing.

So I come home after a long day teaching and coaching b-ball and my feet are on fire with pain, a glass of good whiskey is about the only pain mitigation and relief I have found so far. Just being real.

I can surely see your point.Have you read up on all drugs they give you and tested yourself without them for a day or two?

Good morning, everyone!

I hope no one misconstrues what I said yesterday about my decades-ago struggle with alcohol and how I believe my substance abuse is an unlikely cause of the PN I have today at 79. The last thing I'd want anyone to think is that I was endorsing drinking. No way! My position on the issue is if you can avoid drinking alcohol at any age, with or without PN as a sidecar malady, for gosh sakes avoid it! I wish I had. At the same time, I do believe it is possible to drink in moderation. (I wish I'd been able to. ::sigh:: Unfortunately, moderation just wasn't in my nature.)

Cheers to all! (I'm holding up my coffee mug, not a whiskey tumbler. 🙂 )
Ray (@ray666)

On Sat, Mar 23, 2024 at 3:21 PM Mayo Clinic Connect < nf+b13e5006+3187671@n1.hubapplication.com> wrote:

> ## reply above this line ##
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>
> Mayo Clinic Connect
> *Comment* posted by @harley22
> < https://connect.mayoclinic.org/member/00-ddb0e563f9c7b334192503/?utm_source=connect.mayoclinic.org&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_comment&utm_content=new_comment_intro_userlink&gt;
> on discussion "Hi I just found out recently I had neuropathy "
>
> I wish I had the answer to that question because I’m in the same boat as
> you.
> Gabapentin did nothing for me,and I was on it for a few years, also was on
> most of the other meds they give out for neuropathy and they didn’t help
> either.
> I also had infusions of IVIG for 8 months, and they didn’t help me either.
> So now I’m at an impasse, as what’s next for me.
> I’m just tired of being in pain in my feet daily..
> They re numb and I have pins and needles in them.
> Gets so bad I can hardly walk at times.
> VIEW & REPLYING
> < https://connect.mayoclinic.org/notification/3187671/?redirect_to=865e48aa8b5b320d4b1e%3Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fconnect.mayoclinic.org%2Fcomment%2F1039016%2F&utm_source=connect.mayoclinic.org&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_comment&gt; Hey
> do sorry to hear what your going thru. My
>
legs felt
The same way. All
The way up to my knees. I couldn’t barely walk either. It’s getting better
tho. I am starting feel bit by bit some feeling in my feet. My friends
kitten was biting on my toes and even tho it hurt I was happy I felt it.
My big problem is my hands tho. Some days it’s not as bad. However trying
to do the things I love like makeup painting and art I have a really hard
time with. Even copping and tying my shoes or juat doing normal daily
activities is so frustrating. I feel so helpless. I’ve been taking the
vitamins and I’ve been doing my stretches and all but it just has a mind of
its own.
Well I’m sending you love and positive energy. I hope you and everyone else
starts to get better ❤️

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Hey! I know what you mean able gabbepentin. I’m prescribed it an nd it is
making me retain water. It’s making my face belly hands and feet feel
weird. My family kept commenting on my face and made me feel gross. I’m not
Angelina Jolie but I’m not gross! Geez! lol
Besides all that I only take one a day now and I’m want to see what
happens. It’s hard to do just normal daily activities I don’t know. I’m
so frustrated. My feet and legs are feeling a bit better so I have to be
thankful for that. My hands tho are a mess. I’m hoping this numbness will
subside soon and I can gif back to being myself again and doing the things
I love. Anyway wish I g you love and positive.
On Sat, Mar 23, 2024 at 2:06 PM Mayo Clinic Connect < nf+62812180+3186453@n1.hubapplication.com> wrote:

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> *Comment* posted by @justbob
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> on discussion "Hi I just found out recently I had neuropathy "
>
> Hi Ray,
> Any recommended treatment? The internet is the wild West of scientifically
> questionable stuff even from seemingly reputable sources. Everyone seems to
> want to throw gabapentin at it... With weird dosages anywhere from 100 to
> 7,000 mg.
> Regards,
> Bob
> VIEW & REPLY
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Thanks and to you too!

Does anyone have any ideas for treatment of burning? My 2nd neurologist just diagnosed me with Vitamin B12 deficiency and I’m on mega daily dose. He says it’ll take a long time to restore me. I had developed smell/taste disorder, constipation, hair loss, tingling in hands and feet, etc Some of these things have improved, but the burning in my arms and feet has increased, 2 days after I started mega B12 doses. But, I only get the burning 2 days a week.

My options are to take nothing or go on a daily med. Was prescribed Lyrica, but insurance requires me to try Cymbalta first. But, I really don’t want to take a daily med for depression when I don’t have that AND I don’t have the burning everyday. Thing is, when it burns, it’s intense. I have no other pain though.

I have a prescription for Klonapin (only got 30 pills months ago. Half them and use sparingly) and .25 will stop the burn, but that’s not a solution. Don’t want to use that any longer.
Can’t take Gabapentin due to blurred vision.

Has anyone tried acupuncture, topical med or med you can take on as need basis?

Hi Lynn and all! I'm new to this group also. I'm 61, white, and female with Peripheral Neuropathy (PN). The cause? Lyme disease? COPD? Alcohol? Old head injury? Who knows! It's incurable and probably a symptom of something else.
I take 2700mg Gabapentin and just started Cat's Claw yesterday so we will see if that also enhances a pain reducing effect.
I also have COPD and take ANORO inhaler once in am. I am on 02 machine with a portable so I can drive and to what I want when I'm "pushing through the burn" with PN. COPD is also incurable. So, I try to do things I want as often as I can while I still can.
I'd like to hear from others how they are and if there are more tips.
Cheers all and Lynn! Jill