Is there any help at all for foot numbness in PN

Posted by wascaly @wascaly, Oct 27 9:27am

I’ve had PN several years. I’m not diabetic (amazingly), and I don’t have pain in my feet - just this horrible numbness, mainly in my left foot (sometimes both feet), leading to the fear of falling, AGAIN!

I’m wondering if anyone has found ANYTHING to help. I’ve spent buckets of money on creams, plus I’ve seen all kinds of expensive gadgets advertised on TV. I’m hesitant to buy any of them, since they look like versions of snake oil.

Has anyone had ANY relief from this horrific and DANGEROUS numbness?

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I’m so sorry you’re enduring so many awful symptoms of PN. I felt kind of bad complaining about the numbness I’m experiencing when I read what you’re going through.
Also, I was happy you found a furry friend to get you through all this. It’s so important to have a support system in place - kind of takes your mind off your own misery to know there’s another being who loves you and depends on you.
Thank you for validating my hesitation to spend any more money on pills, creams, and gadgets to relieve the numbness. You’re so right that none of these cure-alls work. If they did help, doctors would be prescribing them and their CEOs would be millionaires!
I don’t know if you’re a person of faith, but I have to say my faith in God has pulled me out of a lot of dark places. At any rate, I wish you the best. Count your blessings - that’s what I do when all seems lost.
Take care and God bless you!

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I am one lucky person. My PN is in my legs and feet. I have numbness and tingling in my feet but zero pain. My balance has issues but I still get around ok. I have no idea why I am pain free and others suffer so much. The only thing PN did to me was to retire sooner than later. When you’re touching down on a 6000 ft runway at 120kts you need to get stopped and my left leg didn’t do a good job on the left brake. No cure for PN and there never will be.

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@cit10jetjockey

I am one lucky person. My PN is in my legs and feet. I have numbness and tingling in my feet but zero pain. My balance has issues but I still get around ok. I have no idea why I am pain free and others suffer so much. The only thing PN did to me was to retire sooner than later. When you’re touching down on a 6000 ft runway at 120kts you need to get stopped and my left leg didn’t do a good job on the left brake. No cure for PN and there never will be.

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Sigh, still hoping for that magic bullet for all of our PN with pain members. I too am one of the lucky 20% or so of those with neuropathy and no pain, just numbness and some tingling. I'm not ready to say there never will be a cure but am pretty sure it won't be in my lifetime. My balance and walking ability is my biggest daily challenge. I can walk but tire easily do to low back issues so most of my exercise stays on a recumbent cross-trainer where I can do some cardio and strength exercise in 30 to 45 minutes daily. It's great to hear you can still get around OK. I'm 81 and have been dealing with the numbness since my late 40s and for that I am grateful that it hasn't been worse.

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still exploring cures for numbness in toes, both feet. I squirt magnesium on my feet and bought a cream with tea tree oil in it. also reading that many people use Vicks. my toes feel a little better. let us know what you find out.

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@johnbishop

Sigh, still hoping for that magic bullet for all of our PN with pain members. I too am one of the lucky 20% or so of those with neuropathy and no pain, just numbness and some tingling. I'm not ready to say there never will be a cure but am pretty sure it won't be in my lifetime. My balance and walking ability is my biggest daily challenge. I can walk but tire easily do to low back issues so most of my exercise stays on a recumbent cross-trainer where I can do some cardio and strength exercise in 30 to 45 minutes daily. It's great to hear you can still get around OK. I'm 81 and have been dealing with the numbness since my late 40s and for that I am grateful that it hasn't been worse.

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John - I've had lower back issues for about 15 years and having a diagnosis of idiopathic sensory motor, the thought has entered my mind more than once that the cause of my PN could be from lower back issues. I've seen members of the connect mention back issues and having PN. Does seem hard to believe that when we consider the 100-some-odd causes of PN, what percentage could be back related. I've had many tests, seen top neurosurgeons in my area and 2 top docs said surgery will not help. In fact, Mayo had same opinion, however they said my back issues could contribute to numbness but not be the central cause. How many others due to older age experience the same?

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@njed

John - I've had lower back issues for about 15 years and having a diagnosis of idiopathic sensory motor, the thought has entered my mind more than once that the cause of my PN could be from lower back issues. I've seen members of the connect mention back issues and having PN. Does seem hard to believe that when we consider the 100-some-odd causes of PN, what percentage could be back related. I've had many tests, seen top neurosurgeons in my area and 2 top docs said surgery will not help. In fact, Mayo had same opinion, however they said my back issues could contribute to numbness but not be the central cause. How many others due to older age experience the same?

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I've often thought my lower back might be contributing to my neuropathy numbness symptoms since the nerves do pass through that junction. I also degenerative disc disease in my lower back and neck. I'm just happy I have some mobility and hope I can keep moving.

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Even if I find something that helps 1%, I call it a win.
Along with Lyrica, I use Frankincense & Myrrh foot pain relief. It’s an oil. My neurologist and hematologist say that b12 will help with systems. I’m on a dosage that melts under the tongue. That jury is still out. I’ve had Neuropathy for 14 years. Not diabetic but peripheral. I’ve tried tons of cremes as well. This oil is the only thing that give the slightest relief. I’ve tried red light therapy. And grounding mats. They didn’t help.

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@njed

John - I've had lower back issues for about 15 years and having a diagnosis of idiopathic sensory motor, the thought has entered my mind more than once that the cause of my PN could be from lower back issues. I've seen members of the connect mention back issues and having PN. Does seem hard to believe that when we consider the 100-some-odd causes of PN, what percentage could be back related. I've had many tests, seen top neurosurgeons in my area and 2 top docs said surgery will not help. In fact, Mayo had same opinion, however they said my back issues could contribute to numbness but not be the central cause. How many others due to older age experience the same?

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Hello, @njed ~
I agree - the thing is, from what I can conclude from the many members of Connect dealing with this, a cause and effect seems to be very individual. My PN started between 20 and 25 years ago, but have also had spinal abnormalities for probably 15 of those years. Eventually the spinal problems (stenosis, spondelosethesis [sp.], arthritis, and bone spurs) required decompression and fusion of L2 to sacrum, and although that surgery was successful in its intentional outcome, the PN symptoms of balance, gait, and numbness worsened considerably, while sleep-robbing pain remained unbearable without Pregabalin and Tramadol. I'm just so grateful, at 77, to be living with controlled pain and independently with God's help - that remains my goal, medically speaking.
I, too, am a person of faith and I add my prayers for all who are trying to find answers, hope, and help.
~ Barb

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@valec

Even if I find something that helps 1%, I call it a win.
Along with Lyrica, I use Frankincense & Myrrh foot pain relief. It’s an oil. My neurologist and hematologist say that b12 will help with systems. I’m on a dosage that melts under the tongue. That jury is still out. I’ve had Neuropathy for 14 years. Not diabetic but peripheral. I’ve tried tons of cremes as well. This oil is the only thing that give the slightest relief. I’ve tried red light therapy. And grounding mats. They didn’t help.

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I’ll certainly try Amazon for the foot pain, plus B12. What dosage of B12 do you take?
Also, thanks for letting me know about red-light therapy and the mats…..two more examples of expensive snake oil!

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@johnbishop

I've often thought my lower back might be contributing to my neuropathy numbness symptoms since the nerves do pass through that junction. I also degenerative disc disease in my lower back and neck. I'm just happy I have some mobility and hope I can keep moving.

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I, too, feel like all the fusion and surgeries I’ve had on my spine because of untreated scoliosis, definitely relate to my PN. How could it not? Unfortunately, not one medical professional agrees.
Mobility (or lack thereof), is pretty bad too, especially after I fell in Feb 23. Now that I think of it, that’s exactly when my mobility problems started. In spite of multiple spine surgeries, I only used a cane. Post-hip surgery, I’m now on a walker, probably forever.

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