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Moderator

Living with Neuropathy - Welcome to the group

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Jul 14, 2017

Welcome to the Neuropathy group.
This is a welcoming, safe place where you can meet other people who are dealing with neuropathy. Let’s learn from each other and share stories about living well with neuropathy, coping with the challenges and offering tips.

I’m Colleen, and I’m the moderator of this group, and Community Director of Connect. Chances are you’ll to be greeted by volunteer patient Mentor John (@johnbishop) and fellow members when you post to this group. Learn more about Moderators and Mentors on Connect.

We look forward to welcoming you and introducing you to other members. Feel free to browse the topics or start a new one.
Let’s chat. Why not start by introducing yourself? What concerns would you like to talk about?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | 3 days ago
In reply to @steveinmontana "Hi. My name is Steve. I haven't been professionally diagnosed with Neuropathy, but I certainly have..." + (show)
Profile picture for steveinmontana @steveinmontana

Hi. My name is Steve.
I haven't been professionally diagnosed with Neuropathy, but I certainly have the symptoms. Constant numbness in my toes, (ironically, 1 toe on each foot has sensation!) and in the balls of my feet, along with periodic tingling.
I don't have any pain, aside from an occasional sharp twinge of pain in one of my toes.

My GP thinks my neuropathy was brought on by my alcohol consumption. I've consumed only wine, although more than doctors say should be consumed. I think it was due to the use of a TENS unit for my aching ankles. I used it for about 2 months, every day for 30 minutes. I was using it at its highest level and one day, woke up with numb toes!

I've read that TENS units can cause neuropathy. I'd be interested in your thoughts on this and whether there is any kind if treatment specific to its cause. (I have cut back on the wine, just in case.)

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Hi Steve @steveinmontana, I did give up all alcohol after being diagnosed with idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy but I don't think it had anything to do with causing my neuropathy. I think you have to be in the alcoholic category for nerve damage to happen from drinking but then I'm not a doctor so it's just my own opinion. I do think occasional drinks are OK but I just decided I didn't need one more thing to worry about. I tried a TENS unit for about 4 months or so but it really didn't help with my numbness and I don't have the pain that some folks do. I did get a good laugh when my wife decided she wanted to try it to see how it felt so I hooked it up and she stepped on the foot pads if only for a few seconds. After a YIKES! She got her feet off pretty quick. It wasn't the highest setting but it was near the top and it only felt like a little tingling to me.

If you haven't already seen it, the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy has a good list of available treatments that might be helpful - https://www.foundationforpn.org/treatments/.

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