Neuropathy

[livingwith]

I was a very active 47-year-old male before I came down with neuropathy about two years. I started taking Lyrica (300mg) a day approximately six months ago to help with the pain. The pain was mostly in feet, hands, and face, sometimes during the day it would become unbearable. I would stop what I was doing and start praying.
Started reading all the information I could find on websites about neuropathy I started taking cod liver oil, fish liver oil, vitamin C, B-12, multivitamins and even ...Read the full article

[musicgal]

I am 57 and have diabetic neuropathy in my feet and upper legs. My feet has gotten to the point that my big toes are getting fungus from lack of oxygen and nutrients. I have grown them out twice and now they have it again! I don't want to have that surgery that decompresses the nerves. I started taking the GLA Borage Oil and chromium complex on 6/5/08. Are you sure the specialists said that the nerves can regenerate? Mine have regressed some and when I try to flex my feet, they feel like they will break into a million pieces. I'm hoping that with sugar control and exercise, that will help them reguvenate. Do you exercise? Any other suggestions? I also take Flaxseed Oil, but no multivitamin.

Also, my podiatrist gave me a sample of a "food medicine" called "Metanx". He said it helps to reguvenate the nerves. Maybe you can view it on the internet. I will be seeing a neuropathy doctor next week. I will ask him about this medicine. With everything I take, I don't want to cross any wires. All I know is that I don't want this pain in my life. I want my feet back and to wear all of my beautiful shoes.

Thank you for your post. I hope the Borage Oil will work for me as well.

[Greg59]

Update: I wrote the original article about eight months ago and I wanted to provide readers with an update on my progress. It was determined that I did not produce enough or stop producing GLA; started taking Borage Oil w/GLA about eight months ago and as of this writing I have very little pain anymore. The pain that I get today is due to my nerves regenerating, which I consider good pain. The pain usually last a few days and then clears up; seems like I go through this process about every couple of months. My hands, face, and arms do not bother me anymore... My feet (big toes and a couple others areas on the bottom of my feet) are still numb, but are improving monthly. My doctor figures in another year I should not even notice the neuropathy; but if for some reason the neuropathy does not get any better, I would consider my recover a complete success! I feel I can live a normal life know! The only thing I know for certain, I will continue to take Borage Oil (GLA) for the rest of my life... My father suffered for years with neuropathy and he was diagnosed with dementia years later. My doctor believes the neuropathy and dementia are tied together (runs in the family) and by taking the GLA, it may save me from taking the same path that my father and his brother went down.

[myburningfeet]

What a great hopeful story for the rest of us! I am an active 51 year old who was diagnosed with neuropathy 3 months ago. Went through all the regular testing to see why and everything came back normal. So at this point we just try to treat the pain. I’m on Lyrica 75mg 3x daily now. I started off with just one 75mg before bed. At the time, it was the perfect pill. It stopped my burning feet the very first night. Now here we are 3 months into the neuropathy and trying 75 mg 3x daily. My neurologist says 100mg 3x daily max. I also apply a Capsaicin cream 3x daily. I’ll ask him about the Borage Oil w/GLA. I’m finding that when the pain wakes me up in the night, it can only be eased by walking on the carpeted floors. I do feel blessed, as others have many more issues than I, but I would really like to stop the burning.

[brigida]

Unfortunately, I have an unusual type of neuropathy that has yet to be diagnosed. I don't have diabetes, but I do have two autoimmune conditions which could be the cause of my problems. My particular brand of neuropathy is an internal vibrating/tremor feeling. It started in my feet and lower legs and, since I took an ugly duckling dive over my dishwasher door about 6 weeks ago, I now also have that sensation in my back and mid-section. My doctor suggested physical therapy, but that doesn't seem to be helping all that much. No one seems to know what to do with me at this point, but I have an appointment with a new doctor on the 24th. We'll see.

In the meantime, like you, I have experimented with vitamins - B's, D, C - and minerals - calcium, magnesium - and fish oil. I had some success with alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), but nothing seems to keep these sensations down for long.

After reading your story, I decided to give GLA a try, and I was surprised to find I already had it in my vitamin cabinet in the form of evening primrose oil, which I haven't taken for quite a while. I would be interested to know how much GLA you are taking and if you or your doctor has an opinion on whether the borage oil is better than other forms.