Neuropathy

[ewalker]

I TRIED LYRICA AT FIRST FOR THE PAIN & BURNING. HAIR LOSS & BLURRY VISION-SIDE EFFECTS. CHANGED TO CYMBALTA AND HAS HELPED BURNING AND MOST PAIN. GOOD LUCK

[JimSean]

I have IPN too but mine is called Idiopathic (unknown cause) and I have been suffering with it for over seven years. It is very severe now resulting in constant disabling pain in hands and feet and traveling to left side of face. Hard to concentrate on much of anything. Feet get so numb and at the same time full of pain so that I can hardly walk-pins/needles/burning/hod/cold.

I also suffered a Bell's Palsy attack two years ago and it seems like the PH is exasperating that condition also causing numbing/tingling in my lips,tip of my tongue. I also have a constant ringing in my ears. The PN is progressing each year, rapidly progressing particularly this year. I have also been impotent for nearly a year now.

I am only 60 years old (male).

I am treating with two different neurologists in the same clinic. I have tested positive for small nerve damage from EKG tests and a nerve biopsy. Blood tests ruled out metal poisoning , diabetes and eveyrhing else. Had MRIs and X -rays to rule out nerve compression. They are supposed to be leading experts--I don't know. They have helped me with the meds because, I hate to think what my life would be without the meds--well, I probably wouldn't be alive.

However, I am still in a lot of pain (8 to 9 on a scale of 10).

I am currently taking Lyrica 400mg/day
Tramadol 200 mg/day
zonisamide 100mg/day

And I am on an antntidepressant called Effexor, but they just take me to a point. I don't think I will be able to continue my job because, between the meds and the pain I can't concentrate. I am a professional having a staff of 12. I have already missed many days. You may want to try some of these meds. They may help you.

I am seeing another specialist later this month and I am trying a tens unit later this week.

You are not alone.

God bless.

[prismatic]

Hello,

I am suffering from Neuropathy as a result from breaking my back last March in an accident. The pain is burning, shocking, and numbness mainly in my right foot. My Neuro Dr has me on Neurotin 3,600mg a day which I really feel I am building an immunity too. Took Lyrica by itself for a month at tune of $$ which I could tell worked, then switched to Neurotin. At night is the worse, sometimes I have to wrap my foot in a cold gel pak which I know is dangerous. They have mentioned taking the Lyrica and the Neurotin together supposedly that is a good combination. Has anybody tried this combo, and possibly taking Ultram too? The only REAL relief is when somebody rubs my feet. Also getting an ant bite on my feet is they is a nightmare. Wonder why I get no relief when I rub my own feet.

[pikwick]

It is hard to believe and most people ( including spouses ) do not understand the discomfort neuropathy causes. I believe mine started coming on approx 4 years ago, but was not officially diagnosed until 1 year ago. Custom orthotics are essential for me. I also take Cymbalta which I don't think does much, hydrocodone (codeine), and Lyrica. It is the last two that help the most. One without the other is not enough. I didn't believe in the Lyrica addition until I went off of it gradually over a week time. I became so weak I could hardly get dressed. So I went back on the Lyrica and within a few hours I felt the difference. I have the same fears and concerns. I don't see any improvement but actually sense small changes in the other direction. I wish folks would understand what this does to you. My family complains we don't visit. Well, I won't travel if the plane tickets were free. I don't like a car drive longer than 1 hour at a time. I feel for you, it is hard to remain positive. Pikwick

[Sue Val]

I have the same pain as you and have been like this for the past 3 years with no doctor able to help me. Sorry if I don't have anything new for you to try but I just wanted you to know you're not alone. I am female 50 yrs old and live in Canada. Good Doctors here in Canada are very scarce. I have had to leave my job as it was a very stressful job. My life has changed tremendously. I do not have diabities. I have been to many doctors and specialists and pain clinics and tried many kinds of medications and nothing helped. Even doctors don't want to deal with me as they don't know how to treat me. So you can understand how depressing this can be. Anyway I just wanted to share a few of my experiences with you and hope you find a solution and if you do please share them.

[Foxy]

Like many who have posted here, I have burning, shocking ,numb sensations in both feet. I am a 64 year old male and it started about 18 months ago. I went through the normal neurological testing (X-rays, EMG's, MRI, diabetes testing, blood tests for everything) and the answer is Idiopathic PN. Very frustrating. The neurologist said there was nothing more he could do so he gave me Lyrica and said make the best of it. It continued to get worse and started up both legs to my knees - then my arms and face. The Lyrica helped relieve the symptoms but I realize that it was not doing anything to make it better. Even with the full dose of Lyrica (300mg) it got so bad that I could hardly walk some days and it was excruciating at night. I researched all I could online and at bookstores and libraries. I have tried a number of things and am happy to report that something is working. I have been off the Lyrica completely since last December 2007 and have greatly reduced the pain and abnormal sensations in both feet. It is still aggravating but tolerable and I feel it is still getting better. It is no longer in my arms or face.

The only problem with my "solution" is that I was so anxious to get rid of the pain that I did not use good troubleshooting principles. Instead of trying one thing at a time, I tried everything I could find all at once and therefore do not know which one or which combination has helped. I am also not sure if this approach is really making it better or just masking the symptoms like the Lyrica did.

Here is what I have tried: I have been taking calcium with magnesium + D just before bed - or sitting down for the evening. This has seemed to greatly relieve the increased sensations at that time of day. I also take ALA, GLA, Carnitine, oil soluble B1 & B12 daily. I have greatly reduced (almost eliminated) the animal products from my diet. You can read a good book on this subject by Dr. Neal Barnard called "Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes". Since I have not been diagnosed with diabetes, I don't feel I got the great benefit from the program but IMHO it is certainly a healthier way to eat for anyone interested. I have also purchased the Rebuilder advertised on this site and used it twice daily for the past three months. Unfortunately, I cannot tell if it works or not because of all the other things I have been doing simultaneously.

Another startling thing I just learned is that they just did a sleep study and found that people that do not get 7-8 hours of sound sleep every night quickly develop symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes and start eating more as well. Their study interrupted the sleep patterns of otherwise normal, healthy (non-diabetic) people and found that they displayed the symptoms of diabetes in only six days! They also monitored the food consumption and found a dramatic increase leading to weight gain. Since hearing that I started taking a couple of Tylenol PM's before bedtime and cannot tell you how much better I feel and function now.

After I feel I have gotten as far as I can in relieving and hopefully curing this malady, I will try eliminating one thing at a time to see if I can pinpoint what has worked for me. All I know is that I feel much better and am drug free.

I hope something here can help someone out there with this kind of problem. Good luck.

[ross]

Does your toes feel like they have rubber bands wrapped around them? Do your toes feel like there is a sock on them when you have nothing on them? Do you toes cramp if you try to strecth them? I have this problem with mine. Let me know what you think. Lot's of luck
Ross

[charliehoopla]

I've just started my experience with Neuropathy due to chemo. Burning and severe pain in feet. Pain meds I'm on just take the edge off and I was told this ailment was temp. due to chemo. It really just kicked in this past week.
I'm hoping this works on a bell curve and the pain will begin to subside. But until it does I'm doing meds, massage and continueing with exercising. And I'm trying to get more educated and try some of the tips this group has to offer. Let me know if anything works for you.

[naggingpain101]

I can relate to your foot neuropathy. I am a 59 year old female, non-diabetic. My neuropathy began 5 years ago at the same time a fibromyalgia doctor gave me an IV with hydrogen peroxide in it. I started burning all over my body. I was in the worst possible pain. My doctors performed nerve conduction and mylograms. The tests showed shall fiber neuropathy. My feet burn all the time but it is almost unbearable at night. They either burn like fire or they feel like they are freezing (yet my feet are warm to touch). I take Lyrica 100 mg 4 X a day, Cymbalta 30 mg and Hydrocodone 10/325-up to 4 per day. I also use a Lidoderm patch. I cannot stand longer than a minute or two without severe pain. Walking is tolerable but hurts. I use any cream that has the feeling of menthol or capsacin. It gives me temporary relief. Soaking my feet in warm water helps. I am currently in physical therapy to receive deep massage and ultrasound. Needless to say, I had to quit my job and go on disability. I wear shoes with prescription orthotics. I just found this site-hope to get some new ideas and share my experiences.

[casanot]

I AM YOUR AGE AND WEIGHT. I HAVE TRIED ORTHOTICS AND A DRUG CALLED LYRICA;WHICH ARE NOT VERY HELPFUL. THE ONLY THING THAT HELPS SOME WHAT IS A PAIR OF TENNIS SHOES WITH A BUILT IN BUBBLE AT THE BALL OF THE FOOT.TIGHT SHOES CAN ALSO BE A PROBLEM. I AM NOT DIABETIC.

IN MY EARLY TWENTIES I HAD SURGERY FOR MORTON'S NEUROMA. THAT IS ALSO AN EXTREME BURNING PAIN.I HAD A GREAT DEAL OF RELIEF WHEN A METATARSAL BAR WAS POSITIONED UNDER MY SHOES,BUT I CHOSE TO HAVE SURGERY BECAUSE OF THE INCONVENIENCE OF USING METATARSAL BARS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.THE SURGERY RELIEVED THE PAIN.

MY PROBLEM ALONG WITH BURNING PAIN IN THE BALLS OF MY FEET WITH NUMBNESS AND AN ELECTRICAL TYPE CHARGE THAT RADIATES TO MY TOES. A VIBRATOR PROVIDES TEMPORARY RELIEF.

I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A FAT PAD ON THE BALLS OF MY FEET AND THAT THE
NERVES ARE BEEN COMPRESSED BY THE METARSAL BONES.

I HAVE BEEN IN PAIN FOR YEARS AND I AM LOOKING FOR SOME RELIEF OF THIS NEUROPATHY.I AM
CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO A NEW TECHNIQUE CLAIMED BY AN INSTITUTE IN BALTIMORE.THE DOCTOR IS A PLASTIC SURGEON THAT CLAIMS TO HAVE A TECHNIQUE THAT HE CAN TREAT PATIENTS ON AN OUT PATIENT BASIS; BY SNIPPING THE PATHWAYS TO THE ORIGIN OF PAIN.HAS ANYONE HEARD OF THIS ,AND DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THEIR TECHNIQUE IS ANY MORE SUCCESSFUL OR LESS TRAUMATIC THAN SURGERY?... SURGERY WILL BE MY FINAL OPTION.