Neuropathy

[cffink]

Try a pair of 'Crocs (shoes) look for them on the internet or wal mart. they have helped me greatly. Alcohol in any amount worsens my problem.

[cffink]

I have read a lot of studies recently on the success of cannabis for peripheral neuropathy in patients with HIV. There are many studies out there about this including some articles in "The New England Journal of Medicine". I have had a Dr. tell me it was the lesser of two evils ( as compared to pain clinics that perscribe opiates such as Oxycontin and Percocet.) Although illeagal in the state I live in I did try it twice in very small amounts. It helped my pain 25-30%. I did this at night before bed and there was just a very small buzz. When this kind of pain is present day and night one may try anything that is not off the charts dangerous and after consulting with a physician.

[Hope75]

It should be legalized for medicinal purposes in every state. It is known for alleviating chronic pain for MS sufferers, cancer pts, etc. Oxycontin is far more dangerous and addictive and is causing havoc in people's lives. Cannabis could then be controlled by the FDA and the quality would be consistent. Hopefully, people will let go of the stigma that it is a street drug that should never be considered by anyone, even those in chronic pain. I will not go the route of opiates, so I live with the pain.

[racetra]

I am new here. The more I read the more I realize this has been a problem for me for quite a few years now. Last night was the worse though. I had taken a vocodin and thought that had brought it on. Maybe not! I have some back issues but don't like to take the vicodin unless I'm hurtin because it makes me itchy. I read today that ibu and asprin are not very effective for pain. As far as shoes. I wear a pair of Carhartt (Made by Redwing) Workboots. Where they may not be the most practical shoes nor do they make a fashion statement, they are the only shoes I can where for any length of time. I am ot lookin forward to this gettin any worse. I need to try and "Nip-it" but have no idea what to do!

[Hope75]

Are you diabetic? Controlling one's diabetes will help. If you aren't, you need to see a neurologist and have a battery of tests to see if a cause can be found. Often, it cannot be explained. I have to wear the Merrel brand with netted type cloth shoes, because any shoe that closes all the way around my foot, sets me on fire. Regular painkillers do not work. They just stone you enough to make it tolerable from what I've heard. I've never tried opiates or controlled substances, b/c I have been told it doesn't help and I don't want to take anything like that until I have to for something else. I have to take Neurontin. My husband is trying Lyrica, but he has a different type of neuropathic pain. Get checked at your doc, first and foremost. Sorry you are joining our pain club:(

[Shawna]

Hi there,

I am still learning things about this myself but one night I had a beer the 1st beer I had, had in probly a year or more and about an hour or 2 after the beer I was in soooooooooo much pain I could hardly stand it was seriously considering going to the ER. Well that night we also happened to have a cold front which I know can cause me more pain that normal. So when I went to my dr a week later and explained to him what had happened and ask him if I needed to be afraid to drink a beer he said NO. my guess is the avoid drinking was because of the meds. Have you ever seen a prescriptions drug that doesnt say "avoid drinking achiole" (sorry I never could spell that word) on the lable some where? Keep in mind this is just a guess and I am by no means a dr. I would deffinatly ask your dr the neurologist and your pcm what they have to say about it and maybe even the pharmicy?

[Cindyl]

Hi there -
I've had the same thing for about a year and a half now - I've found shoes with cushioning help and some of the brands I've found are Walking Cradles, Soft Walk, Softspots, but anything with cushioning AND that doesn't fit tight is good, I've even bought some shoes in a wide width (I've always been a regular width). I buy my shoes online at a website called 6pm.com - saves lots of $. No heels - it was hard, but I just gave mine away - couldn't use them and got tired of them just taking up my closet space. Now I have shoes I can actually wear in there. Hard to find truly comfy tennis shoes for walking - always seems to be something inside that makes them uncomfortable.
As far as alcohol goes, it really does seem toxic for this condition. I don't drink much anyway, but had a margarita at a friends party last weekend and paid for it - pain and couldn't fall asleep either....so yes, I'd recommend not having any.
I tried the usual nerve pain meds - Neurontin, and Lyrica as well as Cymbalta and although they did help me to get to sleep (my biggest problem) I ended up quitting them all because I felt like a zombie and was depressed. I have found two things that are healthy and truly help - 1) a good B Vitamin Complex supplement and 2) oxygenating my body - there's a water that does it (so far I've only tried one type and it requires an expensive machine ($3,000) but small and easy to attach to a faucet . It truly seemed to alleviate my symptoms nearly completely and also has many other health benefits, but I can't afford it at present- a friend gave me a few gallons to try....but feel I should share anything in case some of you can do it - it's called Kangan Water and you can find out more at www.paradigmwellnessswater.com I'm checking into using hydogen peroxide - foot grade only! - reading up on it now - 2 books - one by Ed McCabe and one by William Campbell Douglass - this you can do yourself very cheaply. Hope this helps some - take care everyone. Cindyl

[tinaanneb]

I have gone through so many shoes - but I found a few that work for me. First off I have wide feet and even though I am a measured 7 1/2 I buy at least an 81/2 or 9 at a wide shoe store. I used Pedors in the beginning - they have no seams and are made of the same substance life jackets are made from -- very light and they have a clog. They have a web site. I use Clarks sandals that have velcro so I can adjust them - I use softwalk and softspots for the comfort again. Most are slides for me, but a few are adjusted with velcro on the back. After spending so much money at the local wide shoe store, I found I could order shoes from Zeppos.com and they will send you shoes any size any width -- no shipping charge either way! So you can't go wrong.
So depending on your feet you may need to start with the Pedors, but otherwise just check them out really closely and look for those seams and keep them as soft as possible -- good luck!
Your friend in Arizona

[Hope75]

Merrell Encore Mary Janes are my favorite! Beige is my fave color. My feet are killing me today. I get burning in my scalp too:(

[HGT]

I started to have similar symptoms of IPN in my late 40s and at age 63 was seen by a neurologist who focused on vitamin B-12 deficiency. She tested my levels which were low normal and she insisted that in my age group my levels should be high normal or above normal. She recommended over-the-counter oral vitamin B-12 2000 mcg daily to start and then tested until I was high normal. I was surprised to find my symptoms of foot numbness, burning and pain and balance issues decreasing after the first week of treatment and in a month I was nearly symptom free. A nice fringe benefit was that my low back pain which I'd had for 25 years disappeared also. After monitoring my levels for two years and adjusting the dose down to 500 mcg daily to where I stayed at high normal levels, the neurologist discharged me with instruction to adjust my dose according to the presence of symptoms, but to stay on a minimum of 500 mcg daily. This has worked very well and I'm forever grateful for my neurologist diagnostic acumen. It is well know that vitamin B-12 absorption from the stomach diminishes in many individuals with age starting in their 30s and, since the vitamin is important to nerve health it makes sense that deficiency could be responsible for idiopathic neuropathies in the elderly. It is also key to understand that the normal B-12 lab value ranges used by labs and primary care doctors may be too low for patients in advancing age groups, especially if they have any symptoms of neurologic problems.
Larry in Suffolk, VA