Anybody here dealing with diabetic peripheral Neuropathy

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I've been a semi-lurker here since the orange puke rode down his magic escalator. I've had neuropathy for several years, but in the last ten days it's suddenly kicked into overdrive. I've just now consulted my doctor who prescribed Gabapentin. I'm not thrilled with starting on that but over the years, I've gotten used to sleeping. M My daughter moved back here in late January, broke up with her SO of 7 years or maybe he broke up with her. She then quit her high stress job due to total burn out. She has suffered with depression since she was 11. She's now 39. I've been under considerable stress because I'm worried about her. I also had the rest of my teeth pulled and went through dental implant hell this year so I've been under physical stress as well. The joy I felt yesterday at finally getting my snap-in lower denture has been tempered somewhat by the increased neuropathy pain. I feel like I can't catch a break this year. I feel increasingly despondent. How do you cope? How do you deal with neuropathy? Any better options than Gabepentin?

[AZSkiffyGeek]

1. I'm lucky that mine isn't too bad

I don't take anything for it, and usually it isn't too debilitating. The worst thing I have is hypersensitivity. Stepping on a tiny pebble is incredibly painful - and there are times when it will feel like I have a tiny rock embedded in my calluses when there is nothing there.
I have noticed that sticking to my diet helps with it, and that weed makes it worse - at least when I'm in bed - but I like heavy body high Indicas.

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5. Thanks for your reply.

Mine hadn't been too bad until the episode in the last few days. I went to a writer's conference with a friend. We all went out to get some food in one of the noisiest bars on the planet. I couldn't get any sleep because of this burning pain in my feet and missed the rest of the conference. I hope yours stays not too bad. I'm looking to improve my diet.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

6. I just remembered also

My doctor switched me to Wellbutrin for my antidepressant when I was diagnosed w/ diabetes because it had some anti-neuropathy benefits. Don't know if that would figure into your treatment.

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8. I meant to ask my doc

about that. I'm taking Celexa, but I've been thinking about Amyitriptoline which worked well for my mother for twenty years. I'll shoot the doc a question.

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23. I just switched from Celexa to Cymbalta

One of the antdepressants that's supposed to help. I've only being taking it for three days, so we'll see. So far, no side effects beyond slight nausea.

[WhiteTara]

2. you'll like gabapentin for the nerve pain

my SO has it and I've seen that when he keeps his bs under 150, he has the least problems. He's a carb addict so he zooms up there from time to time so I've been a witness to his ups and downs for the past 30 years.

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7. Thanks very much

Glad to hear your SO is able to deal with the problem. I'm going to try a low carb, hi protein diet. I've been mostly on soft food and liquid due to the state of my teeth. Spent nine months of this year working on that problem and now I can eat almost anything. Like steak. I may have one for Thanksgiving. You make me feel better about the Gabapentin.

[Big Blue Marble]

3. I would strongly recommend an FDA approved red-light therapy

I have been using it for nearly 25 years. It is Anodyne Therapy.

https://anodynetherapy.com/anodyne-therapy-products/

It is FDA approved and used in hospitals and clinics. ( We used it in my husband's clinic as well)
They have a specific unit for feet and leg pain that is easy to use and has clinical studies
to show the results. You need to call [phone] to purchase a devise or for questions.
If you can afford it, I suggest an upgrade to the full home unit. It helps with aches, pains, and
injuries anywhere on your body. It is always good to use non-pharma solutions when possible.

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9. Thanks for the link and the number

I've been exploring that and tens.

[Big Blue Marble]

13. As I understand tens, they block the pain.

The anodyne therapy will actually encourages healing of the nerves and tissues by increasing blood flow to your feet. It also increases nitric oxide and helps clear waste.

An explanation of the benefits of nitric oxide from their site:

https://anodynetherapy.com/anodyne-therapy/nitric-oxide-why-we-need-it/

If you have any questions, you can dm me.

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15. Thank you so much for the information.

I won't fail to look into it.

[Warpy]

4. You can try CBD, either the cream or the oral stuff

My peripheral neuropathy showed up after I was on Cipro, something that happens often enough that there should be a stronger warning on that stuff and it shouldn't be given out like candy /rant.

I found the oral CBD worked better than the topical stuff for me but I know others who had the opposite be true. If you're not in a progressive state, you can order CBD products through the mail. As long as they're from hemp and don't contain THC, they're legal that way, although I'd probably hide them from the church ladies of both sexes in your life.

Gabapentin is a good drug, older than dirt and with a great safety record. It originally came out as an anti seizure drug but they found it was also useful for nerve pain. There are certainly worse things to be on.

Like Cipro. Grrrrr.

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10. Wow

I didn't know Cipro could do that. I'm probably not in the least progressive state in the union, but it's close--South Carolina. However we are able to purchase CBD oil. There are several little drive through shops around.

No church ladies in my life, just a bunch of ultra liberal reprobates, most of them transplants from the North tired of shoveling snow. I'm one of the few Southerners.

[Warpy]

11. When I got too old for Boston winters

I moved to the desert southwest. Most of the snow stays on the mountains and looks pretty, which is where the shit belongs.

I'm mid 70s and everybody I know my age is using CBD wherever they ended up living.

Glad to know you've managed to avoid the church ladies. That's an achievement in SC.

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16. I didn't entirely avoid them.

Dealt with them some in my younger years. Extremely lapsed Baptist for the last thirty years, skilled at deflecting all questions about religion. Only just have come out as an atheist in the last eight years. Don't get any flak from my liberal friends, even the ones who are Christian. No longer have any republican ones.

I think the desert Southwest is just a gorgeous place. I saw bits of New Mexico around Taos and Carlsbad years ago. I'd love to go back.

[OldBaldy1701E]

12. I use this.

https://nerverenew.com/collections/nerve-health?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=mcv-us-branded-lp-collectionpage-nerve-health&utm_term=nerve%20renew&affid=9093FB47&aff_sub=google&gc_id=16628532645&h_ad_id=649779498696&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxqbv_NK4ggMVw0JyCh13MgnEEAAYASAAEgJd5_D_BwE

Sorry for the long URL. This is a supplement called 'Nerve Renew'. It helps my neuropathy a lot. I also had to start gabapentin as well, but this stuff might delay your having to go on gabapentin as it did me. I hope this helps.

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17. Thanks

I'll check it out. Glad it's helping you.

[yankee87]

14. Neuopathy Here

Not diabetic, mine is idiopathic(meaning have no idea why). I got much better with Cymbalta in addition to Gabapetin. Also what helped was having a spinal stimulator. It made my life livable.

Still have to use a walker. Will for the rest of my life.

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18. Glad to hear that you're better.

I'm going to ask my doctor to change out my current anti-depressive for Cymbalta or another of the same type of drug. My daughter just started on Cymbalta for depression. I've collected a galaxy of conditions in the last 20 years, each one requiring a different specialist who seems to just treat one body part and discount the rest. As if the whole thing weren't the sum of its parts.

[Mugu]

19. Have you considered the Qutenza patch?

Last edited Sat Dec 16, 2023, 02:46 PM - Edit history (1)

Many people report getting relief for around 90 days.

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21. I think Quetenza

is the patch my neurologist was talking about. Capsaicin, is it? Any idea of the cost? I've tried the capsaicin cream, but it seems to irritate my skin. I've also used lidocaine cream which helps for short periods.

I'm just getting over some kind of repiratory virus(not flu or covid). During the worst of it I had no neuropathy symptoms at all. Riddle me that.

[Mugu]

24. Qutenza is an 8% capsaicin patch. All of the OTC patches that i've seen are 2.5% or less.

Last edited Fri Jan 5, 2024, 02:52 AM - Edit history (1)

I don't know for sure, but someplace or another (I don't remember where) it seems like I saw a quote of $900 per treatment.

Generally, the patient is given lidocaine injections before applying the patch.

When you say that the capsaicin cream irritated your skin, what exactly do you mean?

Your brain can only concentrate on one pain at a time. If you have a painful sunburn just whack your thumb with a hammer and you'll forget all about the sunburn until your thumb settles down.

You mentioned that you have had some relief with lidocaine cream. You might wish to ask your doctor about a prescription for lidocaine-prilocaine combination cream. Allegedly, the prilocaine is slower to get started, but is longer lasting than lidocaine. Just a thought.

[GoodRaisin]

20. I'm dealing with neuropathy and coping.

Not from diabetes but from spinal cord injury. Mine is in the hands, arms, feet and legs and without meds leaves my hands feeling like two burning fire poles. I have experimented with many different things to temper the burning sensation. I was offered opioids to treat it but refused.

I am using pregablin (which is in the same drug family as your gabapentin). They tried me on gabapentin first which didn’t help and then switched me to the pregabalin. It helps, but isn’t sufficient alone to reduce the burning to a tolerable level. So in addition I am prescribed additional drugs to help. Cyclobenzaprine to relax my affected muscles, and diclofenac sodium to help relieve the swelling of edema (caused by the pregabalin). I also add a 650 mg acetamenophen twice a day. All that takes my chronic pain down to about 6-7 on pain scale. Last, I found a nice CBD gummy that I added to the other stuff. That CBD is the best thing I’ve found yet, and reduces the remaining burn another 2-4 levels of pain, which is much more tolerable. It’s called “Calm”, by Lazarus Naturals. One 25 mg gummy does the trick for about 6 hours for me and allows me to still function. (Two of those gummies get me stoned, lol).

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22. Thanks so much for your response.

I am looking into everything as well to be able to function and stay mobile. The gabapentin seems to work for me, though I may need a higher dosage soon. I'm using 650 acetamenophen as well as a B vitamin cocktail with Lipoic Acid. Sometimes I throw in a little Naproxen sodium. I'd rather not though because of the bleeding risk. I'm also trying to improve my diet. Too little, too late?

I've written down the Calm and I will look for it. Stoned doesn't sound too bad sometimes. Especially if you're trying to get some rest. Up early this morning with my feet on ice.