Need advice about neuropathy drugs

[bumblebee1]

I am very worried about my husband's mother. She's had type 2 diabetes a lot of her life, and now has very painful neuropathy in her legs for the last 6 months or so. She sees a diabetes doctor, but not a neurologist which I've suggested she go see. I've talked to my mom, a nurse, who's seen a bit of this here and there, and she also suggests a neurologist. She also said that pain medications such as vicodin, oxy, morphine, etc are generally not prescribed to treat pain of neuropathy. My husband's mother is very angry about this because she claims the pain killers help the neuropathy, and her doctor won't prescribe them. I'm not jumping to conclusions here but I think she may have had a drug problem in the past with pain killers... her husband was in rehab for them, and several times she's begged me and my husband for pain killers when she knew we had them (tooth removal, broken limb, etc.).

She doesn't try very hard to control her sugar levels... she has admitted to me that she is an emotional eater, which I can relate to so I feel for her. I don't know of what help there is out there for emotional overeating, because I've never sought out help for myself for it.

I might also mention that she "can't" lose weight (her words), and doesn't exercise, and like I said doesn't really watch what she eats. I'd like to help her, I love her very much, but I really don't know how I can help her. I hate to see her in so much pain, and everyone in the family seems angry that she can't get pain killers, but from what I've read on the net, and from what my mother told me they don't even help. I'd appreciate any advice! Thank you

[bumblebee1]

Sorry I was rereading, and I'd like to clarify something. When I said that she begged me and my husband for drugs, this has been over the years several times BEFORE the neuropathy. Everytime we've had them she's always "needed" some, for headaches, and also she claims they help her sleep. I've stopped telling her when I get pain meds because I know she'll ask for some, and last time I had them was for a rotton tooth pulled out, and I ended up getting something called dry socket which was very very painful, but by the time I got it I was out of pain killers because my husband made me feel guilty and said his mom "needed" some, and I only took a couple the first day of the tooth removal so I had some leftover. Blah.

[notme]

Hi Bumble, you are a very sweet daughter in law for trying to help.

The doctors are telling your MIL the truth when they say that pain meds such as vicodin and oxy and some of the others do not help with nerve pain. My mother in law had shingles and unfortunately for her she ended up with severe nerve pain in her side and chest area. Nothing helped her. I also have neuropathy in my feet and the only thing that seemed to help was neurontin. I take a VERY small does to keep the pain away and I am thinking about abandoning it entirely until it is unbearable.

I would hate to make an assumption about your Mother In Law, but it seems she may have more of a need for the pain meds than is healthy for her. Since none of these drugs are helpful, it is NOT going to give her any neuropathy relief if that is what is truly her issue. I don't think I would encourage the narcotic dependency if I were you either.

Tell your husband to look on the internet about nerve pain or neuropathy. He can google it and find a ton of information about what does and doesn't help. Perhaps then he will realize that his Mother does not need a narcotic, but maybe neurontin or some other non-narcotic type drug. He should not be helping her obtain these drugs either without the specific advice of a doctor. Get her in to see a neurologist ASAP.

Good luck.....