Neuropathy In Foot

[Tamarante]

Anybody have any damaged blood vessels in feet that causes extreme pain? If so, what do you take for it and what other things do you do to ease the pain?

My husband is on Nuerantin and hates it and will be moved to something else, but in the meantime his pain have gotten so much worse.

[Glot]

I am sorry that your husband has such pain with his feet. It is no fun for I have this also since I have this diabetes. For me at times my feet tingle and hurt and ect. I do take Alpha Lipoic Acid supplement in the morining and in the evening every day, regularly. I use to take 300 mg and now I am taking 600 mg each morning and evening and the tingling , pain and ect has lessen greatly to the point of no pain at all at times. I get this ALA at Puritan's Pride Vitamins: Discount Vitamins and Herbal Supplements (http://www.purtian.com)

Gloria Minn.

[lgvincent]

I used Neurontin for a while and didn't care for it. So far, the only thing that has help me is Carbatrol. I'm taking 300 mg a day but 600 mg seemed to work better.

[Corlain]

Does your husband do anything else for his feet aside form the medication? I have huge cracks in my heels and my feet tingle quite often. They have something called Diabetiderm that is a topical ointment for diabetics and it is starting to help me quite a bit.

[Puppypants]

I am also on Neurotin, and it has helped alot, but makes me soooo sleepy! Almost fell asleep in a training class yesterday, but it's worth it for the relief I feel. Some days, my feet ALMOST feel normal!

I also use Diabetiderm - it is some great stuff! It has gotten rid of 99% of the dryness, and has helped a big callus just about disappear.

[Gerald]

I only have mild soreness in my feet, so I'm not sure how useful this suggestion would be to you however my wife got me some diabetic socks called mediped and I'm finding they help me quite a bit. They are softer and have more cushioning then regular socks and are a lot more comfortable to wear.

[Jdemers]

Is that ointment a script or where do you buy it? thankyou Jdemers

[GrammyByer]

I also have neuropathy in my feet. I take cymbalta (30 mg 2x a day)and alpha lipoic acid (600 mg a day). These have helped me a lot. I rarely have any pain anymore. I also wear orthodics that were prescribed by my orthopedist. Hope this info helps.

[yu qinghua]

Hi!
I`ve suffered from it more than 5 years.
I`d like to recommand a website http://www.geocities.com/bsy53/dn/neuropat.html to you,where talking about Nutritional treatment of Diabetic Neuropathy.

[Tamarante]

I only have mild soreness in my feet, so I'm not sure how useful this suggestion would be to you however my wife got me some diabetic socks called mediped and I'm finding they help me quite a bit. They are softer and have more cushioning then regular socks and are a lot more comfortable to wear.

Yes, I get these type of socks from Wal-mart and this is the only place to sells them around here. My husband loves them and they do help somewhat because they are not tight around his feet, ankle or lower leg. I appreciate these socks.

[Tamarante]

I am also on Neurotin, and it has helped alot, but makes me soooo sleepy! Almost fell asleep in a training class yesterday, but it's worth it for the relief I feel. Some days, my feet ALMOST feel normal!

I also use Diabetiderm - it is some great stuff! It has gotten rid of 99% of the dryness, and has helped a big callus just about disappear.

Is this an RX or OTC ointment??

[Tamarante]

OK made my list of the things you all use to ask his doctor about. Thank you so much! Sometimes I want to cry because he gets into so much pain and there is nothing I can do about it. It also bothers him emotionally as well and gets him depressed. Working on that one foot is impossible at this point so he's home on disability after a surgery caused by a callus back in Sept. 06.

Thanks again!

[Puppypants]

Diabederm is OTC - my local Wal-Mart carries (in a whole section devoted to diabetuc care) and so does Walgreen's, although it is significantly more at Walgreen's. Every jar that I have bought to date also includes a $2 off coupon as well. It is great stuff, very cooling and soothing on my feet. When I wore some ribbed socks once, I did get severe blistering on my feet, and found that A&D ointment was helpful then.

I hope he feels better soon. My foot issues cause depression too - I wish you both well!

[Tamarante]

Diabederm is OTC - my local Wal-Mart carries (in a whole section devoted to diabetuc care) and so does Walgreen's, although it is significantly more at Walgreen's. Every jar that I have bought to date also includes a $2 off coupon as well. It is great stuff, very cooling and soothing on my feet. When I wore some ribbed socks once, I did get severe blistering on my feet, and found that A&D ointment was helpful then.

I hope he feels better soon. My foot issues cause depression too - I wish you both well!

Thank you! My husband is now using this ointment and we did get a coupon in the box too. :D

[Tamarante]

I think this is my last question...

For those of you who take alpha lipoic acid (600 mg a day) do you take it all at once or do you take 300mg in the morning and then 300mg at night? My husband is taking 300 mg in the morning and 300 at night sinc Friday, but he says he hasn't felt any change. Maybe he's taking it wrong.

These pills are expensive!!! Our pharmacy only sells a 60 ct bottle. Where can I find a larger bottle?

And we're going to be getting him off of Avandament this week thankfully and onto something better..not sure what better is but we'll see.

[FTW]

Hi Tamarante,

Click on this link for a report on a Mayo Clinic study on ALA for neuropathy. (http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2003-rst/1733.html)

You'll notice that patients in this study were given ALA by I.V. This is also the method they've been using in Europe.

Here is what I've read from others taking ALA orally in US for neuropathy:

- The first step in getting ALA to be most effective is getting blood sugars under control. What are his meter readings like?

- It doesn't stay in the bloodstream long, so many take a dose of 200 mg three times a day.

You mention he's only been taking it a week. Be patient. It can take a while to reverse symptoms. Also, Wal-Mart sells ALA.

As far as I know, all the prescription meds can help to reduce the pain, but ALA is the only thing that has actually reversed symptoms of neuropathy in diabetics.

FTW

[vettegirl1]

My question is how to do you know that you have ne uropathy? It feels like ants are biting me sometimes and then at other times my feet will ache and this will go all the way up my legs. Would this be neuropathy. Thanks

[Tamarante]

Hi Tamarante,

Click on this link for a report on a Mayo Clinic study on ALA for neuropathy. (http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2003-rst/1733.html)

You'll notice that patients in this study were given ALA by I.V. This is also the method they've been using in Europe.

Here is what I've read from others taking ALA orally in US for neuropathy:

- The first step in getting ALA to be most effective is getting blood sugars under control. What are his meter readings like?

- It doesn't stay in the bloodstream long, so many take a dose of 200 mg three times a day.

You mention he's only been taking it a week. Be patient. It can take a while to reverse symptoms. Also, Wal-Mart sells ALA.

As far as I know, all the prescription meds can help to reduce the pain, but ALA is the only thing that has actually reversed symptoms of neuropathy in diabetics.

FTW

Thank you! I forwarded the link to my husband. He's been using it but he says it doesn't do anything. He's taking 300mg twice a day. I don't think his doctor is aware that ALA helps. I'll send the memo with him to take to this appt this week. Thanks again!

[Tamarante]

Hi!
I`ve suffered from it more than 5 years.
I`d like to recommand a website http://www.geocities.com/bsy53/dn/neuropat.html to you,where talking about Nutritional treatment of Diabetic Neuropathy.

I also wanted to thank you for this link too. :)

[Tamarante]

My husband was moved from Neurantin over to Lyrica. Anybody take this med? He doesn't want to take this now because it makes him want to sleep so at night he's all for taking it. If he has to work he cannot take it. :(

[princesslinda]

Can't answer your medication question, but as I read your post I thought of this. If his blood sugars are in the 200's, he will be tired and sleepy. At diagnosis, mine were running in the mid to upper 200's and I was so tired I could hardly go. It may be more than just the medications affecting him.

[FTW]

My question is how to do you know that you have ne uropathy? It feels like ants are biting me sometimes and then at other times my feet will ache and this will go all the way up my legs. Would this be neuropathy. Thanks


Yes. This would be symptoms of the beginning of neuropathy.

[Tamarante]

Update...the foot pain is gone! Thanks to the Cymbalta which worked like a charm. I hope it doesn't stop working. I suggested it to his doctor and she put him on it :D. I think she does listen to me afterall.

The wound is re-opening still, but I'm hoping since he's back on Lantus it will begin to heal back up again.

He has so much more energy and his attitude is so much better. He actually thanked me for doing the research and being a loud mouth at his appointments. :D

I'm so happy! I have all of you to thank! THANK YOU ALL!

[slipperyelm]

That is GREAT that he is finding relief of his pain. Maybe that can give him the encouragement to go on to another step in getting better health. Sometimes so many things seem impossible that it is hard to feel like it is possible to make any improvements. But once you get one improvement, sometimes that makes it possible to start working on another. Maybe now that the pain is under control he will have the ability to start __________. (Fill in the blank with whatever health effort your husband would like to make next.)

The alpha lipoic acid that you say he didn't get relief from? Well, I'd suggest he go ahead and keep taking it. For one thing it takes weeks for it to just begin to make a difference in someone with uncontrolled diabetes and active neuropathy. Also, it can take some high doses. But alpha lipoic acid is not just for neuroapthy. It is supposed to help the blood sugar levels themselves come down. And it heals some other tissues and assist some metabolic processes that are messed up by diabetes. It may help heal tissues that your husband yet has no ideaare even damaged, because the damage is not so extensive as to make him feel the damage or otherwise sense the damage.

I take a brand of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) that is purified to have only the biologically active form of the molecule (right-handed stereoisomer, if you've studied chemistry) in it. Most ALA on the market is only 50% active ALA. So what I take is more effective, but even more expensive. However, it helps bring down my blood glucose!

I eat low carb so have a pretty good handle on the glucose levels already. But I found that ALA gives me an extra boost of ability to clear glucose, so I take it when I've had a little more carbohydrates than is good for me. Like this morning--I had half a banana for breakfast, so I took an ALA. The makers of the brand (Insulow) I take say that the higher your BG is to start with, the longer it will take for you to see it making a difference. I think I read that they say it could take a full six months! I don't think many people would stick to a medicine for six months if they didn't see it having an effect. But for me, I was lucky (and started it with blood glucose in control) and could see the effect the first time and every time I take it.

But just because you cannot immediately notice an effect doesn't mean it isn't having an effect. Cymbalta may stop the neuro-pain, but does it do anything to prevent or revers the damage that causes the pain? Maybe your husband needs both something to stop the pain and something to help heal the damage. Of course, the main thing to both prevent further damage and to heal what has already happened will be to get thos blood sugars down!...Anyway, I think your husband should consider finishing his bottle of ALA.

(Dr Richard Berstein recommends that with ALA, one also take biotin and evening primrose oil. Sorry, I do not know in what amounts.)

[Tamarante]

That is GREAT that he is finding relief of his pain. Maybe that can give him the encouragement to go on to another step in getting better health. Sometimes so many things seem impossible that it is hard to feel like it is possible to make any improvements. But once you get one improvement, sometimes that makes it possible to start working on another. Maybe now that the pain is under control he will have the ability to start __________. (Fill in the blank with whatever health effort your husband would like to make next.)

The alpha lipoic acid that you say he didn't get relief from? Well, I'd suggest he go ahead and keep taking it. For one thing it takes weeks for it to just begin to make a difference in someone with uncontrolled diabetes and active neuropathy. Also, it can take some high doses. But alpha lipoic acid is not just for neuroapthy. It is supposed to help the blood sugar levels themselves come down. And it heals some other tissues and assist some metabolic processes that are messed up by diabetes. It may help heal tissues that your husband yet has no ideaare even damaged, because the damage is not so extensive as to make him feel the damage or otherwise sense the damage.

I take a brand of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) that is purified to have only the biologically active form of the molecule (right-handed stereoisomer, if you've studied chemistry) in it. Most ALA on the market is only 50% active ALA. So what I take is more effective, but even more expensive. However, it helps bring down my blood glucose!

I eat low carb so have a pretty good handle on the glucose levels already. But I found that ALA gives me an extra boost of ability to clear glucose, so I take it when I've had a little more carbohydrates than is good for me. Like this morning--I had half a banana for breakfast, so I took an ALA. The makers of the brand (Insulow) I take say that the higher your BG is to start with, the longer it will take for you to see it making a difference. I think I read that they say it could take a full six months! I don't think many people would stick to a medicine for six months if they didn't see it having an effect. But for me, I was lucky (and started it with blood glucose in control) and could see the effect the first time and every time I take it.

But just because you cannot immediately notice an effect doesn't mean it isn't having an effect. Cymbalta may stop the neuro-pain, but does it do anything to prevent or revers the damage that causes the pain? Maybe your husband needs both something to stop the pain and something to help heal the damage. Of course, the main thing to both prevent further damage and to heal what has already happened will be to get thos blood sugars down!...Anyway, I think your husband should consider finishing his bottle of ALA.

(Dr Richard Berstein recommends that with ALA, one also take biotin and evening primrose oil. Sorry, I do not know in what amounts.)

I thought that once blood vessels are damaged that they can no longer be repaired???

[slipperyelm]

Depends on what size blood vessels you are talking about. Some can be totally regrown in an area. The process is called re-vascularization. But the damage of neuroapthy is largely nerve damage. At the same time that nerve damage is happening, there would probably be blood vessel damage. Sugar reacting with the cell surfaces is pretty universal I think. All kinds of cells are affected. Damage to blood vessels impairs circulation. Damage to nerve cells imapirs sensation, creates false sensations, and creates the sensation of pain where there is not outside stimulus to actually causethe pain.

[Tamarante]

Depends on what size blood vessels you are talking about. Some can be totally regrown in an area. The process is called re-vascularization. But the damage of neuroapthy is largely nerve damage. At the same time that nerve damage is happening, there would probably be blood vessel damage. Sugar reacting with the cell surfaces is pretty universal I think. All kinds of cells are affected. Damage to blood vessels impairs circulation. Damage to nerve cells imapirs sensation, creates false sensations, and creates the sensation of pain where there is not outside stimulus to actually causethe pain.

OK got it. He's got both problems...blood vessel and nerve damage in his right foot.