Your Neuropathy Questions
Answered

Question

Hi....I wish you had information on which medications will help a diabetic who has neuropathy pain. - Brenda S.

Answer

Hi Brenda. Thanks for stopping by. The best place to go for information on which medications will help a diabetic with neuropathy pain is to a physician. There are some medications which can help, but it is trial and error for each person and their specific needs and conditions. My research shows that antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and local anesthetics may be helpful in releaving pain. Either in combination or alone. Medications such as ibuprofen or morphine have been shown to have little if any effect in alleviating the pain.

When speaking with your physician, some drugs to ask about are:

• Antidpressants - Amitriptyline and Nortriptyline.
• Anticonvulsants - Carbamazepine, Felbamate, Valproic acid, Clonazepam, Gabapentin and Phenytoin
• Local Anesthetics - intravenous application of lidocaine, tocainide or mexiletine can often provide relief

By your taking the time to learn about these medications, their uses and side effects, it will help put you in control of your treatment plan.

Keep us posted!

Question/Comment

I have had peripheral neuropathy for over a decade. It was caused by the drug Floxin, a fluoroquinilone. I was given a prescription for a bacterial infection (which it turned out I didn't have). The PN was diagnosed by my surgeon and confirmed by an extensive examination and electronic study at the Podiatric center at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. The only treatment that has helped me is Anodyne Therapy. I have had a machine for years. I use it twice a day, 35 minutes on each foot and calf morning and night. Combined with Seroquel, which allows me to get to sleep and to sleep despite the ongoing pain during the night. With the AT treatments I can be up and around six or so hours per day. Without it (as when I had to have the unit repaired) I can barely walk. It is very frustrating to not be able to find information about non-diabetic neuropathy, particularly medication-caused PN. I guess that's because it's either not identified, is confused with diabetic PN or is not reported. Sure would like more possiblities for treatment. I do take Neurontin and Alpha Lipoic Acid, but doubt that they are effective. - Joel L.

Answer/Response

Dear Joel, First, let me apologize for my delayed response. We recently had a death in our immediately family, and our life has been a bit upside down since. I am so sorry to hear of your situation. I believe that the reason there isn’t more about non-diabetic neuropathy because it is a newly realized condition. I also think that the doctors don’t have all the answers as to what causes it and that is the reason, so much of PN is listed as being unknown causality. I do not have any other advice to offer you, but I am posting your comment on our website and maybe someone else will be in touch regarding their own situation and how they are coping. Hopefully, more treatments will be evolving and soon!

Question

I have had peripheral neuropathy for 6 years and nothing seems to help. I have taken gabapentin amitriptyline, triamcinolone acetonide . I have had absolutely no relief. What would you suggest? -Bea W.

Answer

Unfortunately, everything I have researched shows that treatment is through trial and error. In a previous question, I pointed to some potentially helpful meds which I see you are already taking some of these. I would recommend researching the others and talking with your physician to see what other variations you can try. If you aren’t getting anywhere with one physician, be sure to research in your area about other possible specialists who may have other treatment ideas. Good luck!

Question

Hi Melissa, What kind of shoes would help to make me comfortable? Every shoe I wear make my feet hurt so much. My podiatrist suggested Sketchers Shape Ups. Evelyn O.

Answer/Response

Dear Evelyn, Foot pain is a frustrating thing to deal with each day. And not only do you have to worry about the pain, but taking care of your feet is very, very important and you have to be extra vigilant if your neuropathy is related to diabetes. You didn’t say, so if I provide you with too much information, I apologize. I researched about the Sketcher Shape Ups and they get very mixed reviews. Some people love them, some claim they are comfortable but don’t help with losing weight and improving your muscles at all, and many complain of knee and hip pain that results from wearing them. Apparently many trainers warn their clients to stay away from them and there is controversy over whether they cause more harm than help. If it were me, I would not go that route.

Here are some foot care suggestions that I found (and many of these are specific to diabetic neuropathy which may or may not be helpful in your situation):

1. Do not wear shoes with high heels or pointed toes.
2. Don't wear open-toed shoes (like sandals or flip flops – because your feet can be hurt by gravel or other detritus on the ground and you not know it).
3. Always wear socks with your shoes.
4. Choose your socks carefully. Stay away from nylon socks, stretch socks, socks that have inside seams or socks with an elastic band or garter at the top. These can all impose on your leg’s circulation and further impact your foot problems.
5. Do wear socks that are well-padded and are a little bit longer (1/2 inch) than your longest toe.
6. Stay away from shoes that are uncomfortable, tight or in any way hurt your feet.
7. It is always a good idea to consult with your doctor before buying special shoes or inserts
8. It is best to try on shoes at the end of the day when your feet are a little swollen. If they are comfortable to wear then, chances are they will be comfortable all day long.
9. It is best to just wear new shoes for an hour a day for several days as you break them in.
10. Always check the insides of your shoes before wearing them to look for any foreign objects (like rocks or mulch) and to make sure you don’t have any torn lining so that you can prevent rubbing against your feet which can lead to blisters and sores.

• Women's Travel Walker W. Sneaker
• New Balance Women's WW927 Walking Shoe
• Drew Shoes Women's Trenda Hook-And-Loop Sneaker
• Diabetic Socks, Ultra Light, 12pair, Crew/White Size 9-11

And just a reminder. I am not a medical professional. I am just very interested in the condition of neuropathy and helping others.

Have a great day!

Melissa

Question

We found your site regarding " Herniated Disk and Neuropathy in Feet " it was informative and somewhat helpful. My husband had stage 3 spinal spondylothesis for which he had an anterior/posterior lumbar interbody fusion (L4-5 and L5-S1) in December. We were looking for help in how the nerves will repair itself or regrow or how to help relieve the burning pain on top of his feet. At times the burning pain in his feet are almost unbearable. He was started on Gabapentin which he believes has helped some. Any articles or links you have for post spinal fusion neuropathy would again be helpful. Thank you for your information.Diane P

Answer

Hi Diane,

The research I have done indicates that nerves are one part of the body that do not regenerate/repair themselves. However, if the pain he has been experiencing was related to swelling against nerve endings as a result from surgery, as the swelling subsided, the pain should decrease.

I looked up the medication he is on and it does state that the burning pain can take months to subside completely.

One website I looked at said that if you have no underlying disease, you can try one or all of the following strategies to deal with symptoms:

• Take one B-100 B-complex vitamin daily. The B vitamins are necessary for normal nerve function, and supplementing is a good preventive measure. (Don't take more than 100 mg of B-6, as higher daily doses can actually cause symptoms of neuropathy. And some studies indicate more than 25 mg may be too much.)
• Take 100 mg of alpha lipoic acid once a day. This antioxidant protects microcirculation to the nerves. You can gradually increase the dose to 300 mg twice a day over the next month.
• Try acupuncture. You can find a qualified acupuncturist in your area through NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine ) or the AAOM (American Association of Oriental Medicine).

I have often heard very good things about acupuncture and it may be a procedure worth looking into. I hope the above information has been helpful. Please let me know. And just to reiterate what we put on our website, I am not a physician. I am only a person who has interest in neuropathy and it’s cause and the symptoms and possible relief that can be found.
Melissa

Question

I use denture powder and noticed on a blood test that I had a zinc count that I think was toxic and I didn't know about this problem. I have very bad neuropathy problems and a mild case of diabetes that was found 12 years after the neuropathy. I haven't heard about the powder being a problem. I don't know how to get the toxic levels of zinc down. - Donna

Answer

Dear Donna,

I have been looking at websites searching for information about the denture powder leading to zinc toxicity. Here is a website with a very good video and other information that you might want to check out.

I spent quite a bit of time looking for information and it is not easy to find. There are plenty of lawyer sites out there encouraging you to get in touch with your attorney. However, it looks like zinc levels will begin to decline as soon as your exposure stops. If you are not tested within a week of not using the denture cream, there may no longer be any proof of high zinc levels. I also found that there can be proof in an analysis of your hair for up to three months afterwards. But it seems like a lot of doctors are reluctant to have the testing done and for most insurance companies, if your doctor doesn’t recommend it, your insurance won’t cover it.

Something else you should be aware of is that long term use of high doses of zinc can lead to a secondary deficiency of copper which has other health ramifications.

Pretty much every website I looked at concentrated on low zinc levels being a problem. These sites indicated that zinc is one of those minerals that you are constantly having to replace in your body. So, I would think your zinc levels have come down. The problem is, that the damage the high levels caused may not heal itself. For example, in terms of neuropathy: neuropathy is nerve damage and in general nerves do not regenerate or repair themselves.

I would highly recommend contact with your physician and an attorney if you haven’t already done so.

Please remember, as it states on my website, I am not a medical professional. I just have a personal interest in neuropathy and helping others when I can.

Melissa