advice please. t2 neuropathy pain

[ally1]

I am t2 and have recently been diagnosed with severe neuropathy in my left foot and medium neuropathy in my right foot.
On 12th May I saw my gp about pain relief for the nerve pain, he was upfront and said then that he would consider giving me pain relief if I needed it but wasn,t given anything at the time but he did say to go back. I have an appointment Thursday 22nd June to see my Gp about it. My Gp did say if he gave me painkillers, that he would have to look at my current meds with the possibility of have to come off my psych meds because of interacting. I understand that. At the moment the pain is worse late evening so would not need painkillers all day every day.
I spoke to a friend about it, she had a right go at me saying I should not ask for painkillers. I rarely say to her about the pain but I feel ordinary over the counter painkillers do nothing.
I do admit as I have bipolar, when I am manic, the pain feels worse.
Now I Don, t know if I am over reacting or even if I should cancel the appointment.
I have got 60 capsules of 600mgs of alpha lipoic acid which I only stated taking on Saturday.
Please what would you do in my situation

 

[Kristin251]

Alpha lipoic helped me very quickly. My neuropathy was pretty bad and within a week I would say it was 70% better.
If it were me I would continue with the ALA and see how you feel. It MIGHT even help with your bipolar as it's very good for the brain. Have you checked with your GP to make sure it isn't ok to take with your other meds?

 

[ickihun]

@ally1 continue on ala tablets, give them a chance to work. Then go from there.

Don't confuse pain with anxiety. I know easier said than done.
If the pain is unbareable go back to your gp to discuss what can be compromised.
Give supplement a chance first?

 

[ickihun]

My dn said my diabetic unit doesn't support the use of r-ala supplements but when I told specialist he listen to it's benefits, especially the one which allowed me to use 1 third less insulin on it!
Nhs won't buy it for me but if I use it and I use less insulin, I'm saving the nhs a lot of money. I'm on huge amounts.

 

[Kristin251]

I do think anxiety and nervousness do have an impact on neuropathy as @ickihun said. I was very stressed before my daughters wedding and started on ala shortly after but I also know ala has helped with other things as well

Still worth giving it a go IMO as long as your GP is ok with it

 

[ally1]

@ally1 continue on ala tablets, give them a chance to work. Then go from there.

Don't confuse pain with anxiety. I know easier said than done.
If the pain is unbareable go back to your gp to discuss what can be compromised.
Give supplement a chance first?

Thank you for your advice and will follow what you suggest.
Yes I do think that anxiety and constantly thinking about the pain doesn,t help

 

[ally1]

Alpha lipoic helped me very quickly. My neuropathy was pretty bad and within a week I would say it was 70% better.
If it were me I would continue with the ALA and see how you feel. It MIGHT even help with your bipolar as it's very good for the brain. Have you checked with your GP to make sure it isn't ok to take with your other meds?

I hadn,t thought about the bipolar meds. Though when I saw my gp last time, he did say that before prescribing painkillers, he and my psych will have to go through my current meds.
The last DN nurse that I saw, I had mentioned vitamin supplements to her and she said it was ok

 

[ally1]

The only thing that worries me, is that I am on ESA and the cost worries me

 

[Bluetit1802]

@ally1 Have you checked to see if your ALA tablets are the R-Alpha Lipoic Acid ones, or just normal ALA? I ask because the R-ALA variety has a much better absorption rate.. With the plain variety you need a larger dose to get the same effect.

 

[Kristin251]

Hi Ally. The main functions of ala are for nerve and brain health. They give my husband and I both loads of energy and mental clarity. Maybe do a google search for ala and bi polar. Maybe it's recommended??

Also as @Bluetit1802 said the non R fraction is like taking a half dose of R ala but I still saw benefits as that's what I started with. The R is more expensive so maybe taking the regular in twice the strength would be cheaper ? It's hard for me to find the R off the shelves so I have to order it. I think next time you buy it you might want to buy it in smaller doses and take it throughout the day. I take 100mg R 3 times a day.

I know how disabling neuropathy can be. Not fun. I hope aLa gives you some relief!!

 

[ally1]

@ally1 Have you checked to see if your ALA tablets are the R-Alpha Lipoic Acid ones, or just normal ALA? I ask because the R-ALA variety has a much better absorption rate.. With the plain variety you need a larger dose to get the same effect.

Hi bluetit,
On the bottle it says high potency alpha lipoic acid 600mg

 

[Bon83]

@ally1 Have you checked to see if your ALA tablets are the R-Alpha Lipoic Acid ones, or just normal ALA? I ask because the R-ALA variety has a much better absorption rate.. With the plain variety you need a larger dose to get the same effect.

Hi may I ask where you purchase the r alpha lipoic tablets?

 

[Bluetit1802]

Hi may I ask where you purchase the r alpha lipoic tablets?

From Amazon, or elsewhere on-line.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Hi bluetit,
On the bottle it says high potency alpha lipoic acid 600mg

That is probably the plain. The R-ALA will say that on the bottle. Have a read of the contents, or the description on the website you bought it from.

 

[ally1]

Hi may I ask where you purchase the r alpha lipoic tablets?

I bought mine from amazon. 8 pound for 60 600mg capsules

 

[Bon83]

Thanks everyone I wouldn't to buy fake if you know what I mean

 

[Bluetit1802]

I bought mine from amazon. 8 pound for 60 600mg capsules

The R-ALA tablets are dearer than that. Several of us on the forum buy the Swanson ones, but there are others. I bought 60 capsules of 100mg strength for £16.56 with free postage. Remember that 100mg of the R-ALA is similar in strength to 200mg of the plain ones.

 

[ickihun]

Hi bluetit,
On the bottle it says high potency alpha lipoic acid 600mg

So what that is is 300 s-ala and 300 r-ala. As cheaper not divided. S-ala has been found to be no use nor ornament but expensive to divide from the r-ala.
I buy 80% r-ala but can be expensive for high doses.
My tingling toes are back but I'm not ready to use r-ala yet. Once I know I'm rocking along for bariatric surgery will I be ready to reduce insulin with r-ala. In fact I may wait til after surgery now.

 

[Kristin251]

The R-ALA tablets are dearer than that. Several of us on the forum buy the Swanson ones, but there are others. I bought 60 capsules of 100mg strength for £16.56 with free postage. Remember that 100mg of the R-ALA is similar in strength to 200mg of the plain ones.

Are you in the US or U.K.? That's what I buy. I started taking 100mg bf, 50 mid morning , 100 lunch, and 50 3 pm. Seems perfect. More expensive but more effective

 

[ally1]

If I had the money, I would buy the RALA but just can,t afford it