Feet and legs that I could give away !!!

[mumroo]

Hi, I could really do with some help on how to cope with my Peripheral Neuropathy,I have Autonomic too. I've had this for at least 5 years now,but this last 8 months or so it really is driving me up the wall,affecting my sleep, I manage a couple of hours some nights but otherwise I just don't know where to put myself!! I'm taking Nefopam and Ibuprophen for the pain but really they don't make much difference, just make it bearable.I'm on Cymbalta Metformin Ramapril and Pindalol plus Aspirin. I've been Disabled since1990 with Fibromyalgia and CFS but this pain in my feet and ankles, with the Muscle Spasms too , have just about got me beaten now. Any suggestions on how you may be coping with this will be very much appreciated thanks.

 

[Fallgal]

The pain in my feet was one of the main reasons I got myself tested. Lowering my carbs had helped a LOT. How are your levels? Do you low-carb? I'm telling you, it really, really helped me. I had been in agony for a long time, unable to sleep, tossing and turning all night with awful achy feeling in my feet and ankles, pins and needles and the worst - spasms like someone was stabbing me with butcher knife in my feet, etc. It has all reduced about 80% or more now (6 months of low-moderate carbs). Sleep, glorious sleep, is mine!

 

[Brunneria]

Hi and welcome!

Hope you find your answer.
There are several people here who have the foot stabbing, so hopefully they'll be along...

 

[daisy1]

Mr daisy (non diabetic at the moment) also gets stabbing pains in his heel. He has been prescribed Mefenamic Acid which unfortunately doesn't help him so I shall watch this thread closely.

 

[mumroo]

[Hi ,thanks for your input I've been Low Carb, wheat and Gluten free for over 6 months now.Like you my feet were the first thing I went about,almost 8 years ago now and was told it was Gout!! then I kept going back especially when it started in my other foot too and was told it was nothing to worry about. I finally insisted there was something wrong in 2008 when my foot "Dropped"! and thats when I was told it was Pripheral Neuropathy. Its started in my fingers and hands now and was told it was "Just one of those things"!So, its just like walking on broken glass now, I've forgotten what its like not to have this feeling. I had my Diabetic Check up a couple of months ago and just had my blood test but was told that now they would let me know if they were worried about my numbers etc,I didn't even have my BP taken, but have been told since my stroke in 2000 that I have high BP and am on Beta Blockers. Our new GP seems to have changed things and I only have 1 check up a year ,they also don't believe Type 2 need to check their Blood Sugars so I can't get strips. I am thinking of buying them myself. I shall continue with the Low carb, as you say I'm sure it can't hurt. Thanks again

 

[Avocado Sevenfold]

Hi @mumroo I think getting a blood glucose monitor is a good plan. Lowering your bg and avoiding spikes may help. Before diagnosis, I use feel like i was being stabbed in the sole plus feelings like my feet were in warm water. It would come and go. Don't get this now that I have a handle on my bg levels. Your doctor may not approve of you home testing, but he doesn't have live with your feet! Best wishes

 

[Brunneria]

Getting a meter transformed my low carbing.

Actually seeing the results of my little 'discrepancies' has been the most fantastic motivation. And I feel so much better for it.

 

[Fallgal]

Hi Mumroo,

You said you've been low-carbing for 6 months. Things started turning around for me (in the feet department) at about the 4 month mark. Perhaps since it sounds like you've had this pain for longer than I, it will take you a few more months to feel (or NOT feel!) the affects.I hope it works out the same way for you! I think its a very good idea to get a meter.

 

[mumroo]

I know I shouldn't but I can't help it I've tried but I can't stop myself anymore
I saw the title of this thread and my first thought was 'Can I have them?'


OK that done

Have you had an MRI of your brain and spine to rule out any other causes?
If not, I would persist in asking for it or pay for it yourself.

I found I had less of these symptoms of which you are suffering ...... once I was diagnosed as Diabetic and learned out blood sugar testing .... and got my blood sugar lower.

I still get them all pretty much, due to my spine and spinal cord injuries and Brain Injury.
BUT they're a lot better since controlling my Blood sugar and keeping it lower.

I also find that a vitamin e with mixed tocopherols (containing R alpha lipoic acid) helps me.
Hope you get some relief soon x

Thanks for your Posting.Yes I've had about 6 MRI and 4 CAT Scans. I had the Myodil Oil Based Dye injected into my spine in 1970, in betwen having Two seperate Lamanectomy's to have Discs removed. The Dye was banned in the Staets in1970 but in the UK not until 1987. !!This has resulted in my getting Adhsive Arachnoiditis, where the Dye has Set like cement. I have a clump at the bas of my skull and a larger clump in my Lumbar region.The problem is that once I was diagnosed with Type 2 in 2010 the Neurologist decided that my Neuropathy was caused by the Diabetes and not the Dye !! However the Diabetic Specialist said it was definately the Dye that was causing the problems, as I was only Border line Type 2. The result therefore has been that I don't see anyone at all except my GP and haven't since 2009 !!I was also told in 1990 that I had Fibromyalgia and was registered Disabled. When I asked my GP a month ago about seeing someone for my Fibro OR the Arachnoiditis he said " well really Fibromyalgia is just a name we give when we don't really know what is wrong" then he said,and I've seen this in my notes too, " you really should stop getting " hung up" about the Arachnoiditis". I just feel now I've reached 66 that they just don't care and I feel totally lost with it all. I'm carrying on with my Low Carb and I know my numbers are good, I've just had enough of all this pain.Thank you again for your help.

 

[Adele99]

What about asking your doctor for a referral to the Pain Clinic if the Cymbalta isn't working, as it seems to be commonly prescribed to deal with both diabetic neuropathic pain and Fibromyalgia. It could be just the Fibromyalgia causing this, as many people with Fibro complain of the same pain in hands and feet while not having diabetes.

Diabetic neuropathic pain will respond to improved blood sugar controls, yet strangely it can be improved blood levels which sets it off in diabetics in the first place . As the nerve linings which have been damaged by the raised sugar levels over time, start to repair , and in doing start to fire off random pain signals as a result.of repair.

 

[Kimberley70]

Hi, I have peripheral neuropathy, I'm on Gabapentin they helped with my pain, but now with slow release morphine it keeps my pain at ease, and what I can cope with.

 

[Pipp]

Pain clinic sounds like a good idea. Also, I find reflexology helps when pain gets too bad.

 

[newton45]

I suffer from terrible PN in my toes & fingers. GP has prescribed, (at various times) Amitryptiline, Duloxetine & Duloxetine. None of which were effective for me, & had terrible side effects - I felt like a Zombie, dizzy, slurred speech, lack of co-ordination.
For the last 7 months I have been taking Alpha Lipoic Acid (600mg), & Acetly L Carnitine (1500mg). The difference is amazing! The pain has all but gone & at last I am getting some sleep at night. The results have been wonderful. Try it. It works for me.
Both are natural supplements (available from Amazon) & they have no side effects. In fact ALA is the preferred form of treatment for PN in Germany & the results are backed up by many clinical studies.
Also when taken in conjunction they have shown to decrease insulin resistance & may be beneficial in respect of preventing early onset dementia.
It may be the placebo effect, but I swear my memory is better & I think far more quickly.