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Type 2 Neuropathy

Joandollie

Joandollie

Well-Known Member
Messages
57
Location
Worcester
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hello everyone

So some of you may have seen I have been struggling of late to control my by levels after a long period of good control. I have been reading up on neuropathy and am now wondering if my control has been out for longer than I thought.

Since March 2015 I have had lower back problems with no apparent cause. I was coping well with it until I developed pain in my hip and 'sciatica' which runs under my buttock and down my leg. I had an xray which showed my hip is fine but I developed a limp from the pain especially from sitting to standing, and the 'sciatica' has never gone away. I take 30mg codeine with paracetamol up to 4 times a day and occasionally 10mg amitriptyline if its really bad. I also get a restless leg from time to time. GP has been no help and the physio I was sent to could only fit me in every 5 or 6 weeks. Your thoughts please
 
Have your Vitamin D3 and B12 levels tested as deficiencies in either can cause symptoms similar to neuropathy (B12) and chronic pain conditions (D3).
 
I have 4 herniated or bulging discs in my low back. These cause sciatica and at one point I had large numb areas on the outside of one thigh in addition to the pain shooting down through my butt. For me, losing some weight helped a lot and gave things a chance to settle down and do some healing. Unfortunately I gained it back. The sciatica is not as bad now but I have learned that if I start to get that twinge I need to stop what I am doing NOW and sit down for 5 minutes. Pushing through it just guarantees I will have 2 or 3 very bad days. Walking any distance sets it off bad for me and I need frequent stops to sit for a minute and take the pressure off my back.
 
Contralto said:
I think I would experiment with a tens machine

Having some pain at night so thinking about this for myself
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I have used a tens machine previously for a shoulder problem and couldn't get on with. Thank you for your response though x
 
Indy51 said:
Have your Vitamin D3 and B12 levels tested as deficiencies in either can cause symptoms similar to neuropathy (B12) and chronic pain conditions (D3).
Click to expand...
I've never heard of this. Will now look into it, thanks x
 
chalup said:
I have 4 herniated or bulging discs in my low back. These cause sciatica and at one point I had large numb areas on the outside of one thigh in addition to the pain shooting down through my butt. For me, losing some weight helped a lot and gave things a chance to settle down and do some healing. Unfortunately I gained it back. The sciatica is not as bad now but I have learned that if I start to get that twinge I need to stop what I am doing NOW and sit down for 5 minutes. Pushing through it just guarantees I will have 2 or 3 very bad days. Walking any distance sets it off bad for me and I need frequent stops to sit for a minute and take the pressure off my back.
Click to expand...
This sounds familiar. The ache/pain in my hip and leg is always there. It hasn't gone away since it began in March last year. It's not so bad as it was but I think I'm used to the pain now. I can walk distances but like you, have to stop every now and again. I am losing weight so hopefully that will help. I've gained weight since it all began because I'm less active. It has also coincided with a diagnosis of osteo arthritis in my neck. My lower back is most painful after doing things such as standing at the sink to wash dishes, vaccing and mopping. I've told GPs and physios all of this and feel like I'm being fobbed off. I had a series of symptoms all at the same time and the gp decided to deal with one thing at a time.
I'm sorry you are suffering with this. Chronic pain is exhausting at times.
 
Yes chronic pain is exhausting and yes standing slightly stooped to wash dishes is absolutely the worst. You could try asking for a cat scan on your low back. That will show if you have bulging discs. Another sign with the sciatica can be lack of reflexes in the knee and ankle. I now have no deep tendon reflexes at all. They can tap away with the little rubber hammer and nothing.
 
chalup said:
Yes chronic pain is exhausting and yes standing slightly stooped to wash dishes is absolutely the worst. You could try asking for a cat scan on your low back. That will show if you have bulging discs. Another sign with the sciatica can be lack of reflexes in the knee and ankle. I now have no deep tendon reflexes at all. They can tap away with the little rubber hammer and nothing.
Click to expand...
The last physio checked my reflexes and they were okay. You are the first person to get what I'm saying about the dishes thing lol. It's so painful at times. Physio went so far as to say that it doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem because I have pain. What? I put sciatica in inverted commas because I've never officially been told that's what I have. Like I said, being fobbed off
 
Joandollie said:
The last physio checked my reflexes and they were okay. You are the first person to get what I'm saying about the dishes thing lol. It's so painful at times. Physio went so far as to say that it doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem because I have pain. What? I put sciatica in inverted commas because I've never officially been told that's what I have. Like I said, being fobbed off
Click to expand...

Sciatica isn't a specific complaint but it is a symptom of something wrong.
 
Joandollie said:
Thank you for this suggestion. It looks very promising. I am mobile but would like to be more mobile and this looks like it could certainly help. Thanks so much for taking the time to post
Click to expand...

I was skeptical for a long time about buying this. It looked like a gimmick. It presses on a nerve and it is all about acupressure. If you decide to buy it then do some research about acupressure and the right place to place it on your leg. It is well made and I can wear it for hours comfortabley. It might not work for EVERYBODY.
 
Hi,

Just a thought - are you on statins?
One of the well documented side effects is muscle pain, and it often looks like other stuff (nerve pain, etc)
Doctors often fail to recognise it.
 
Brunneria said:
Hi,

Just a thought - are you on statins?
One of the well documented side effects is muscle pain, and it often looks like other stuff (nerve pain, etc)
Doctors often fail to recognise it.
Click to expand...
Hi there
Thanks for your reply
No, I'm not on statins. In fact, until today I haven't had any meds except painkillers. I've been to clinic and asked about my aches and pains and they have ruled out anything diabetes related. Back I go to the GP
 
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