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Type 1 depressed and neuropathy.

mati-92

mati-92

Newbie
Messages
2
Location
middlesbrough
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
So I have Bern suffering with my legs since the start of the new years I have Bern on different types of medication and now I am on gabapentin I'm finding the every month I am having to increase under doctors orders because it is not working for me. I am now on 400mg 4 times a day it seems to work for about a month and then it stops working for me. I'm close to given up and have contemplated ending my life I can't do this anymore .
 
Hi mati-92

Welcome.. Sort of, if you know what I mean.

Sounds like you are pretty miserable...

First off.. Are you under a consultant at hospital and have you got the majority of your blood readings under 7?

I too suffered chronic pain in my upper legs.. Diagnosed with huge smounts of different things... But it was aspartame from sugar free gum and drinks like diet coke..

Also, I found also that I had a total intolerance to all the gabapenti, amitryptalene etc so had to try and fund my own way to help myself.... Before finding out about sweeteners and preservatives.

I started taking lipo-cam and magnesium and evening primrose... But if you are on antidepressants I dont think you can take evening primrose.

Come what may I also do my damndest to walk 10000 steps a day. This has helped enormously too. I don't know why.

I haven't got neuropathy but fully understand that pain causes huge depression. I also understand that GPs seem yo think that depression makes your pain worse... It is a vicious, horrible circle...

Try to keep your bgs under 7.0.

I'm sure neuropathy people will be along to advise further.

Just wishing to give you alittle bit of hope.....
 
Incidentally is the pain in your lower legs and feet?
 
the max dose of gabapentin is a max of 3600mg/day so you can increase your dose (consult with your dr first!) there are also newer drugs that can have a better effect, for example pregabalin (Lyrica). The doses are lower and the side effects are often fewer so worth looking at. Other things to consider are duloxetine (an antidepressant that can be useful in diabetic neuropathy) and topical things such as capsaicin cream (made from chilli peppers but can have a benefit if you can tolerate it as it's quite unpleasant to start with) and lidocaine plasters (basically a patch you put over the affected area for 12 hours on 12 hours off) Can you get referred to a chronic pain team?
 
The pain is in every part of my legs,I have been aspartame free for several months now.no real change in my condition. I will try what people have suggested
 
A pain consultant may well be a good option.

My pain consultant was great... Gave me an EMG to rule out or in other options that may be giving pain... And gave me electrode thing in my central nerve in my groin area which certainly seemed to help for a while too.

You may have a while to wait to see a pain consultant but she ruled out tablets my GP was giving me and changed treatment as she was so well informed.....
 
Hi @mati-92 , other people have found a number of strategies help with Neuropathy. Pulling these all together into a list, it boils down to:
  • Keeping your blood glucose level below 7.8mmol/l at all times, including post prandial spikes
  • Taking supplements (which are prescribed in Germany for Neuropathy) - Alpha Lipoic Acid and Benfotiamine
Both of these approaches have helped others on here reduce and even remove symptoms of Neuropathy. I believe that @NoCrbs4Me is one of those who has achieved this feat. In addition, Dr Bernstein has also managed it purely by blood glucose control.

Whilst the pain may be extremely unpleasant, and you should seek additional ways to manage it, have you looked at what you can change to reduce and potentially remove the underlying issue?
 
I definitely am seeing improvement in my feet by keeping my blood glucose low. I don't think the nerve damage will be completely reversed, but the symptoms are much diminished compared to when they were at their worst. There were times when the pain was so bad I could barely walk. Now I have no pain, just loss of sensation and trouble regulating the temperature of my feet, which is annoying, but not nearly as awful as the pain.
 
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