Neuropathy

[delgrip]

I really suffer with neuropathy in my feet and my hands, it is to the point where I have a hard time standing up or walking. My feet hurt so much that I sit down a lot with my feet propped up. My doctor told me to take vitamin B6 because that sometimes helps and the same with liporic acid. I have been taking them both for quite a while, months, but it is not getting better. Does any of you have any other suggestions because I am willing to try just about anything at this point.

[Donna G]

Find a comfortable shoe and buy it in every color, my feet don't like change, they love my SAS shoes.

Never walk in bare feet or let a grain of sand get in your shoe, my feet think it is a piece of glass.

Get use to your feet wiggleing, my feet are always search for information.

Sleep with a king size pillow between your legs and feet, my feet quiet down if they are "tucked" into the pillow and then let me sleep.

I don't take meds for the nueropathy but I do hear that some do help.

Donna G

[dadstimeon]

I take Gabapentin (brand name Neurontin) and it really makes a difference in helping me. Worth asking your doctor.

[recce101]

Neurontin here too. When I started having problems (see my profile) my onc called in a prescription to my local pharmacy and I was able to park the walker within 2 days. Everyone says that was an unusually fast response, but I'm not complaining.

I know what you're going through. Was the most serious side effect I had from the taxol, debilitating actually.

Good luck and Aloha,

Ned

[delgrip]

Thank you so much for the replies. I will call my doctor tomorrow and see what he can do for me in regards to some meds to help the neuropathy. I will also go see if I can find some SAS shoes in my area.

[J.C.]

I'm starting Gabapentin (Neurotin)

with hope,

beside the B-6 you should also take B-2

both 100mg a day, they saved me for 14 years,

from neuropathy, now with the new mess in

my back they are trying Neurotin, but the

dosage is the lowest.......till they find

the right mg to give me the doctors are

leaving me with B2 and B6.

Good luck

Jackie

[Nova]

Harry has just started developing this.

They are skipping his 6th dose of Taxol because of it.

It's been affecting his feet for about a month, and is now starting in his hands also.

Thank you for posting about the vitamins. Someone else had asked me if he was taking them, but the doctor had never mentioned it, so now I can ask at Harry's next appt.

I hope the new shoes and some medication help you feel better.

Nova

[MsC1210]

Hi Kaja

I thought I would share this article I found last evening. I realize it is lengthy and I apologize for that. I felt it was worth sharing in its' entirety here.

Just another potential option for those who are suffering with neuropathy..

Warmly

Christine

Learning & Resource Center Articles

Treating Peripheral Neuropathy with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac./www.Acufinder.com

For some people it is experienced as the uncomfortable sensation of "pins and needles" or burning pain (especially at night) of their hands or feet. Others may suffer even more extreme symptoms such as muscle wasting, paralysis, or organ or gland dysfunction.

With more than 100 types of peripheral neuropathies in existence, each with its own characteristic set of symptoms, pattern of development, and prognosis, the symptoms can vary as much as the cause. Nevertheless, Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition that can be treated with Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

What is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy describes damage to the peripheral nervous system, which transmits information from the brain and spinal cord to every other part of the body.

In most cases, peripheral neuropathy is secondary to conditions including diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, alcoholism, nutritional deficiencies, AIDS, or poisoning from heavy metals, chemotherapy, or various drugs.

Other causes include compression or entrapment (carpal tunnel syndrome), direct physical injury to a nerve (trauma), penetrated injuries, fractures or dislocated bones, pressure involving superficial nerves (ulna or radial) which can result from prolonged use of crutches or staying in same position, tumor, intraneural hemorrhage, exposure to cold, radiation or atherosclerosis.

It is a syndrome which includes symptoms of numbness, tingling, pricking sensations, sensitivity to touch, burning pain, and muscle weakness and atrophy of the arms and legs. The feet and legs are likely to be affected before the hands and arms.

Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may include:

numbness or insensitivity to pain or temperature

a tingling, burning, or prickling sensation

sharp, burning pain or cramps

extreme sensitivity to touch, even a light touch

loss of balance and coordination

muscle weakness

muscle wasting

paralysis

These symptoms are often worse at night.

Many people have signs of neuropathy upon examination but have no symptoms at all.

How can acupuncture treat peripheral neuropathy?

Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that Peripheral neuropathy is due to dampness moving to the limbs, where it obstructs the flow of Qi (energy) and Blood within them. The treatment is twofold, to treat the underlying factor that is causing this dampness to accumulate and to directly facilitate the circulation of Qi and Blood in the affected area. By improving the circulation, the nerve tissues of the affected area can be nourished to repair the nerve functions and reduce pain.

Peripheral neuropathy is a symptom for many different patterns of disharmony within the body. Oriental Medicine aims to treat each individual uniquely depending on what caused the neuropathy and how it manifests.

Your acupuncturist may do an interview and ask questions about how, what, where and when you feel pain, perspire, sleep, eat, drink and exercise, to name a few. The practitioner may also feel the pulse and observing the tongue. This interview and physical examination will help create a clear picture on which your practitioners can create a treatment plan specifically for you.

In addition to acupuncture, other methods such as transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation (TENS), which uses small amounts of electricity to block pain signals, cutaneous acupuncture, herbal and physical therapy may be combined to achieve faster results.

What is Cutaneous Acupuncture?

Cutaneous Acupuncture is the use of acupuncture needles to stimulate an area superficially by tapping to promote the smooth flow of Qi and Blood.

The Plum blossom needle and the Seven-Star needle are special tools that are composed of a small bunch of needles attached to a handle like a hammer or broom. They are often used in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy. The affected area would be lightly tapped starting at the toes or fingers and then up the legs and arms.

Plastic, disposable plum blossom needles or seven-star needles are available for treatment at home.

What Points Are Used?

In treating peripheral neuropathy, acupuncture points on the affected area are used (treating the branch) as well as points on various parts of the body to treat the person according to their particular pattern (treating the root).

Each patient is custom-treated according to his or her specific and unique diagnosis. There are many acupuncture points on the hands and feet. Often the points will be chosen by which are the most tender to obtain the best results.

Commonly used points

Upper Limb

LI-15

LI-11

SJ-5

LI-4

Baxie Points

Lower Limb

GB-30

GB-34

GB-39

SP-6

Body Points

DU-14

DU-12

DU-9

UB-14

UB-16

LI-11

UB-60

What will an Acupuncture Treatment feel like?

There seems to be little sensitivity to the insertion of acupuncture needles. They are so thin that several acupuncture needles can go into the middle of a hypodermic needle. Occasionally, there is a brief moment of discomfort as the needle penetrates the skin, but once the needles are in place, most people relax and even fall asleep for the duration of the treatment.

The length, number and frequency of treatments will vary. Typical treatments last from five to 30 minutes, with the patient being treated one or two times a week. Some symptoms are relieved after the first treatment, while more severe or chronic ailments often require multiple treatments. To find an acupuncturist go to www.Acufinder.com

What Studies have been done on Acupuncture and Peripheral Neuropathy?

Studies have suggested that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are effective treatments for peripheral neuropathy.

In a study of 46 diabetic patients with PN, 34 of them reported a significant improvement in their symptoms after six courses of acupuncture treatment, and only eight of them required further sessions. However, only seven of the 34 had complete relief of their symptoms.

A larger study of 250 patients with HIV-related peripheral neuropathy compared the effects of acupuncture, amitriptyline, and placebo. Participants were assigned to receive acupuncture at standardized acupuncture points or at placebo ("fake") points, or amitriptyline or a placebo. The researchers found no significant difference in pain relief between the active treatments or the placebos. The acupuncture points studied in this trial were standardized so that everyone received exactly the same treatment. Acupuncture treatments are usually designed to fit the individual, and, as the researchers concluded, individualized treatments may have a different effect.

What Lifestyle and Dietary Changes Should I Make?

Adopting healthy habits - such as maintaining optimal weight, avoiding exposure to toxins, following a physician-supervised exercise program, eating a balanced diet, correcting vitamin deficiencies, and limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption - can reduce the physical and emotional effects of peripheral neuropathy.

Consider relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, self-hypnosis or biofeedback. These can help you learn to control the external factors that trigger pain.

Finding the Right Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Practitioner

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine work! But your experience with acupuncture will depend largely on the acupuncturist and herbalist that you choose.

You want to find the right acupuncturist for you. If you like and trust your practitioner, your encounter with acupuncture will be more positive. You will also want to know about the acupuncturists training and experience and what to expect from the acupuncture treatment.

Decide in advance what your expectations are and discuss them with your acupuncturist. A chronic illness may need several months of acupuncture treatment to have a noticeable effect. If you are not happy with your progress, think about changing acupuncturists or check with your western doctor for advice about other options.

The clearer you are about who it is that is treating you and exactly what the treatment entails, the more you will be able to relax during the acupuncture session and benefit from this ancient form of health care.

Find your acupuncture practitioner on www.Acufinder.com

[delgrip]

Just talked to my Oncologist and he is starting me on Neurontin so hopefully that will help the neuropathy.

[Smoothstone]

I developed peripheral neuropathy in my feet and fingers as a side effect of my HIV drugs. The tingling was in my feet...the tingling was like when my feet would go to sleep. I also had episodes of pulsing pain that would shoot through my feet. The latter would happen when I was lying in bed. The discomfort was increasing overtime.

1. I stopped the medication that was causing the nerve damage, and switched to an equivalent medication without peripheral neuropathy side effect.The discomfort did not get worse, just a chronic level especially noticeable walking barefoot at home or on the pool deck. I was lucky because at the time there were several alternative treatments which did not have peripheral neuropathy as a side effect. Switching may not be an option for everyone, but I have heard that the targeted therapies have less/different side effects.

Originally, I intended to "tough it out, I'll get used to it"...big mistake because the nerves were being damaged. My doctor didn't feel my discomfort or he would have stopped me sooner.

2. A variation is to lower the dose of the problematic drug. But consult with doctor about this option or switching medications.

3. I was told the peripheral neuropathy would be continual because of permanent nerve damage. Not true. I read an article about diabetes induced peripheral neuropathy and use of alpha lipoic acid and acetyl L carnitine as a remedy. I tried the combo and after a month I noticed some gradual reduction in discomfort. Overtime the discomfort continued to lessen and now I feel no more discomfort. I do have some numbness in a few toes but no tingling or pulsing pains.

The nerves can repair themselves and the alpha lipoic acid and acetyl L carnitine facilitate the repair.

Dose: 100 mg twice daily of alpha lipoic acid

500 mg twice daily of acetyl L carnitine

Not sure what dose is best or recommended and I can't remember how I came up with that dose. My doc just observed....I got the strategy from an internet article.Also, not sure if these supplements are contra indicated with the treatments you may be taking.

4. the neurontin may help with the discomfort...mask the pain,....but may be doing nothing about repairing the nerve damage. Not sure about doing both the neurontin with the alpha lipoic acid and acetyl L Carnitine.

5.www.pinestreetclinic.org may have some info on side effect management.

Good luck, things can improve. The improvement took time. Luckily the article mentioned it would take time, so I was patient but hopeful. Hank