May 1, 2009 - 10:04pm
Hi EV1 ,
Any feedback on foot pain associated with diabetic neuropathy? I have 2 peeps that need help, the one lady is on Lyrica along with a lot of other meds including strong opiates. I mean if the Oramorph and Dilaudid won't work what will? She takes the pain pills for her back. She is funny as she says it helps her back but it just doesn't reach her feet. The other man is not medicated but sees the VA doc in a week. We are not real hopefull with about that as his doc is a zero and it is very hard to change VA docs. I have read about a supplement called Benfotamine on the web but have not ordered any yet. I am just looking for some other experiences. I come here alot to help my friends as well as myself and always come away more informed.
Thanks
T
May 1, 2009 - 10:39pm
#2
arachnoiditis
I am not familiar with that diagnosis, are you afraid of spiders? Just kidding, is that what nueropothy is?
TY for the compliment. If I had read your header I would have known that you do have the N word. They tell me it is THE worst kind of pain. My girlfriend always sympathizes with me about my neck & back but she says I am lucky I don't have the Nueropathy issue.
May 2, 2009 - 1:05am
#3
I am a type 1 diabetic and
I am a type 1 diabetic and have diabetic neuropathy in my feet, legs, hands, and forearms. Unfortunately, neuropathy is one of the hardest pains to treat. Painkillers aren't usually the first line of treatment as there are other things that usually work better first. Lyrica and Gabapentin are usually the 2 first options. Neither of them worked very well for me. What does work partially is taking Topamax daily. I have worked up to a dose of 400mg per day. It doesn't work immediately, but if given a month or so they may find some relief. It is more of a preventative measure. Up until March Topamax was only sold as a brand name medication. However, as of March 2009 it is sold in a generic form as Topiramate. That makes it MUCH cheaper and affordable. Another great side effect is that it prevents migraines and I get horrible migraines without it. Unfortunately Lyrica and Gapapentin didn't work for me, but Topamax has, so you can ask your friends' doctors if Topamax would be a good solution for them. It's worked fairly well for me. I don't have 100% pain relief, but it's better than it's been with anything else. Nueropathy is just one of those things that doesn't have many options for treatment and is just a horrible and painful condition to have.
I also want to mention I'm on MS Contin and Morphine IR for chronic pain from multiple chronic illnesses and partly because of the neuropathy. Honestly, I don't think the opiates help with the neuropathy much at all. I probably do get some relief but nothing that would be worth the side effects of the opiates if I didn't have other health conditions.
May 2, 2009 - 8:19am
#4
Seemingly hopeless
Wow, I wonder how many people are out there that suffer with this. I wonder what my husbands doc will do for him. I jst hope we don't have to travel out of state to another VA hospital. He had to go to Richmond Va before for a few things that weren't treated here at our local VA. Thank you for sharing your experience w/ me. I just had him read it as well.
T
May 2, 2009 - 8:45am
#5
i have a freind that suffers the same as you i have gout
an was suffering somewhat same issues in regards to foot pain, if you have no open sores on your feet, try a breif footbath or just wash them with warm water an soap, although i used dish washing liquid as this strips dead cells an old body oils better, somebody thats diabetic may not be able to do this because footcare is extremely important, i then put baby oil , very lightly on whole foot, a person can use any lotion , but i ve found the baby oil esp. the lavender scented one makes my feet feel if they are breathing
May 2, 2009 - 9:13am
#6
oil and tile
Woodstock, I just read your post to my friend and she said she could see herself skating on the floor and end up on her ^*#%. She can barely feel her feet when she has shoes on. Her numbness has landed her on the tile floor many times. She even tried Lidoderm patches on her feet to no avail. I feel so sorry for her and it makes me so fearfull of my husbands feet as his mom was a severe diabetic and had her leg amputated.
Thanks,
T
May 2, 2009 - 9:56am
#7
SORRY
SHOULD HAVE ADDED, PLACING DIABETIC SOCKS OVER OILED FEET, JUST CURIOUS WHAT HAS HER DOCTOR TOLD HER IN REGARDS TO WATER THERAPY, HOT TUB OR SPA
May 2, 2009 - 12:49pm
#8
soaking was not discussed
She soaks her feet and it helps her feel better but she cant tell how hot the water is. Doc never mentioned soaking,she took it upon herself. She literally can not feel anything. When I was staying with her for a few days last year she went outside in the rain barefoot wiped her feet dry so she thought but they were still wet and she fell on her knee on the tile. She must of hit the grout line and split her knee WIDE open. We spent 9 hours in the ER and 30 some odd stitches and staples later we went home.
She is back on Lyrica now but she said the swelling it has caused is unreal, she wants to get off of it. I suggested she ask him about increasing her Lasix. She just ran an errand to pick up a few cards to send out and she was in so much pain she got the wrong card and forgot the envelope for the other. We were roommates 12 yrs ago and that is when her health began to decline and she just keeps getting worse every day and she is only like 57 or so. She lives alone and has no computer so I do her searching for her. Does anybody have any info on the side effects of Lyrica? She is so grateful for any help we can provide.
Thanks,
T
May 2, 2009 - 1:01pm
#9
water
esp. mineral water has medinical effects, my freind with diabetes tells me theirs certain things she can t do because of the reactions, but she has open sores an has 1 leg amputated an 1 half foot on the other, i recomend anything that would increase cirulation as heat pad, massage, as far as hot water i get normal outside therometer an keep water no warmer than 98 degrees, basic body temputure, they make therapudic massagers that are 110 volt, these are great for back aches an neck tension, hope she feels better, even a tens unit might stimulate muscles increasing cirulation
May 3, 2009 - 12:03am
#10
Trollup- I was on Lyrica for
Trollup- I was on Lyrica for a while and suffered from horrible side effects from it. The worst of it was that I was very dizzy. This is also going to sound really wierd, but when I was on it, Lyrica made me feel crazy. Like I literally felt like I had someone whispering in my ear just behind me all the time. I didn't hear voices literally, but it was just this wierd sensation that someone was behind me and whispering in my ear. I also just didn't feel right. The symptoms went away once I stopped taking it. I also had horrible adema (swelling) when I was on it. Nuerontin gave me very similar side effects. Like I said in my above post, Topamax (Topiramate) is the only thing that has given me any relief at all.
One of the most important things that a person with nueropathy can do is daily feet checks. If the person lives with someone it's better I have found to have my hubby do it for me since I can't see the bottoms of my feet very well. Since I can't feel my feet very well (I have some numbness from the neuropathy, but mostly I have the pins and needles sensation and burning feeling) it is important to make sure that I don't have any cuts that could get infected. I have a kind of long story, but I feel that it really drives the point home....When I was 15 I had a best friend whose father had just retired. He also had diabetes (like me). He and his wife had always wanted an enclosed patio to sit and relax on and a pool. They put in the pool and built the screen enclosed patio. However, a nail wasn't hammered in all the way on the patio and my best friend's father ended up cutting his foot on it and not noticing since he had neuropathy. Unfortunately, he also had kidney problems and didn't control his diabetes very well. After a month or so, the cut on his foot got so bad that he had to have surgery to remove some of the skin and some gangrene (sp?). That didn't do the job unfortunately. He ended up having 1 toe amputated. That still didn't do the job since the infection had already spread and he ended up having all of his toes amputated. Within weeks he had to have his foot amputated. Not long after that he ended up getting his leg amputated up to his knee, then he ended up having the whole leg amputated. Since the infection kept spreading it also caused him a lot of problems with his kidneys and he ended up on dialysis. Within a year of getting the cut he had died from complications with everything. That was all the proof I needed that it was vitally important to take care of my feet and check them often.
I like what Woodstock said about soaking your feet. I know you said your friend does this already too. I also have a hard time telling what temp the water is so I either have my husband check it for me or use a thermometer (I also have neuropathy in my hands). I tend to like cold water showers anyway so I usually don't have any problems with making the water too hot. I use a diabetic sock kind of like what Woodstock mentioned. It's just a special sock you can get at any pharmacy and you can put on lotion or oil and it really makes your feet soft. I use Eucerin lotion with mine. This way my feet don't get dry and cracked which can lead to cuts and open wounds.
Something new that I learned recently while at physical therapy for a neck/back injury were some exercises that help with my neuropathy in my hands/arms. It doesn't work for everyone, but I defnitely have seen some relief from it. Unfortunately my insurance won't cover it since it's not really proven as effective yet so I was only able to learn a few simple exercises from my physical therapist while I was there for another condition. I'm sure if I went just for that I would have seen a lot more improvement. If your friend has good health insurance that might be something to consider with his/her doctor.
May 3, 2009 - 10:40am
#11
KELLY AN ALL POSTERS
I GET MY DIABETIC SOCKS AT THE FLEA MARKET 3 PAIR FOR $5, INTEAD OF THE DRUGSTORE 2 PAIR FOR $13, I USE THEM BECAUSE GOUT CRYSTALS IN MY HANDS MAKE IT DIFFICUT TO PUT TIGHT CUFFED SOCKS ON, CHECK WITH ALL SOCK DEALERS OR SHOE SELLERS AT FLEA MARKETS, I COULD IMAGINE GONNA BAREFOOTED IN OUR SOUTHERN ENVIROMENT AN GETTING BIT BY A BABY COPPERHEAD, I LIVE IN VIRGINIA, AN THEY NOT TOO UNCOMMON IN PLACES, WE GENERALLY HAVE AT LEAST CROCKS ON, MY FREIND WHO HAD HER LEG AMPUTATED, THEY AMPUTATED THAT 1 LEG 13 TIMES BEFORE GETTING TO HER KNEE, STARTED WITH TOES AN WORKED BACK A FEW INCHES AT A TIME, SHE S DOING BETTER NOW
May 3, 2009 - 5:28pm
#12
I use Cymbalta 60mg's 2-3
I use Cymbalta 60mg's 2-3 times a day. Coupled with lyrica, my pain level after 4 week has been cut in half most of the time...
BOL, XXX
May 3, 2009 - 7:15pm
#13
im a diabetic with peripheal
im a diabetic with peripheal neuropathy and i have no relief at all from this. i currently take 2400 mgs of neurontin a day and that doesnt help, im also on lortab 7.5 that doesnt help, so good luck with that i know i suffer every night trying to go to sleep bc my legs and feet hurt so bad.
May 8, 2009 - 8:11am
#14
EV1 has been so helpfull & KIND
I am very tender hearted and I feel for EV1 on here. I also watched diabetes slowly eat away mu hubby's mother legs & life. I fear for him, as well as my GF in Florida. She is the one that I have been doing the Forum for. I read her every Post. Since she doesn't get out much I will get her some diabetic socks as I pass by a side of the road market that has them 2/10$ or so or 5 or whatever. I am chronic insomniac and pain sufferer and meds have taken away my short term memory. My memory was that of an elephant until 10 years ago. and being only 44 on Sunday is not a good sign. Keep on Posting,
THANKS To ALL & Feel better!!
May 8, 2009 - 10:59am
#15
trollop
there are currently working on a medication, to help improve memory, its same as the alzihemer s study, check out several of latter websites for more info. have a great day Woodstock, Im 51 an notice that last 3 years i ve developed a short term memory loss
May 9, 2009 - 12:38am
#16
foot pain, back pain insominia.... I am so out of sorts
However I am Glad you are here for me to try to figure this mess out for my friends as also as myself. I did go buy a surplus of diabetic socks Sorry it was Topamax that her Doc never heard of.today. Please keep us posted as I dint think very much help is on the way. Whom ever said about the socks, I paid a bit more but less than drugstore, Thanks for all feedback. LET me know of a MIRACLE DRUG if one comes along PLEASE!! TY ALL for allthe help. I look for forward to your future post. OHHHH BTW...My GF Doc never heard of the of the TOPAMAX befor as one othe poster bloged about that med for neuropothy. I need to get to bed as I took my meds and need to be up early in am. TYVM...BTW... She is getting on Elevil due to the swelling from the Lyrica......NITE NITE
XXOO T
May 9, 2009 - 4:10am
#17
trollop- I am the person who
trollop- I am the person who wrote about being prescribed Topamax for my neuropathy. Topiramate is the new generic version of it. Anyway, Topamax isn't listed by the FDA as a treatment for neuropathy. It's an off-label use for it. The reason I am on it for my neuropathy is that nothing else was working at all...period. I'm also a migraine sufferer and that's what Topamax is typically prescribed for. My doctor figured that since I get migraines and have neuropathy it could help with both. I don't know if it would work for everyone, but I can honestly say that the Topamax has completely halted my neuropathy from getting worse. I haven't seen any progression in how high up on my legs I've got the pins and needles and burning sensations. I also have numbness in my feet that has actually improved somewhat on the Topamax, which is great because from what my doctor said once the area loses feeling it usually doesn't ever come back. Believe it or not I also get pain relief from the Topamax that is quite noticable. It's not 100% by any means, but it's waaaaaaay better than when I'm not on it. Topamax has seriously become a wonder medication for me. I rarely get migraines anymore (I have another medication that I take called Maxalt if I do start to get one and that prevents it from occurring about 95% of the time). I also am just happy not to have my neuropathy getting worse since being on the Topamax. I know it was the Topamax that has helped too since prior to being on it my neuropathy was getting noticably worse by the week.
*I just did a search in Google for "Diabetic Neuropathy Topamax" and it came up with some great articles on it and how it works to help with the neuropathy. I don't want to post any links on here, so you can do the same search and your GF can read the articles. If there are any that she finds intriguing she can print them out and bring them to her doctor to read. If he's a good doctor he'll probably be curious and look up Topamax as a treatment for diabetic neuropathy on his own after your GF mentioned it. Like I said in a previous post, neuropathy stinks and there aren't enough medications out there for it that work. If nothing else is working for your GF then maybe her doctor needs to start looking outside of the box at other medications like Topamax to try to give her some relief. I know it has been a lifesaver for me. Just don't let all the statements about adverse side effects get to her with Topamax. If you titrate up your dose slowly you barely notice any bad side effects. I started on 25mg, then went to 50mg, then to 75mg, then to 100mg, then to 150mg, and now I'm on 200mg a day which is a somewhat low dose. If she does experience side effects while dosing up slowly they aren't anything too alarming. Mostly things similar to the neuropathy (like pins and needles) and electric sensations in your body. Sometimes I got ringing in my ears on the first day I increased my dose. If she is started out on too high of a dose right off the bat she may experience a decent level of being uncomfortable so make sure her doctor knows to up her dose slowly since he's not familiar with Topamax for neuropathy treatment if he thinks it's appropriate for her care.
Keep up the good work with your GF. You are so sweet to be so caring and understanding. It makes all the difference in the world to have someone by your side who understands and has compassion when you're in pain. Having a supportive person in your life has to rank up near the top when it comes to helping with pain. Just knowing that people take your pain seriously and want to help puts you in such a better mindframe. She's a lucky gal.
May 9, 2009 - 12:07pm
#18
AT FLEA MARKETS
IF YOU SEE I DEALER ALL THE TIME ASK, DISCOUNT FOR TRADE, MEANING YOU WILL BUY YOUR NEEDED SOCKS ON A REG BASIS, MY SOCKS COME OUT OF NORTH CAROLINA, I GET 3 PAIR FOR $5 , PHARMACY WANTS $13 FOR 2 PAIR, EACH DEALER CAN MAKE ANY DEAL HE WANTS, WALK AROUND TO EVERY SHOE AN SOCK DEALER, TALK TRADE AN BARTER THE BEST DEAL, I FLEA MARKETED AN TRUCK FARMED ON THE SIDE , KNOW ABOUT EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK, YOU CAN FIND SOME GOOD DEALS ON IBUPROHEN AT SOME BOOTHS, JUST CHECK EXPRATION DATES
May 9, 2009 - 12:17pm
#19
TROLLOP
I VE NOTICED, THAT BUILD UP OF DEAD SKIN CAUSES , PAINFUL BURNING TO MY FEET, WHEN THIS HAPPENS , I SOAK FEET, WASH WITH DISH DETERGENT, THEN PLACE VICKS SALVE ON THEM AN PLACE DIABETIC SOCK OVER THEM, NEXT NITE I WILL DO SAME THING BUT WILL RUB ALL DEAD SKIN OF WITH LUFFA SPONGE OR PEDI STONE, AN VICKS THEM AGAIN, DON T KNOW WHY I DID NT REMEMBER VICKS IN MY 1ST ANSWER, MUST BE THE SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS, OR IT COULD BE THE SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS
May 14, 2009 - 11:39pm
#20
To All The POSTER KIDS, we all are weather we like it or not...
THANK YOU,
So Very Much for all of the info. I need to be away untill Sat but I have some new medical news to report. I have a few things to finish up on yet. Look for another post from me over this weekend like the 16th or so. ANY feedback about smoking and the effect on diabetes surely would help my hypothesis. PLEASE feel free to contribute as all posts are welcome. Remember we are here for one but are one for all. Thats my motto.
God Bless each and every one of our readers!
Goodnite
Trollop
due to arachnoiditis, I take Gabapentin 1800 mgs daily...it has helped me very much////good job on a new topic