Kind of a heavy subject for Christmas Day. But I got it one foot, I had it diagnosed at my podiatrists last week. People with diabetes get it and it’s when nerves in your foot are damaged causing your foot to be tingly, and numb and hurt.
I asked him a lot of questions about it, like how to treat it and what I can do for it and was surprised when he said a lot of his patients don’t care that they have it and make no effort to treat it or change their habits to make it better. He said he was impressed that I had read up on it and was willing to try to treat it. It sucks having it for sure, I read neuropathy can shorten your life span.
I just read various articles about it. I can’t think what they said right now but avoiding certain foods can help for example. I recommend reading the many articles about it.
I have peripheral neuropathy with central nervous system neuropathy. I’m not entirely sure if I will be able to live longer than my parents. I hope I can, because I worry that my mom would be absolutely devastated.
In my case, the PN is not reversable and is progressive. I have it from a genetic disease.
I made a whole list for you…but then wanted a better look. I took my info mostly from dutch sites…and tried to find english research saying similar things…but I want to read it better before posting it. To not send you in a wrong direction…
This is what our medical guidelines say, not sure if they’re different than yours.
Use SNRI (duloxetine en venlafaxine), TCA (amitriptyline, nortriptyline) or anti-epilepticum (gabapentine, pregabaline) or carbamazepine/topical 0,075% capsaïcine. In that order of preference. They say there’s moderate evidence for a shortterm effect (<3 mnths), but very low evidence for longterm effect.
Try TENS. There isn’t much proof, but it may work in individual cases, and doesn’t harm.
Treat underlying issues, like glucose control, weight loss, deficiencies (e.g. vit B), thyroid.
I know there are herbs and essential oils speculated to help. For dvt + numbness/edema in my foot I used nattokinase and pycnogenol. There’s hints that it works (e.g. on gerbils ). The latter is speculated to work for diabetic neuropathy. I also read about frankinscence/myrrh oil and vitamin E + primrose oil. Here’s an overview of some natural treatments. Medicinal herbs in the treatment of neuropathic pain: a review - PMC (nih.gov)
My mind is too mushy still to read research studies. I copypasted a few that seemed to show a wide range of options on first sight…to give a first idea.
But my main point: in Dutch, I have found dietary/herbal/ayurvedic/chinese solutions that seemed promising. Would I have neuropathy, I would find a herbalist…a good one…to ask advice…but would be careful…because there’s a lot of bullsht in that world.
Dutch websites also had a lot of “fish oil works on rats to reverse diabetic neuropathy…but more clinical trials are needed to see if it works in men” kind of info. Would I have it, I’d try. But the evidence of all such things is low.
). The latter is speculated to work for diabetic neuropathy. I also read about frankinscence/myrrh oil and vitamin E + primrose oil. Here’s an overview of some natural treatments.