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neuropathy treatments???
My neuropathy has gotten so bad that my feet always feel like they are on fire and I hardly can walk any long distance. Right now, I am taking 300mg of Gabapentin three times a day and it is no help. Does any one have any treatments or suggestions that might work for my problem?
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angie01869
Re: neuropathy treatments???
Hi,
Talk to your Doc about B12 injections they worked for my husband, but you have to give high doses 1mg injected 3x week for a few weeks then weekly for 6 months and then once a month after that. It made a big difference in the neuropathy in his feet but not so much in the painful neuropathy in his legs. He did find that after the auto transplant the painful neuropathy got a little better.
Talk to your Doc about B12 injections they worked for my husband, but you have to give high doses 1mg injected 3x week for a few weeks then weekly for 6 months and then once a month after that. It made a big difference in the neuropathy in his feet but not so much in the painful neuropathy in his legs. He did find that after the auto transplant the painful neuropathy got a little better.
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jade
Re: neuropathy treatments???
I was struggling with neuropathy and extremely dry and flaky skin on the bottom of my feet.
I was told to try Alpha Lipoic Acid - 600mg once a day and also massage Palmers Cocoa Butter with vitamin E (the one in the plastic jar as opposed to the plastic bottle).
Within 4 days my neuropathy had gone as did my peeling skin. I have also investing in a pair of good indoor shoes, I bought Merrell air cushion clogs - soft ones and I think that helps too especially first thing in the morning.
Good luck,
Michelle
I was told to try Alpha Lipoic Acid - 600mg once a day and also massage Palmers Cocoa Butter with vitamin E (the one in the plastic jar as opposed to the plastic bottle).
Within 4 days my neuropathy had gone as did my peeling skin. I have also investing in a pair of good indoor shoes, I bought Merrell air cushion clogs - soft ones and I think that helps too especially first thing in the morning.
Good luck,
Michelle
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meeshymeesh - Name: Michelle
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 40
Re: neuropathy treatments???
Hi Meeshymeesh.... I like my Merrell 'Moc' slip on winter boots too (just not for really long walks). They are very comfortable and have good treads. Will look for the air cushion clogs...thanks for the tip! I still have mild neuropathy in my feet from all the treatments given....
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: neuropathy treatments???
Peripheral Neuropathy is the awful thing it is because there really isn't any firm way to treat it. The painful symptoms are similar to phantom pain felt by amputees; it's a short circuit with no pain path to interrupt. The best way to alleviate neuropathy is to give the brain competing sensations. This is oriented toward the feet, but can be adapted for the hands. Here's a list of things I learned to help myself:
* Don't wear shoes or even slippers. Instead, wear thick and loose fuzzy socks. In addition to not irritating the feet with pressure, it will keep your feet warm which many find diminishes the hot and cold sensations.
* Put pillows on either side of your feet and tent your sheets and blankets so they don't rest on them. Again, keeping pressure off the feet is helpful.
* Have someone massage your feet. You can also rub them back and forth on pile carpet. I have one of those old bead car seat covers and I roll my feet on those. The point here is to give a pleasant sensation to the feet; it will compete with the discomfort, reducing it.
* Take a warm bath or soak your feet in warm water. If you have one of those tubs that bubbles, they work well too.
Difficult as it is, try to occupy your thoughts with something besides your discomfort. Watch a compelling movie or video program. Have a conversation on something you're passionate about. Try to read --virtually anything to not focus on your feet.
It's all about competing sensations because the brain isn't very good at processing multiple sensations from a single area. These things have been tried by a lot of people and found very successful. They are on a neuropathy FAQ on a popular Myeloma forum because they're tried and true.
Some people can get some help with Gabapentin (Neurontin) and B-12, and opiate pain relievers can take some of the edge off --even though they can't actually dull neuropathic symptoms the same way they can with bone pain.
* Don't wear shoes or even slippers. Instead, wear thick and loose fuzzy socks. In addition to not irritating the feet with pressure, it will keep your feet warm which many find diminishes the hot and cold sensations.
* Put pillows on either side of your feet and tent your sheets and blankets so they don't rest on them. Again, keeping pressure off the feet is helpful.
* Have someone massage your feet. You can also rub them back and forth on pile carpet. I have one of those old bead car seat covers and I roll my feet on those. The point here is to give a pleasant sensation to the feet; it will compete with the discomfort, reducing it.
* Take a warm bath or soak your feet in warm water. If you have one of those tubs that bubbles, they work well too.
Difficult as it is, try to occupy your thoughts with something besides your discomfort. Watch a compelling movie or video program. Have a conversation on something you're passionate about. Try to read --virtually anything to not focus on your feet.
It's all about competing sensations because the brain isn't very good at processing multiple sensations from a single area. These things have been tried by a lot of people and found very successful. They are on a neuropathy FAQ on a popular Myeloma forum because they're tried and true.
Some people can get some help with Gabapentin (Neurontin) and B-12, and opiate pain relievers can take some of the edge off --even though they can't actually dull neuropathic symptoms the same way they can with bone pain.
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Bob - Name: Bob Kirkpatrick
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 08, 2008
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: neuropathy treatments???
Hello from the rainy cold and wet Northwest,
Some other ideas might be to increase the Neurontin. 300 mg three times a day is the standard dose but much higher doese are often used. Other drugs that can provide significant benefit include:
tricyclic antidepressants
Lyrica
Venlafaxine SR
narcotic pain relivers (oxycodone, fentanyl patch etc)
Carbamazepime
Ketamine
You should consider seeing a pain clinic given the amount of pain you are suffering with.
Best of luck !
Some other ideas might be to increase the Neurontin. 300 mg three times a day is the standard dose but much higher doese are often used. Other drugs that can provide significant benefit include:
tricyclic antidepressants
Lyrica
Venlafaxine SR
narcotic pain relivers (oxycodone, fentanyl patch etc)
Carbamazepime
Ketamine
You should consider seeing a pain clinic given the amount of pain you are suffering with.
Best of luck !
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Dr. Edward Libby - Name: Edward Libby, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: neuropathy treatments???
I developed grade 3 neuropathy while on Velcade and Dexamethasone and had to be removed from those drugs in July of last year. It has since subsided to the point where it is a mild stinging-tinkling pain in the feet that occasionally spikes and feels like a needle is being stuck in my foot. I have some sensation of hot and cold. Thankfully I do not need any pain medications for it and I can sleep fine at night now. I have been seeing a Neurologist who is monitoring my PN. The Neurologist tested my deep tendon reflexes , knee and ankle jerk etc, and they are completely gone and will likely never come back. It does not seem to affect me much at all though, I have no problem walking, cycling, and I have been snow skiing. I find that I use the handrail when going down the stairs though because it feels like I am going to pitch forward and tumble, which is strange considering I have no problem skiing.
I found the competing sensations Bob mentioned were very true for me. For me walking and moving or shuffling me feet helped a lot with reducing the pain. So did playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare on XBOX. It was difficult to concentrate on reading because of the drugs. The pain was most severe at night and would subside considerably in the day. What worked best, better than the morphine I was taking, was swimming or riding on an exercise bike. It was amazing these how these activities could make the pain go away almost completely when morphine could not. Exercise is also good when you are taking opiates to help your digestive track move and keep from getting plugged up. I was dragging with fatigue from Velcade but when I could get to the pool to swim some laps it was moment of pain free bliss I wish I could make last forever. I also set up my road bike on a stationary trainer in my living room and I would pedal in the dead of the night if the pain was too severe to sleep. It helped a lot and if it was a dex day for me I would not be sleeping much anyway. Unfortunately when I latter developed orthostatic blood pressure from nerve damage it curtailed my exercise considerably, except for swimming. From reading other peoples experiences with PN here, I see it does affect people differently.
I found the competing sensations Bob mentioned were very true for me. For me walking and moving or shuffling me feet helped a lot with reducing the pain. So did playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare on XBOX. It was difficult to concentrate on reading because of the drugs. The pain was most severe at night and would subside considerably in the day. What worked best, better than the morphine I was taking, was swimming or riding on an exercise bike. It was amazing these how these activities could make the pain go away almost completely when morphine could not. Exercise is also good when you are taking opiates to help your digestive track move and keep from getting plugged up. I was dragging with fatigue from Velcade but when I could get to the pool to swim some laps it was moment of pain free bliss I wish I could make last forever. I also set up my road bike on a stationary trainer in my living room and I would pedal in the dead of the night if the pain was too severe to sleep. It helped a lot and if it was a dex day for me I would not be sleeping much anyway. Unfortunately when I latter developed orthostatic blood pressure from nerve damage it curtailed my exercise considerably, except for swimming. From reading other peoples experiences with PN here, I see it does affect people differently.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
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