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I have been told it is very possible that I have PN. About 3 years ago my toes and bed right under my toes feel like knives sticking in the sides of nailbeds, walking on ice, feet have been frozen and thawing out and hurt and sting in the process. Have been told to take neurontin and can't tell really if it's helping or not. The worst time is going to bed and off my feet. I've gone to 3 podiatrists, a neurolgist(heading to another one in July) and the Neur says no large nerve damage but she can't test for small nerves. I'm neither a diabetic or alcoholic that they say normally gets this problem. Now I have 4 other women friends who've been diagnosed with this same problem. What or where can we find more help with this and can it ever make us unable to walk on our own. We golf and are very active people. Will being or staying very active be better for it or make it worse? Any help would really be appreciated from all of us. 3 of us have been told to use magnetics on our shoes and elsewhere if desired. Have you heard of this helping PN ?
I've never realized anything could be so hurtful constantly.
Thank you in advance for any ray of hope and help.
In Reply to: Peripheral Neuropathy posted by tiff on May 08, 2003 at 00:11:51:
tiff, I've read in several places (sorry, can't remember where) that in Germany, where things like this are objectively and thoroughly researched, a supplement called alpha lipoic acid has proven to not only prevent PN but also sometimes reverses it. Alpha lipoic acid (also known as ALA, just plain lipoic acid, or even thioctic acid) is a natural antioxidant, effective in both water-based and fat-based tissues.
My husband is diabetic and was beginning to have some sharp pains in his feet and I started him on alpha lipoic acid (300mg/day) and he no longer has problems. None of his doctors have any idea (or interest) in what I'm talking about but if I were you, I'd sure look into it. You could try it, anyway. I believe the German research said that 600mg/day was the therapeutic level.
There's bound to be more information on the net these days because it was several years ago that I first noticed anything about ALA. Too bad it goes by several names as it makes it more tedious to look up!
One other thing, when I first became interested it was difficult to even find it in health food stores. Then, finally I was able to find it a few times at very low dosages, like 20 mg or so. Now I see it available at 300 mg so maybe word is getting out.
I'd love to hear what you find.
In Reply to: Re: Peripheral Neuropathy posted by DianeAC on May 08, 2003 at 01:23:50:
i believe ALA (RLA is the natural form, just becoming available) is one of the five most important anti-aging nutrients yet discovered. It also recycles vits. C & E and is a precursor to glutathione, the master anti-oxidant that has become possibly the BEST marker for imminent death (if you have no measureable glutathione, you're probably dead already!)
Another good choice for neuropathy is carnosine, which is also turning out to be an amazing life extension nutrient.
In Reply to: Re: Peripheral Neuropathy posted by DianeAC on May 08, 2003 at 01:23:50:
if ALA is helpful in PN only for diabetics (because of it's action on the pancreas), or for PN patients in general. I use it on my dog that has chronic pancreatitis.
Certainly I would make sure that anyone that has a condition that affects the nerves is getting enough of the B vitamins also.
In Reply to: Re: Peripheral Neuropathy posted by peterb on May 08, 2003 at 17:40:04:
I am anxious to research all of the info given to me in the past 24 hours. I'm wondering if the ALA is suppose to only be used by people who have diabetes. DianeAC could you address this one for me. I called a friend tonight and shared the news and we are going to a health food store and check the natural items out that were listed here. A friend saw a show where a Dr. was saying that magnetics were being used to treat PN with good reactions. Any input on that one ? Thank you very much and will be looking for more information here. To be in such good shape everywhere else it's a shame to be suffering so with this foot pain.
In Reply to: Re: Peripheral Neuropathy posted by tiff on May 08, 2003 at 22:25:38:
tiff, my understanding (and remember, I'm just a layman) is that ALA would be good for any neuropathy, including diabetic and peripheral.
Re: magnetics - I have no first-hand experience. Well, I do - I tried various magnets for my husband's back pain and there was no noticeable difference. Also, I bought magnetic insoles for both of us and neither one of us noticed a difference. I should note here that my husband is a big skeptic and I am highly impressionable! I have heard of people who I actually knew who claimed that magnetics were very helpful and they would not be without them. I guess it's like so many things - not everything works for every person.
I don't have diabetes or any particular pain but I do take the ALA as a preventive - just seems like a good idea. I'll pass along one more thing - a pharmacist I once knew and highly respected told me that he felt that any doctor who was not recommending a good antioxidant to his patients should be considered guilty of malpractice. How about that!
Yes, do check out a good health food store and see what they can tell you. Let us know, OK? Good luck.
In Reply to: Peripheral Neuropathy posted by tiff on May 08, 2003 at 00:11:51:
Hi, Tiff.
Listen to Diane AC, LT & PeterB.
ALA is totally non toxic. It is just a potent antioxident that tends to concentrate in nerve tissue, the eye and the heart. The risk of any specific therapy will be: if it works you might not actually bother practicing the wellness and the problem will eventually recur. The wellness is the only long-term solution.
Magnetic therapy is like many newly discovered things that help human physiology: they work for some genetic patterns and not for others. So far, only by using the clinical laboratory we all carry around with us (our bodyminds) can it be judged (Does it work or not?) Magnetics are so powerful, though, that they CAN harm if not carefully used as directed. In other words, for example, do not reverse the polarity.
Finally, ANYTHING you try will work much better if you are practicing serious wellness as described on this website. See the "How to be Healthy" note on the home page, the glossary for any unfamiliar terms, and the archives till you begin to understand how to do that.
Let us know how you do and what your doctor's face tells you when you inexplicably (to him) get over this.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Peripheral Neuropathy posted by tiff on May 08, 2003 at 22:25:38:
the body makes its own RLA in the liver (ALA is the man-made version, still very effective) so its safe for anyone to take. As we get older, we make less and less. It has a wide variety of proven and suspected health benefits, from potential reduction in homocysteine levels to enhanced energy and fat-burning affects.
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