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New here...a question about diabetic neuropathy

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paulc38

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi All

I was diagnosed with type 2 in October 2017 with a Hba1c reading of 102. I had been leading a very unhealthy lifestyle for a number of years and was severely overweight. Last year I started to lose weight and managed to get my Hba1c down to 42 which I was most pleased about. My most recent reading was up to 48 and I have put a bit of the weight back on which I am trying to do something about again. However, I've recently started developing some numbness and pain, tingling, burning in my toes and feet which the doctor feels is diabetic neuropathy. It's so painful at the moment I can't walk for very long or drive a car. I saw another doctor last week and she diagnosed me with Plantar Fasciitis in addition to the neuropathy so I'm not in a good place at the moment physically. However, she wasn't very thorough, didn't examine my feet and just relied on my description of the symptoms to come to this diagnosis.

I was prescribed Pregablin (50mg per day) but had to stop due to side effects so the doctor suggested trying amitryptiline instead (20-30mg per day) which I started yesterday.

I just wanted to see if others had tried amitryptiline for this problem and how effective it was? Also is there anything else I can do to improve my pain and discomfort?

Many Thanks.
 
Hi Paul, welcome to the forum 🙂 Well done on the terrific improvements you have made since your diagnosis! 🙂 I can't comment on the medication as I haven't needed it myself, but I know other members have so hopefully they will be along to share their experiences 🙂

I wonder if what you're experiencing is 'transient neuropathy'? Often, when we make big improvements in our blood sugar control we can experience temporary periods of nerve pain, especially in the feet, as the body becomes accustomed to the 'new you' - it happened to me in the year or so after I was diagnosed, but then settled down and has barely troubled me since. I hope this is the case for you 🙂 Regarding the plantar fascitis - I have this too at the moment! I have some special socks that help support and cushion the foot, and I also got a foot roller to massage the foot and some tension bands for stretches 🙂 All these do seem to be easing things 🙂
 
Hi Northerner

Thanks for your reply and advice. I do hope that this is only temporary too and that the symptoms don't persist. I am a single dad and sole carer for my 3 children so being less mobile is something that is not good for any of us. Is there any connection between PF and diabetes? It's absolute agony in my heels for me to walk at the moment and I'm just in constant pain when driving so I've had to minimise any driving for now.
 
paulc38 said:
Hi Northerner

Thanks for your reply and advice. I do hope that this is only temporary too and that the symptoms don't persist. I am a single dad and sole carer for my 3 children so being less mobile is something that is not good for any of us. Is there any connection between PF and diabetes? It's absolute agony in my heels for me to walk at the moment and I'm just in constant pain when driving so I've had to minimise any driving for now.
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I'm not aware that there is a connection between PF and diabetes. PF is usually an overuse injury causing inflammation in the tendons that run along the underside of the foot. Mine is due to doing too much running in worn running shoes - especially stupid as I have a shiny new pair that I have been putting off wearing in 🙄 I was in a lot of pain a week or so ago, but the stretching exercises in particular appear to have eased it and now it feels like a badly bruised heel. As it's only affecting my left foot I'm pain free half the time when I'm walking! 😉

The best treatment appears to be plenty of rest and gentle stretches, and of course, ensuring you have footwear that doesn't exacerbate the problem. There are special splints you can get which I know some people wear in bed, and some people get orthotics made to put in their shoes, although those can be very expensive :( PF is common in people who walk a lot e.g. postmen.

What advice were you given? Hopefully the amitryptiline will help with the PF as well as the neuropathy.
 
The doctor simply gave me an information sheet. She didn't say what to do or not to do really. It's mostly in my right foot which makes driving difficult and I sense it is probably aggravating the condition. I've been doing stretching exercises and using an ice pack as advised but no improvement as of yet. It's difficult to work out what is neuropathy and what is PF as I've definitely got the tingling and burning around my toes. My left foot has some mild discomfort but nowhere near as bad.

The amitryptiline is making me quite tired in the morning and feeling lethargic since I started taking it so I'm going to take it a bit earlier in the evening to see if it helps at all.
 
Hi Paul, well done on your achievements great result.

Would swimming or any other form of water exercise be of any help to you as you wouldn't need to weight bare?
 
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