Neuropathy pain

[AJLang]

Had horrible shooting pain quite a few times last night right across the base of my right foot and lasting several times each time. I guess it's a progression of the worsening neuropathy that was identified by the podiatrist last year. At the time the diabetic consultant said that I was doing everything that I could do. I have tried the neuropathy cockail of vitamin tablets but struggle to have them because of the gastroparesis. I try to move my feet as much as I can, including foot exercises when sitting down.
Last year I was told that the neuroapthy was progressing much more in the right foot than the left foot (vibration test higher in the right foot) so this coincides with the pain. Have had the pain before but first time it has been this bad and woken me during the night.
Can't increase the amitriptylene (that I have for migraines) because when I tried a high dose before they turned me into a zombie and neurologist said to reduce them. Consultant advised against having things like gabentin etc alongside amitriptylene.
Just needed to let off steam about it.

 

[Vonny]

If it's waking you in the night it must be bad. I have no advice, but my partner (non diabetic) has neuropathy and I know how much he suffers when walking. Just wanted to send you some {{{hugs}}} x

 

[offspin]

Had horrible shooting pain quite a few times last night right across the base of my right foot and lasting several times each time. I guess it's a progression of the worsening neuropathy that was identified by the podiatrist last year. At the time the diabetic consultant said that I was doing everything that I could do. I have tried the neuropathy cockail of vitamin tablets but struggle to have them because of the gastroparesis. I try to move my feet as much as I can, including foot exercises when sitting down.
Last year I was told that the neuroapthy was progressing much more in the right foot than the left foot (vibration test higher in the right foot) so this coincides with the pain. Have had the pain before but first time it has been this bad and woken me during the night.
Can't increase the amitriptylene (that I have for migraines) because when I tried a high dose before they turned me into a zombie and neurologist said to reduce them. Consultant advised against having things like gabentin etc alongside amitriptylene.
Just needed to let off steam about it.

Hi , I have recently been prescribed Metformin 500 medication.

I use to suffer from pins and needles in both feet.No painful but annoying and at present has vanished.

Could be co instance ( sorry about spelling ) but it's not come back.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about the progression of your nerve pain @AJLang - sounds very unpleasant for you.

Getting combinations of meds balanced and working where you have complex and overlapping conditions is so tricky isn’t it.

Have you ever tried a TENS machine for your nerve pain - I thunk some forum members have found that helpful - and it’s non-pharmalogical so shouldn’t mess with anything else?

 

[mikeyB]

I use my TENS machine for hip and knee pain, and very effective it is too. It does work with nerve pain because of the way it works.

 

[AJLang]

Thank you very much everyone. I've tried TENs machines in the past for pain but I've needed a high level to get relief and then not got on with the sensation of the TENs machine at that level but I will have another look, thank you x

 

[AJLang]

Hi , I have recently been prescribed Metformin 500 medication.

I use to suffer from pins and needles in both feet.No painful but annoying and at present has vanished.

Could be co instance ( sorry about spelling ) but it's not come back.

Thank you Offspin. I'm glad the Metformin has helped you but it's not for pain relief but to help with blood sugar levels. It could be that it's improved your blood sugar levels and that's what's stopped the pins and needles.

 

[EmmaL76]

I use my TENS machine for hip and knee pain, and very effective it is too. It does work with nerve pain because of the way it works.

I mentioned on here last night that botox is now being used for neuropathy and apparently it’s quite successful especially for those who do not respond to the usual treatments. I’m not sure how widely available it is in the nhs or if it would need to be done by someone is the cosmetic industry (which can be expensive ) just thought it worth a mention as I think you could do with a break! Also it’s used for gastroparesis

Sorry was meant to respond to @AJLang instead I replied to @mikeyB although you both might find it helpful

 

[AJLang]

I mentioned on here last night that botox is now being used for neuropathy and apparently it’s quite successful especially for those who do not respond to the usual treatments. I’m not sure how widely available it is in the nhs or if it would need to be done by someone is the cosmetic industry (which can be expensive ) just thought it worth a mention as I think you could do with a break! Also it’s used for gastroparesis

Thanks Emma for thinking about me. With regard to gastroparesis it only rarely seems to be an NHS option - I'm not sure if it is the cost of that the needle has to go through an endoscopic tube to get to the relevant place. I've only heard it vaguely talked about and certainly not something that is available to me.
With regard to my peripheral neuropathy again it doesn't seem to be an option on the NHS (certainly not that I'm aware of) and certainly hasn't been given to me as option by my neurologist, diabetes consultant or rheumatologist. Unfortunately not something that I can afford privately xx

 

[42istheanswer]

Thanks Emma for thinking about me. With regard to gastroparesis it only rarely seems to be an NHS option - I'm not sure if it is the cost of that the needle has to go through an endoscopic tube to get to the relevant place. I've only heard it vaguely talked about and certainly not something that is available to me.
With regard to my peripheral neuropathy again it doesn't seem to be an option on the NHS (certainly not that I'm aware of) and certainly hasn't been given to me as option by my neurologist, diabetes consultant or rheumatologist. Unfortunately not something that I can afford privately xx

It may be worth asking one or more of your specialists, they may be more likely to look into it (if not aware of that use) or consider it for you (if you don't quite meet some criteria they currently use) if you ask.

 

[SB2015]

Sorry to hear you are struggling with the nerve pain @AJLang .
I hope that you are able to get some help that works for you.

 

[trophywench]

Sorry to hear you are struggling with the nerve pain @AJLang .
I hope that you are able to get some help that works for you.

Hear hear, Amanda. xx

 

[AJLang]

Thank you everyone. Really pleased to say that although the foot pain has been coming and going for a few months - with the recent night one being the worse - it has now settled down for the last two days. Our university has a podiatry clinic so I self referred the other day. When I listed all of my medical stuff etc (I forgot to mention the foot pain not sure why I forgot) they booked me in for the next appointment at their high risk clinic which is on Tuesday. I wonder how many diabetics the students have seen when the person has had diabetes for more than 50 years? I will obviously mention the pain to them on Tuesday.

 

[SB2015]

Thank you everyone. Really pleased to say that although the foot pain has been coming and going for a few months - with the recent night one being the worse - it has now settled down for the last two days. Our university has a podiatry clinic so I self referred the other day. When I listed all of my medical stuff etc (I forgot to mention the foot pain not sure why I forgot) they booked me in for the next appointment at their high risk clinic which is on Tuesday. I wonder how many diabetics the students have seen when the person has had diabetes for more than 50 years? I will obviously mention the pain to them on Tuesday.

I hope that it goes smoothly on Tuesday Amanda

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I wonder how many diabetics the students have seen when the person has had diabetes for more than 50 years?

We are not a rare breed anymore, so suspect a lot more than you think. I know for a fact I'm not the longest serving member of my diabetes clinic and that's after almost 58 years on insulin.

 

[AJLang]

I hope that it goes smoothly on Tuesday Amanda

Thank you @SB2015

 

[AJLang]

Well that was an “interesting appointment at the new podiatry clinic that went to today. For reasons that I can’t explain I have to be anonymous about where it was but I had high expectations. The person checking my feet had a supervisor.
I’d always been told by the NHS high risk foot clinic that if the vibration machine showed a result over 25 this was seriously worrying and it should be under 10. Last year at the NHS clinic my result was 12 in the left foot and 20 in the right foot.
Today it averaged 28 in both feet!!!!! The so-called supervisor said that the vibration test doesn’t matter as my filament test was normal……so who’s right him or the NHS specialist?
He also told me that with Type 1 diabetes you either get all of the diabetes problems when you are first diagnosed or not at all…..???
i had no reflexes anywhere from my knee to my foot (they didn’t check above the knee which is fair enough).
I might note that this supervisor was a podiatrist not at a particularly senior level.
He couldn’t identify neuropathy in my lower leg - and when I said that two doctors, including a rheumatology consultant had previously diagnosed it his retort was “they must have better equipment”
Without checking my back he came to the conclusion that my foot pain was referred neurological pain from my back (frustrating but that’s fair enough).
His conclusion was that I was low risk risk diabetic foot.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

His conclusion was that I was low risk risk diabetic foot.

So, a good result then.

 

[offspin]

Thank you Offspin. I'm glad the Metformin has helped you but it's not for pain relief but to help with blood sugar levels. It could be that it's improved your blood sugar levels and that's what's stopped the pins and needles.

Hi , must admit similar thoughts went through my mind.