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Neuropathy.
- Thread starter hemase
- Start date
- Status
SilentAssassin1642
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hello. I have a form of nueropathy - from what the doc says about me my form of peripheral nueropathy (in my feet) is transient, which means mine will go away once my levels are stable. I'm not sure if you'll be lucky in that regard though 
If its in your feet, you'll notice that they're most sensitive at night and when you get up in the morning. Keep the feet nice and warm too, cold affects me quite badly - see my post earlier on pains at work. Other than that, I'm not really sure. I have to say that my symptoms have lessened somewhat, they dont burn anymore i just get the occasional tingle and the odd pain along with sensitivity in the morning.
I hope that helps. PM me if you need anymore reassurance. Its not nice to be told by the doc you have it
If its in your feet, you'll notice that they're most sensitive at night and when you get up in the morning. Keep the feet nice and warm too, cold affects me quite badly - see my post earlier on pains at work. Other than that, I'm not really sure. I have to say that my symptoms have lessened somewhat, they dont burn anymore i just get the occasional tingle and the odd pain along with sensitivity in the morning.
I hope that helps. PM me if you need anymore reassurance. Its not nice to be told by the doc you have it
AlisonM
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
What Sam says.
Mine is easing off now, though I had it in both my hands and my feet at first. As my levels improve so the neuropathy improves, I don't get cramps or restless legs any more either. I've stopped wandering about the house in bare feet, I have some furry bootees that keep my wee feets toastie and I now wear gloves outside, something I rarely used to do unless it was 30 below.
Keeping your extremities warm is vital I'm told, it does seem to help me.
Mine is easing off now, though I had it in both my hands and my feet at first. As my levels improve so the neuropathy improves, I don't get cramps or restless legs any more either. I've stopped wandering about the house in bare feet, I have some furry bootees that keep my wee feets toastie and I now wear gloves outside, something I rarely used to do unless it was 30 below.
wallycorker
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi hemase,
Sorry to hear about your neuropathy problem. I'm a Type 2 myself of nine years now. However, I've never suffered with neuropathy - so far anyway. From what I've read the problem can be improved and possibly sorted out altogether by improving the control of a diabetic's blood glucose levels.
How are you managing to do with your control?
Best wishes - John
Sorry to hear about your neuropathy problem. I'm a Type 2 myself of nine years now. However, I've never suffered with neuropathy - so far anyway. From what I've read the problem can be improved and possibly sorted out altogether by improving the control of a diabetic's blood glucose levels.
How are you managing to do with your control?
Best wishes - John
Einstein
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
There are a number of types of neuropathy. Peripheral is where the nerves in the limbs are affected, I've suffered from neuropathy for too many years now, until recently I'd thought the nerve damage was in the limb itself, seemingly not. It's in the spinal cord, hence it can come and go and move around as it chooses.
Some neuropathies are painless, and as such you are numb to sensation or temperature, my lower leg and feet are numb and I cannot tell temperature anywhere, including my mouth - in the words of one of Europes top specialists in neuropathic pain regarding my temperature sense 'I am a freek!'. I'm not medically qualified, even I knew that!
Another neuropathy is painful neuropathy, this is where phantom pain can be excrutiating, and then the next minute gone, or it can last for weeks and then pass by. Equally it can just be there in the background.
Good control is the key to have any chance of clearing the pain and preventing any lasting damage. The condition can always flare up at any time in the future. Extremes of heat can also be a trigger.
For pain control the drugs generally work on blocking the pain of the central nervous system and often started life for epileptics. There are a number of alternative therapies worth a try. One of the most effective, that you can use when you like is TENS, simply place the electrodes each side of the pain area and switch on, a 'soothing' trickle is what you want. Very quick to gain relief as well.
Massage (if you can bear being touched, touch can become a very odd sensation with neuropathy) is good as it gets the blood circulating, not to hard, and perhaps not initially aromatherapy either.
The other alternative therapy that can work, but give it time (a treatment or two) is accupuncture.
The two other types are motor neuropathy - joints and muscles, and then autonomic neuropathy - this is the one you really want to avoid, it works on the 'second central nervous system' e.g. the organs, it can change your heart rate or blood pressure for no reason.
It also controls your breathing, digestive tract, including bowel and bladder etc.
Watch your control, exercise regularly, stop smoking (don't start smoking, just so you can stop!) and cut down on how much you drink (don't increase to decrease either). If it wasn't all important before, it is now.
With simple controls neuropathy is able to be managed for many people, and thankfully seems to be something that comes and goes. For others it becomes part of life, and like diabetes we have to take what the condition throws at us and make the most of it.
If you find the condition is becoming too much in terms of pain or control, don't be afraid to ask your GP for more assistance or to refer you for physio, pain control or to see a neurologist for confirmaton the problem is neuropathy and not a trapped or damaged nerve in the case of pain.
As always, so much is there within the NHS, but if you don't ask you won't always be offered it.
Some neuropathies are painless, and as such you are numb to sensation or temperature, my lower leg and feet are numb and I cannot tell temperature anywhere, including my mouth - in the words of one of Europes top specialists in neuropathic pain regarding my temperature sense 'I am a freek!'. I'm not medically qualified, even I knew that!
Another neuropathy is painful neuropathy, this is where phantom pain can be excrutiating, and then the next minute gone, or it can last for weeks and then pass by. Equally it can just be there in the background.
Good control is the key to have any chance of clearing the pain and preventing any lasting damage. The condition can always flare up at any time in the future. Extremes of heat can also be a trigger.
For pain control the drugs generally work on blocking the pain of the central nervous system and often started life for epileptics. There are a number of alternative therapies worth a try. One of the most effective, that you can use when you like is TENS, simply place the electrodes each side of the pain area and switch on, a 'soothing' trickle is what you want. Very quick to gain relief as well.
Massage (if you can bear being touched, touch can become a very odd sensation with neuropathy) is good as it gets the blood circulating, not to hard, and perhaps not initially aromatherapy either.
The other alternative therapy that can work, but give it time (a treatment or two) is accupuncture.
The two other types are motor neuropathy - joints and muscles, and then autonomic neuropathy - this is the one you really want to avoid, it works on the 'second central nervous system' e.g. the organs, it can change your heart rate or blood pressure for no reason.
It also controls your breathing, digestive tract, including bowel and bladder etc.
Watch your control, exercise regularly, stop smoking (don't start smoking, just so you can stop!) and cut down on how much you drink (don't increase to decrease either). If it wasn't all important before, it is now.
With simple controls neuropathy is able to be managed for many people, and thankfully seems to be something that comes and goes. For others it becomes part of life, and like diabetes we have to take what the condition throws at us and make the most of it.
If you find the condition is becoming too much in terms of pain or control, don't be afraid to ask your GP for more assistance or to refer you for physio, pain control or to see a neurologist for confirmaton the problem is neuropathy and not a trapped or damaged nerve in the case of pain.
As always, so much is there within the NHS, but if you don't ask you won't always be offered it.
Thank you all for the info, It is much appreciated. My levels are very good, at the same time as telling me I had neuropathy the doc praised my blood sugars.
I have been keeping my feet warm, doubling up on socks at work. The pain is worse in evenings and mornings or when I have been on my feet a while. Its not good but part of being diabetic. Only been diagnosed a year, was hoping I would have a bit more time before these things kicked in, not thirty yet. Oh well.
I have been keeping my feet warm, doubling up on socks at work. The pain is worse in evenings and mornings or when I have been on my feet a while. Its not good but part of being diabetic. Only been diagnosed a year, was hoping I would have a bit more time before these things kicked in, not thirty yet. Oh well.
Einstein
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
If you're putting two pairs of socks on, make sure your shoes are big enough while there can be pain, there can also be loss of sensation and you might not the circulation in your feet is being impacted.
Given the time you've been diagnosed, good control and your age. If the pain continued for more than a few months, I'd be looking to see if you can eliminate any other causes for the pain, perhaps a physical nerve problem somewhere, before jumping on neuropathy. There are many problems which can go classed as neuropathy before being identified. The solution to some of these problems can be very easily fixed.
However, you need to see the right specialist(s) to get a proper diagnosis. It could be great if it wasn't neuropathy, but something that could be fixed quite easily.
sofaraway
Senior Member
Good piece of advice. I was diagnosed by the podiatrist and GP, when I saw my Dr at the hospital she rans some blood tests for other things and checked my back, a physio also checked all the nerves in my back. everything came back clear so the diagnosis has stayed.
I hope things start to improve for you, I understand how frustrating it can be.
wallycorker
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi again hemase - if you don't mind me asking, how good is your HbA1c? Has it changed recently?
wallycorker
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I used to get told that mine were satisfactory and I just listened to what they said. I know different these days. They keep saying they are OK until they get that bad that you need some additional medication. In my case they let my HbA1c get as high as 9.4% before they took any action - I now know that 9.4% is very bad!
Ask for your results is my advice.
John
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