Supplements and diabetic neuropathy

[Flower]

I've always been completely sceptical about supplements - and remain so at this moment.
In desperation to try and relieve the neuropathic pain in my feet I handed over £13 for some Alpha Lipoic acid capsules which were about the only thing I could find- outside of conventional medicine-that had any reference to maybe helping diabetic neuropathy.

I use morphine patches for the collapsed bones in my feet and ankles from Charcot foot but recently the neuropathic pain which is distinct from broken bone pain has been truly horrible. For the last few days since taking said supplement the pain level in my toes, feet and ankles has escalated so much more and the only thing I can attribute it to is the supplement that was supposed to help neuropathy. I wasn't expecting miracles but neither was I expecting an increased level of pain.

Has anyone else tried this supplement and had any noticeable effects, good or bad. I'll give it one more day before abandoning it and remaining a confirmed sceptic.

 

[Northerner]

Really sorry to hear it appears it is having the opposite of the desired effect Flower No personal experience, but I did find this page which offers personal reviews of it: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-suppl...ID.aspx?drugid=767&drugname=ALPHA-LIPOIC+ACID

Some people appear to be taking it in order to lower their blood sugar levels, although this is listed as a side-effect rather than a primary use.

I hope that things improve for you, I can't imagine how awful it must be {{{HUGS}}}

 

[Flower]

Thanks for that Northerner 🙂 Oh yikes! I hadn't read the part about potentially lowering blood glucose. I really don't need to increase that risk!

My thoughts are that as the increased pain is reaching a peak through my toes, it might -in a very painful way- be a good sign that more peripheral nerve activity is happening. I'll take a capsule tomorrow and assess the situation. For now Alpha lipoic acid has made me grumpy and £13 poorer !

 

[Bloden]

Sorry to hear about your chronic pain, Flower. I'm a supplement sceptic too, but I recently read about a peripheral neuropathy sufferer who takes a herbal remedy called quercetin - "one of the natural phytonutrients from plants called flavonoids" apparently - found naturally in cocoa, red grapes and wine, unpeeled apples, berry fruit and lots of veg, black and green tea and bee pollen. Just chuck that lot in a nutribullet and slurp away! 🙂 Seriously tho, I hope you can find something to relieve the pain.

 

[Northerner]

Thanks for that Northerner 🙂 Oh yikes! I hadn't read the part about potentially lowering blood glucose. I really don't need to increase that risk!

My thoughts are that as the increased pain is reaching a peak through my toes, it might -in a very painful way- be a good sign that more peripheral nerve activity is happening. I'll take a capsule tomorrow and assess the situation. For now Alpha lipoic acid has made me grumpy and £13 poorer !

How have things been today Flower? I think (hope) your thoughts are on the right lines, as it sounds like the sort of 'transient neuropathy' that can be triggered when you are getting levels under better control and the nerves become more sensitised.

 

[Flower]

The pain has been intense especially through my toes so I am going to stop taking the alpha lipoic acid for a few days and see if that is the cause as I can only just manage the broken bone pain and don't need any additional agony! My blood sugar also struggled to stay above 4 yesterday, I don't know if that is any way related but for now my experiment is on hold....

I'm all out of bee pollen at the moment 😉 and am also nervous of trying any supplements but will keep quercetin in mind . Thanks Bloden 🙂

 

[AJLang]

Flower I hope that the pain lessens. Thinking of you xx

 

[Mazu Bee]

Hi Flower I have been taking supplements for neuropathy for years. I have been a type one diabetic for 22 years and have background neuropathy in my eyes - comes and goes. I have been taking the following:

Pycnogenol, alpha lipoic acid, tart cherry, grape seed extract, bilberry, zinc, vitamin c, rose hip, bromelain, quercetin, green tea - all of these antioxidants help me & a few more I forget the names of plus a multi vitamin made of whole foods

If the acid does not work for you then I suggest pycnogenol- it is expensive so please look into it before you buy

I am researching Cats Claw as a supplement at the moment - helps inflammation and was reading on another forum that it has helped a diabetic patient with Charcot foot.

I also have bee pollen but have not yet started taking it because I take loads of supplements already

Best of luck Flower

 

[Amigo]

I've always been completely sceptical about supplements - and remain so at this moment.
In desperation to try and relieve the neuropathic pain in my feet I handed over £13 for some Alpha Lipoic acid capsules which were about the only thing I could find- outside of conventional medicine-that had any reference to maybe helping diabetic neuropathy.

I use morphine patches for the collapsed bones in my feet and ankles from Charcot foot but recently the neuropathic pain which is distinct from broken bone pain has been truly horrible. For the last few days since taking said supplement the pain level in my toes, feet and ankles has escalated so much more and the only thing I can attribute it to is the supplement that was supposed to help neuropathy. I wasn't expecting miracles but neither was I expecting an increased level of pain.

Has anyone else tried this supplement and had any noticeable effects, good or bad. I'll give it one more day before abandoning it and remaining a confirmed sceptic.

I feel for you Flower, it must be excruciating. I have enough of a problem with nocturnal cramp which has me up about 4 times a night like my foot is in a vice! At times it’s actually left bruises because my platelet levels are affected.

I know you’ll probably have tried conventional treatments like garbapentin but I wonder if you’ve had your B levels checked because they are most closely associated with nerve pain. I’m also a great believer in optimising magnesium levels which don’t test well and usually show as acceptable even when they are low. I’m also on Vit D supplements from my GP. Hydration is also vital as you’ll know.

There’s so many miraculous claims out there with vitamins and supplements and many are just snake oil so I understand your cynicism. I don’t know much about lipoic acid but have read many reports where people use it successfully for neuropathy (it’s also said to increase insulin sensitivity).

I know I’m teaching you to suck eggs here but are you seen at a Pain Clinic? There’s probably some combination that would alleviate the pain and I really hope you can find it.

Some people swear by CBD oil (Holland and Barrett stock it) and I’m giving that a try.

 

[trophywench]

Ah - I've seen quite a lot of people swear by magnesium to resolve their night cramps so I would consider it if I had them.