Diabetic neuropathy

[tradeprog]

Hi

I am new to the group. Will try to explain well my problem (I am French native, sorry for mistakes)..

I have diabetic neuropathy, and I control very well now my blood glucose with a Ketogenic diet (high lipid and protein, low carbs, no sugar), without any “diabetic-related” medication. I lost 75 pounds in two years with this diet, so my pressure and cholesterol are good now. I also happen to have an anxiety problem.

I have a general practitioner (GP) and was examined also by a neurologist that made a eElectromyogram (EMG) and a Nerve Conduction Study (NCS). They all were positive, and showed I had diabetic neuropathy.

But I had some control glucose problem at the beginning, and my blood glucose was not very good. So, in the interim before I discovered the ketogenic diet, I developed diabetic neuropathy. They translate as numbness, tingling and burning sensation. A bit of pain, but not that bad for now, but I feel the neuropathy are progressing and getting worse almost by the week, even now.  this cause a lot of anxiety.

There is also some complexity to my neuropathy: I developed first (like two years ago) non symmetric neuropathy that seemed to attack fractured area (damaged nerves) of my left foot. But now, there is also a symmetrical neuropathy that adds-up to the other, and that is developing mainly in parallel under my two feet, a very weird sensation (like walking on small balls).

I must say I am not drinking anymore (for 5 month = totally sober), but I was a big beer drinker for a long time, so I probably have alcohol related neuropathy that adds up to all this.

I take general centrum vitamin supplement, and I add to this B12 and D3 vitamin supplements daily.

I took lyrica, no real effect on the neuropathy, will stop and try gabapentin. I am also on Prozac (Antidepressants) for anxiety.

But as I said, my neuropathy seems to get worst by the week. Any ideas?

Many thanks

Denis Perron, Quebec province, Canada.

[JenDxbc]

Hi Denis,

First off, your English is far better than my French. Thank you for learning English so we can communicate. My story is different than yours but I am hoping some new ideas will come out of our conversation.

11 years ago I had a lumpectomy, auxiliary dissection, chemo and radiation on my left side. Consequently, about a year after treatment I had nerve damage starting at the tips of my fingers. You are right when you say nerve damage gets worse at a rapid pace. After my pain became intense, I saw a neurologist. My pill regiment is as follows.

Lyrica (aka Pregablin) 150Mg x 4. 5 pills a day made me appathetic.

Effexor(Prozac) x3. Effexor acts as antidepressant but ALSO dampens nerve pain

At bedtime I take an anti-anxiety pill Amitryptaline 30 Mg (3x10Mg )pills. It also calms nerve pain.

And like you I take vitamin B12, D. I also use a product called Voltarin on my skin at times.

I have found my Pain is worse after meals. I now take my meds AN HOUR BEFORE eating a meal when my stomach is empty. Results are improved. You may want to consider taking a cannabis product in the evening. CBD oil is expensive but many show good results. I use the flower buds and vape. Puffitup.com is the site I used to purchase a small vaporizer.

I should note that there are many different strengths of Lyrica. I am not sure your dosage it it may have been too low. Another thing I learned is that the USA is now supplying Lyric pills that are long-lasting in time-released capsules. Only one a day is needed. I hope it comes to Canada soon. Let me know what is working for you.

Sincerely, Jennie

[geoff1940]

Hi,

I agree with your other responder that you do not need to aplogise for your English.

I should first of all emphasise that my neuropathy is genetic (my father suffered terribly) and unrelated to diabetes, so it may respond differently to yours. I had lived with the progressive numbness etc for 15 years, but the associated pain was becoming intolerable and decided 16 months ago to give CBD a go. The result was dramatic: after 2 weeks the pain had completely gone away and there seemed to be some regression in the numbness and tingling. However, it has not cured the underlying condition and in recent months I have noticed that I have some numbness in my fingertips.

The good news is that I am unaware of any side-effects to the CBD. My father was on Gabapentin and I really cannot think he obtained much relief from the pain as he was quite suicidal from time to time ........ and he didn't like the side effects of it. The latter comment is my interpretation of his comments and behaviour: his ability to articulate his symptoms was never very good.

I have done quite a bit of reading about CBD and my conclusions are that I've never seen anything bad that can come of it. Such science as there is, given its suppression for so long, indicates that the mammal body had a need for it. I can recommend a book I was given recently entitled CBD - A Patient's Guide to Medicinal Cannabis by Leinow and Birnbaum.

Bon chance!

[franklin1970]

Welcome 🙏 nice to meet you. I too have severe Neuropathy that has left my hands numb and burning and loss of use of 2 fingers. I was just put on Buspirone and side effects not so great! My blood sugars are normal for 6 months now and my Nuropathy is progressing fast. I have Degenerative Discs Disease, Scoliosis, type 2 diabetes, Lupus, atrophy, Lymphedema, Ostio, ( many broken bones, Concussion Syndrome, plus my abdomen is opened up inside leaving a thin layer of tissue that protects my internal organs and an abdomen full of adhesions and mesh floating around in my abdomen from a botched surgery in 2009! I look like I’m pregnant as the hernia won’t stop growing. I was on Gabapentin 2x but it didn’twork for me. This new med seems to be doing ok will see how it goes. God bless you amen 🙏 prayers and hugs 🤗 for you today!