NEUROPATHY?: I have neuropathy. The bottom... - Cure Parkinson's

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NEUROPATHY?

shanaandbear profile image
39 Replies

I have neuropathy. The bottom of my feet get numb. What worries me a little is that sometimes my tremor side left foot turns purple from time to time. Has that happened to any of you? If so, what do you do to relieve the problem? Thanks for your help!

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shanaandbear
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chartist profile image
chartist

Typically, the B vitamins are often useful for neuropathy.

healthline.com/health/neuro...

There are also others such as acetyl l carnitine, l-carnosine and alpha lipoic acid. Your doctor can direct you on which will be best for you.

Art

shanaandbear profile image
shanaandbear in reply to chartist

Thank you! ❤️

chartist profile image
chartist in reply to shanaandbear

shanaandbear,

One thing I didn't mention in my original reply is that some times, the issue can originate in the lower back where nerves that run down to the feet can become perturbed or inflamed for various reasons and can cause a similar effect to what you describe.

Icing the lower back is highly antiinflammatory and if it offers any relief at all to the foot numbness, may cause a redirecting of your efforts on how to deal with this problem.

Art

MarionP profile image
MarionP

The numbness I think is rather common with aging in general, but yes too with gradual narrowing of small arteries in limbs such as fingers too, a sort of peripheral arterial disease and/or gradual RAYNAUD'S phenomenon (which can cause temporary spasms that constrict the vessel, thus less blood flow for a little while until the spasm quits), less blood supply going through smaller arteries and having to do it under full body weight pressure like standing on a hose.

COLD (which can mechanically constrict your tiny blood vessels in toes and fingers) and STRESS/ANXIETY can also start or increase such effect, if it is Reynauds that you are beginning to see. I actually have a touch of it myself in my fingers and toes. It passes once the areas warm up or the stress passes. And you can have the reactions without it having to be formally to the point that they call it Raynaud's. Could be a light version, could be early version, could be enough to formally diagnose. But note that warming helps, easing on a particular stress or anxiety for a while helps.

B vitimins for nerve health and damage.

And ASPIRIN, this helps with the color, which signals blood distribution problems and cell death caused by not enough blood (food) to cells: (I have no idea about the feeling loss): ASPIRIN: I do know that aspirin is a nicely moderate blood thinner that you can even moderate with dose. Aspirin is often prescribed (as actually it is in my own case) to thin your blood some to allow for better distribution, makes your platelets a little more slippery, and it also will seep into smaller areas it previously had become too thick to penetrate to feed.

The aspirin idea is to thin your blood some but not so much that a dedicated blood-thinner medication would do. Blood can get into places it couldn't squeeze through to before and carry its nutrients to hungry cells that might now not dies (and nerve cells that might regain their feeling).

My heart doctor has told me to take seriously, also my internist. Said it would help with cold feet and fingers as well.

37.5 mg per day, minimum, but that's for my heart. "What about larger amounts, I inquired." He both docs say that I could take larger amounts safely, but the beneficial effect is minimal beyond just taking that "quarter-grain" 37.5 mg. In other words, I asked "what if I took those regular sized pills (325 mg) or headache/swelling/pain sized doses (500mg) or more a day, would that make me prone to bleeding? Answer from each: No, not prone to more bleeding, but the slight thinning of your blood from the low dose of aspirin won't increase if you were to increase the dose...just be sure to take that low dose at least, and do so every single day." Internist also mentioned that if I'm allergic to aspirin (I'm not but someone else might be) then use ibuprofen, one pill a day is fine.

Note with aspirin: you could get a little bit of red or purple on a small scale, but that is the same thing as a bruise and will go away over time, it just is some of that thinned blood gets out without clotting. Anti-clotting is what is behind the idea of aspirin in the first place, keeps heart patients' arteries a little bit clearer by making blood clots, which are very dangerous for people with heart and vascular conditions, less likely, makes the platelets a tiny bit more slippery so they don't clump onto each other at every little thing and cause a clot, which can kill you if it goes to the wrong place.

Other helpful things to add to this aspirin: rest, keep your feet warm in cold weather, elevate them some.

On the feeling loss: ask the doctor, or neurologist. Could be less blood has helped decrease the life of the nerve cells down there, at least the ones that "feel" (don't know if it is true for pain sensor nerves). Maybe a little more blood would help them grow back or live longer, some sorts of peripheral nerve cells do grow back.

Another cause possibly: PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE. On that one, don't ask me, I don't know much of anything about that one. More widespread loss of artery blood flow in feet and lower limbs, legs. You might not even have symptoms. If you feel tingling in various places, that might be a sign.

Of course certainly I would go see a doctor about the whole thing.

That is because Raynaud's (if that's what it is) can also be a symptom of RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS and also LUPUS I think.

Last point: DIABETES. This can ALL be a symptom of diabetes.

So you want to get these checked out. lupus is inflammatory and arthritis is now being shown to be auto-immune disease.

So please do get to that doctor.

shanaandbear profile image
shanaandbear in reply to MarionP

Thank you so much for your thorough and informative answer. Very helpful! 👍❤️😘

MarionP profile image
MarionP in reply to shanaandbear

Slight revision: I forgot to mention, so sorry, there are many medications that can cause blood vessels to constrict, stimulant-acting substances that you wouldn't call drugs also, such as caffiene and theobromine (the first in your coffee, the first and second both in your tea...from which you would not expect spasms, just constriction)...and in general not having hydrated enough (which possibly could contribute to spasms). Sorry about that. I know about this because I've had them all for a long time with docs over the years.

faridaro profile image
faridaro in reply to MarionP

Thank you Marion for sharing your experience. I've been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy (have tingling and numbness in fingers and toes) and was wondering if I also have Raynaud's as it gets worse in cold temperatures.

Lately, I've been also taking 81mg aspirin/day for heart issues but after reading your post I am thinking of lowering the dose, however the question is where do you get 37.5 mg aspirin? I am also thinking of increasing salicylate intake naturally, see link

nutritionfacts.org/2019/12/...

MarionP profile image
MarionP in reply to faridaro

81, sorry. My mistake and you caught it. One quarter of a 325 mg. 81. Safe safe safe.

bepo profile image
bepo in reply to faridaro

Try PEMF, which is pulsed electro magnetic fields. We have helped several people with neuropathy after they used our PEMF mat. One man, who was dying and on hospice, and on 25 different medications, could not breathe nor walk, was completely turned around by using Ozone sauna and PEMF mat. He is in his mid 80's. He is out cutting wood and is very active. His neuropathy is still a problem. He has started B1. I don't know if that is helping.

faridaro profile image
faridaro in reply to bepo

Bepo, I had an impression that EMFs were bad for your health, but have never heard of PEMFs - will have to look it up.

bepo profile image
bepo in reply to faridaro

EMF'S are very dangerous. You're right. The PEMF mat works, and I believe, mitigates EMF'S. It gives off frequencies that correspond with the earth's gravity. I don't really understand it. I just know it works. If you are in the states or Canada, look at the IMRS 2000.

faridaro profile image
faridaro in reply to bepo

Thanks, I'll check it out.

chartist profile image
chartist in reply to faridaro

faridaro,

It goes both ways, good and bad. The frequency makes the difference. The earth has its own EMF which we are constantly exposed to 24/7 and is not a negative in terms of health and may actually be a positive.

Art

parkie13 profile image
parkie13 in reply to MarionP

Most interesting, thank you for writing.

LAJ12345 profile image
LAJ12345 in reply to MarionP

Thanks Marion. I looked it up on google and found this on low dose aspirin and how it may be helpful in PD. Looks worth adding!

scienceofparkinsons.com/201...

bepo profile image
bepo in reply to LAJ12345

Is low dose asprin benign? Take Vitamin B1. My husband has improved his PD tremendously by taking Vitamin B1 for less than 2 weeks. It's amazing! His tremor all but disappeared yesterday evening. He does not feel tired.

LAJ12345 profile image
LAJ12345 in reply to bepo

He does take b1 too. His remaining problem is his hands don’t work well so he has trouble with tasks like dishes and folding clothes and playing bridge.

shanaandbear profile image
shanaandbear in reply to LAJ12345

At least that’s what he tells you! 😂

LAJ12345 profile image
LAJ12345 in reply to shanaandbear

Ah, a cynic! Yes it is convenient when he can’t do things he doesn’t wants to but when he can’t hold bridge cards you know he’s not bluffing!

Actually he does make a big effort to do his share of chores but he just can’t do some things sometimes.

shanaandbear profile image
shanaandbear in reply to LAJ12345

I was totally joking....I always try and find the humor in things...especially dealing with PD as I am. My husband has terminal cancer and I’ve had PD for seven years. Our friends are amazed at our positive attitudes. It’s humor that’s getting us through. Sorry if I offended you in any way. 😘

LAJ12345 profile image
LAJ12345 in reply to shanaandbear

No, not offended, I had had the same thoughts occasionally on dark days 😊😊

bepo profile image
bepo in reply to shanaandbear

Has your husband been told about how diet can, in some cases, cure cancer. So does ozone. Cut out all sugars and processed carbs. No Wheat. Take sulpher. Eat a ton of organic broccoli and brussel sprouts. Take vitamin D3 , and magnesium.

pmmargo profile image
pmmargo

I have neuropathy in my toes and that is what got me to the neurologist who identified I have Parkinsonism. Interestingly according to the prion theory of Parkinsons, the disease originates in the peripheral nervous system and only much later progresses to Central Nervous System. I am not taking anything for the neuropathy but am careful to move my toes and massage them. The toe numbness is worst lying down horizontally in bed.

I'm on Azilect and Mirapex (the lst one has helped my balance and I'm told a whole lot more).

Keep me filled in on your toes/feet and parkinsons. I have been curious about whether others had the same for some time. The best of health to you!

Paul

John_morris71 profile image
John_morris71

First things first - Please make sure that you take B12 supplement daily (especially if you are into vegan diet) . Since 2 days, have seen B12 related articles. Below is a sample.

businessinsider.com/vegan-d...

pmmargo profile image
pmmargo in reply to John_morris71

it's delicious too

bepo profile image
bepo

I have read where Vitamin B1 is helpful for neuropathy.

hercules957 profile image
hercules957

I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy before PD. My symptoms were tingling sensation in the ball of the feet at night. It would stop if I touched something with the feet. I took 300 mg a day of B6 and after 2 months it was gone. I kept the high dose B6 for almostn2 yrs and now take 50 mg B6 every second day. Neuropathy never returned.

Mondoug profile image
Mondoug in reply to hercules957

I have read a few posts stating that Vit. B6 has a negative impact on Parkinson medication!! Have you been given any such info by your neurologist??

shanaandbear profile image
shanaandbear in reply to Mondoug

No. But I only take Selegiline. I don’t use any carbidopa levadopa. Too many long term bad side effects. But I will ask him. Thanks!

pmmargo profile image
pmmargo in reply to Mondoug

you're right about the B6 but it's ok to take 50 mg or less.

Mondoug profile image
Mondoug in reply to pmmargo

Thank you 🙏 pmmargo! I will continue to take my Vit B tablet, it only has 25mg!

hercules957 profile image
hercules957

No.

pvw2 profile image
pvw2

The most common cause of neuropathy is diabetes; then chemotherapy. However, my mother has neuropathy caused by none of the above, but it's important to eliminate the above, especially diabetes.

pmmargo profile image
pmmargo

IF anyone has further suggestions for neuropathy would appreciate them. I'm taking the low dose aspirin, 50 mg B6, and 5g of methyl-B12. It may be getting a tiny bit worse over time (only the front half of the foot is involved) but it would be nice if it were getting better.

It seems there are a lot of us with both neuropathy and PD.

I hope some of the researchers that read this site can start hypothesizing why that might be the case.

Best wishes for Happy Healthy Holidays and Blessing of Joy and Gratitude to All.

marnegro profile image
marnegro in reply to pmmargo

Hi. I have PD for 13 years and now I started with numbness in my toes. I will be evaluated and tested In a clinic by the end of January to deal with the issues of neuropathy. They plan to give me about 12 week sessions of a therapy named Sanexas. It is a therapy using a machine that promotes cellular connections and connectivity to relieve pain, numbness and related discomfort of the neuropathy. It has excellent reviews of patients and I was told is covered by health insurance plan. Hope this info may help. Thanks!

chartist profile image
chartist in reply to pmmargo

pmmargo,

From my previous reply higher up in this thread, in addition to the B- vitamins, the following may also be helpful.

There are also others such as acetyl l carnitine, l-carnosine, lecithin, melatonin and alpha lipoic acid. Your doctor can direct you on which will be best for you.

Art

genesurf profile image
genesurf

My tingling didn't resolve until I tried B12 injections. I had taken B12 capsules and sublinguals in all the cobalamin forms, which raised my serum B12 levels but didn't resolve the tingling and tiredness. B12 injections helped immediately.

Prior to the injections, I took allithiamine, potassium, and methylfolate, and those helped somewhat. I still take them now as cofactors to the injected B12 .

note: I don't have PD. I'm in this forum because a relative has PD.

Stephent63 profile image
Stephent63

It has not happened to me

JHLambert profile image
JHLambert

Get you a Hitachi Magic Wand and use it two places, 1 - on both feet. It helps to revive the small nerves and blood vessels in feet & toes. I don’t have to tell you where #2 is... :)

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