Diabetic Neuropathy

Question: diabetic neuropathy? my father is suffering from diabetic neuropathy.he is taking gabapentin and pregabalin.still he is having severe pain.any other suggestions.please

Answer: The only suggestion that may help him is to control his blood sugar...that way he will stop the progression of his neuropathy and will start to see benefits of drugs he is being on. CONCLUSION: having any drugs WITHOUT controlling diabetes will make him nothing and will worsen his neuropathy. best wishes

Question: What is the best way to help diabetic neuropathy, other than watching your blood sugar levels? I have been a diabetic for 32 years, and I just have been told I have diabetic neuropathy in my legs. Does anyone know any good exercises, lotions etc that will help, besides some meds from the doctor?

Answer: Diabetic neuropathy is not curable. Of course the primary med prescribed is neurontin. However, it is often thought that over the counter vitamin b-12 and vitamin e benefit the nerves. Wear good socks and shoes...check your feet often and keep them lotioned with any unscented lotion (just make sure alcohol is not in the first few ingredients listed as alcohol is a drying agent). It's also a great idea to see a podiatrist for any nail cutting. One small wound, cut or nik can cost you your foot as neuropathy consists of numbness and tingling of the foot and you could have a sore there but not feel it. As far as exercises that help...haven't heard much out there that benefits neuropathy..but exercise in general is a good idea to promote blood circulation as circulation is decreased in diabetics. Hope this has helped you somewhat. Best wishes.

Question: What is the best solution to Diabetic Neuropathy in hands and feet? I have recently developed Diabetic Neuropathy in my feet and it keeps me up at night with the pain. I am using a prescription called "voltaren" which my doctor suggested, but it only partially works. Is there anyone who has found a better solution?

Answer: B vitamins and folic acid.

Question: How do I know if I have diabetic neuropathy? Nerve damage occurs in people who have had diabetes because their blood sugar level is higher than normal. Over time, high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels and nerves. That's why people who don't control (or can't control) their blood sugar very well seem more likely to get diabetic neuropathy.

Answer: If you have numbness in your feet and toes, you may have diabetic neuropathy. You may notice that cuts and sores on your feet don't hurt as much as you would expect them to. The following are symptoms of diabetic neuropathy: • Pain or a burning feeling in your legs • A feeling of lightheadedness that causes you to fall • Diarrhea and constipation • Failure to get an erection (in men) SYMPTOMS in primary, secondary and tertiary stages : Symptoms vary depending on the nerve(s) affected and may include symptoms other than those listed. Symptoms usually develop gradually over years. Diabetic neuropathy affects all peripheral nerves : pain fibers, motor neurons, autonomic nerves. It therefore necessarily can affect all organs and systems since all are innervated. There are several distinct syndromes based on the organ systems and members affected, but these are by no means exclusive. A patient can have sensorimotor and autonomic neuropathy or any other combination. Symptoms may also include: • Numbness and tingling of extremities • Dysesthesia (decreased or loss of sensation to a body part) • Diarrhea • Erectile dysfunction • Urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control) • Impotence • Facial, mouth and eyelid drooping • Vision changes • Dizziness • Muscle weakness • Difficulty swallowing • Speech impairment • Fasciculation (muscle contractions) • Anorgasmia • Burning or electric pain KEEP YOUR FEET HEALTHY : • Check your feet every day. You may need to use a mirror to to check the bottoms of your feet. Call your doctor at the very first sign of redness, swelling, infection, pain, numbness or tingling in any part of your foot. • Check inside your shoes every day for things like gravel or a torn lining. These things could hurt your feet. • Have your doctor look at your feet during every office visit (at least once a year) or whenever you notice anything that seems wrong. • Choose the right shoes. The most common cause of foot sores is shoes that are new or don't fit properly. Buy shoes that fit properly and have a good arch support. Choose shoes made of soft leather. They should not fit tightly anywhere. To get the best fit, try on shoes at the end of the day when your feet are a little swollen. If you've had problems before with shoes that didn't fit well, you may want to be fitted for a custom-molded shoe with plenty of room for your toes. • Break in new shoes slowly. Wear the shoes for 1 to 2 hours. Then check your feet for red spots. If you have red spots, do not wear the shoes again until the red spots are gone. Slowly break in new shoes by wearing them one hour longer each day every 3 days. • Wear white socks and check when you take them off to see if there is any blood or fluid from a sore on them. • Wash your feet daily in lukewarm water. Dry them well, especially between the toes. Use a soft towel and blot gently; don't rub. Keep the skin of your feet smooth by applying a cream or lanolin lotion, especially on your heels. If your feet sweat easily, keep them dry by dusting them with nonmedicated powder before putting on your socks, nylons and shoes. Avoid things that are bad for your feet. Do not walk barefoot. Do not wear stretch socks, nylon socks, socks with inside seams, or socks with an elastic band or garter at the top. Do not put hot water, electric blankets, or heating pads on your feet. Do not use hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or astringents (such as rubbing alcohol or witch hazel) on your feet. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetic_ne…

Question: What do you do for diabetic neuropathy pain in your feet? I have peripheral diabetic neuropathy in my feet and am in TREMENDOUS pain. My feet/legs twitch at night uncontrollably. They hurt so badly and all the meds I am taking doesn't seem to be helping much. What helps YOU???

Answer: First of all your doctor must treat pain first and neuropathy second. Sounds to me you may need a new doctor. If I could say here in print what I think of american doctors @#$%&*(. I would demand Tramadol for the pain. I take 2 at 5 pm so I can sleep the nite away. Then I also take 200 mg of tegretol twice a day. An anti-depressant... And last but not least 2 /500mcg Mecobalamin (a special Vitamin B12 ) It works. Boo to your doctor !!! Tell him I said so. Tin

Question: Has anyone used anodyne therapy for diabetic neuropathy? I have severe pain from diabetic neuropathy and was reading about anodyne therapy. Does anyone know if this is a legitimate therapy, if it works and if it is expensive?

Answer: The FDA has cleared lasers for a variety of treatment. The therapy you are referring to is sometimes referred to as LLLT and is very effective if you receive therapy from a practitioner who uses the right laser as well as the right training. Apollo has a great resource of research, you should check out this link: http://lightandlaser.wordpress.com/2009/… You can also go to their website and locate a pracitioner in your area that may be able to assist you with your situation.

Question: what is the best medicine for legs and feet burning for diabetic neuropathy? Please tell the best medicine for legs and feet burning for diabetic neuropathy.

Answer: Marijuana – I hate that it’s thought of as some kind of miracle drug by some people, who probably just look for an excuse to get high, but smoking, even just a little to where you don’t feel absolutely stoned, numbs the legs and feet for a couple of hours.

Question: If you have diabetic neuropathy, does it mean you have diabetes? I just started showing symptoms of toe neuropathy and I have found out that the biggest reason for it is diabetic neuropathy. I am 20 and do not think I have diabetes, but if I have this condition, does that mean I do?

Answer: If your doctor told you that you have neuropathy, this doesn't necessarily mean that it's diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy can be present without you being diabetic. Can I suggest you read the following Fact Sheet on peripheral neuropathy ... which is the type of neuropathy that's present in your toes. It gives details of some of the other conditions that can cause this type of neuropathy. Can I also suggest that you ask your doctor why you've got it, what the implications are, and how it can be treated. This is what your doctor is paid for.

Question: Is diabetic neuropathy fully curable when blood sugar is in control? If blood sugar is in controll is diabetic neuropathy is fully curable or not. I mean the pains in legs & hands come down permanently else they will be still there. My blood sugar is in control but i am overweight ,i have still pains and burning sense in my hands and legs often though it has come down alot from before.

Answer: Radha K, Diabetic neuropathy is the impairment or damage of nerve function due to increased blood sugars. If the neuropathy involves the sensory nerves it will lead to either a loss of feeling or you may experience constant pain, burning and/or tingling. If the nerves involved are motor nerves it will affect the strength of the muscle leading to weakness and loss of use. Diabetic neuropathies can be classified as focal or diffuse and each has their own symptoms, rate of progress, and method of treatment. Focal neuropathies involve a single nerve or a small group of nerves that become damaged due to loss of blood supply or it may become trapped within swollen tissues. Diffuse neuropathies are the more common type of diabetic neuropathy. They affect both motor and sensory nerves, involve a widespread loss of nerve function and affect both sides of the body at the same time. They are usually gradual in onset and unfortunately they are not reversible or curable. Keeping your blood glucose levels within the range recommended by your doctor or endocrinologist is the best way to delay the beginning and decrease the severity of diabetic neuropathies. It would be of obvious benefit if you were able to reduce your weight. This may be done in conjunction with your doctor and, if you have one, fitness advisor. ALL ANSWERS SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED, IN ANY FORUM AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS ONE. - MANY ANSWERS ARE FLAWED. The information provided here should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. I add a link with details of this subject http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Diabetic_neuropathy Hope this helps matador 89

Question: Does benfotiamine really decreases the effect of diabetic neuropathy. If so, where can I get it in India? While searching in the internet, I came to know about benfotiamine. My mother is suffering from intolerable pain due to diabetic neuropathy. What type of medicine is this, is it an allopathic or natural or homeopathic. Does this has good effect in decreasing the neuropathic pain? If so, where can I get the same in Tamilnadu, India, particularly, in Coimbatore.

Answer: You are looking for a miricle cure> The normal medicines that relieve neuropahy is a anti- depressant and a special Vitamin B12 called :Mecobalamin( methycobal 500 mcg The anti- depressant I took was ; Carbamazepin...It took about a month for pain to reside. In the mean time Tramadol is one of the best pain relievers for this problem . I took 2 before bed time. So as to sleep. You can take up to 8 - 50 mg tab. a day. Good luck. By the way the B 12 I have is made in INDIA>