I developed peripheral neuropathy in early 2012, shortly after starting Lipitor. I am not diabetic, alcoholic, hypo-thyroid, or low in B vitamins. My kidney function was also reduced by the Lipitor. After getting off the Lipitor (against my PCP’s wishes), my kidney function returned to its earlier value, but the neuropathy remained. I tried most of the supplements recommended on this sight and a few others with no relief to the symptoms (tingling, temperature sensitivity, pain, etc.). My neurologist recommended gabapentin. It seemed to help for a while, but I was always tired and stupid. And the neuropathy continued to get worse. I was switched to Lyrica. At first, this seemed perfect. I was not tired or stupid, and initially, I was almost symptom free. However, the neuropathy continued to progress. At its worst, the pain was up to my knees and was almost unbearable when sleeping at night.

Somewhere during this journey, I tried some laser treatments, twice a week for 5 weeks. The pain was reduced at first, but as soon as I went on maintenance (once a month), the symptoms came back as strong as before. So, even though I knew some people personally who had been helped by laser treatments, I decided that they weren’t helping me.

After doing some research and reading some anecdotal stories, I decided that the gabapentin and Lyrica that were supposed to help me were in fact making things worse by masking the damage until the new pain would break through. So, in November 2017, I stopped taking any gabapentin or Lyrica.

In February 2018, I decided to try laser treatments again. After 5 weeks of twice-a-week treatments, I felt better. I was a long way from being symptom free, but I was positive that it was helping. I then decided that, rather than go on monthly maintenance, I would continue with twice a week-treatments as long I believed I was continuing to improve. This is not cheap, but I was in a position where I could afford it.

I have an annual Nerve Conduction test to check how my neuropathy is progressing. When I went for testing in November of 2018, I knew I felt better but wanted to see if this could be backed by subjective evidence. My neurologist was stunned when he saw that all my numbers had improved.
Today, November 12, 2019, I went for my annual Nerve Conduction tests again. And once again, my numbers have improved.

More, importantly, I have very little pain now, even when wearing my tennis shoes to exercise. I have much less temperature sensitivity. I still have tingling but that is almost exclusively in my feet. I plan to continue the treatments as long as I continue to improve. Until I stop the treatments, I don’t know will get worse again without them. However, since I think my neuropathy was caused by prescribed medicines that I no longer take, I don’t think the neuropathy will come back.

NOTE: This requires a Class-IV laser, not the kind on the tip of laser pen. Looking directly into the laser will blind you.

Below are my Nerve Conduction results (hope this prints ok):

Sensory NCS-CH-1 Motor NCS
Date L. SURAL -Lat Mall R. SURAL -Lat Mall L COMM PERONEAL - EDB R COMM PERONEAL - EDB L TIBIAL (KNEE) AH R TIBIAL (KNEE) AH
1. Calf 1. Calf 1. Ankle 2. FibHead 3. Knee 1. Ankle 2. FibHead 3. Knee 1. Ankle 2. Knee 1. Ankle 2. Knee

12/04/2012 9 months after I started Lipitor
37.5 38.1 44.0 42.6 43.1 43.5 38.8 37.2

11/11/2014 I was on 1200 mg of daily gabapentin during this period. If Lipitor was the cause, why was I getting worse.
37.3 38.4 38.1 37.7 38.3 37.7 37.0

11/02/2017 At some point. I stopped Gabapentin and went on Lyrica. I was on 450 mg of daily Lyrica during this time period.
35.9 35.0 37.7 36.4 36.6 35.7 35.9 36.8

11/06/2018 No longer taking Gabapentin or Lyrica since 11/2017. Started twice a week laser treatments 2/2018 Some readings close to 2014 readings.
37.3 36.8 40.2 41.7 37.2 36.4 37.1 37.6

11/12/2019 Twelve more months of twice a week laser treatments.
38.4 38.4 40.0 39.2 39.8 39.4 38.5 39.8