It's more than likely the alcohol...there is a LOT of good support supplements in the PN section and I have found Inosine to help me a lot, my damage is from hip replacement surgery. Best to Stop the alcohol, you can do it... get to some AA groups if you can.

Hi oldbat,
Welcome! You're by no means an old bat.

Congratulations on cutting out the alcohol! That's surely going to help in the long run even if you haven't noticed any benefits yet. For one thing, beer has quite a few calories.

Since you've had quite a few tests without turning up any clues, have you looked closely at your activities lately?

What kinds of things are you doing for any length of time each day? What positions are you in? Do your shoes fit well? Might you be standing too much? Sitting too much? Sitting with your legs crossed too much? (That can cause problems.) Would you say you get enough exercise?

You mention that the problems came on in early August. Did something about your activities change at around that time?

I've had quite a few numbness and pain problems that cleared up like magic when I changed something about my daily activities. It's the things we do repeatedly and often that can bring on problems.

Thank you agate for your suggestions and encouragement. When the numbness first began in the heels, I thought it might be due to the way I was sleeping with too much pressure against the heels from the mattress, so I added a cushion to elevate the heels. I read something about hereditary pressure palsies which can be short term or last for months, although no one in my family seems to have this. My dad did have "regular" peripheral neuropathy, which started in his 70s and gradually got worse. He didn't give up the beer and sweets, thinking it wouldn't make any difference anyway. I wish he had because his quality of life suffered, especially when the ulcers began on his legs and feet.

Thank you Caroline2 for the encouragement and advice. I'll have to check out Inosine and grape seed extract. Where do you purchase these and how much do you take?

I did quit alcohol and threw the leftovers away. Some of my drinking friends would have cried to see what ended up in the garbage! Today makes 20 days of no alcohol.

You have a new life giving up alcohol free, too sad so many don't. My father never experienced a clear mind....sad for sure.

I take 500mg Inosine daily, it's on the bottle how much to take. I usually buy it from PureFormulas on line as everyone does not sell....I believe Amazon does.

On Grape Seed Ex, people starting out probably best to buy 100mg capsules and take 1-2 daily and go from there. I've been taking it so long, my normal dose is 200mg....and lately buying a 250mg capsule from Now Foods.... One has to take enough for their bodyweight....

Also, hope you do not take a pharma blood thinner, can't take both....as they thin the blood.

Don't call yourself an "oldbat"... you are not that...