[butterfly00199]

i have PN ... and the pain is getting so so bad. i am taking gabapentin... 300 mg. 3 x daily... i think i need a heck of a lot more than that!!!! OUCH

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by butterfly00199

i have PN ... and the pain is getting so so bad. i am taking gabapentin... 300 mg. 3 x daily... i think i need a heck of a lot more than that!!!! OUCH

Hi there:

Welcome to Neurotalks.

Have you been tested for diabetes? Do you know your numbers?

We need a bit more information. We have lots of learned folks here who can help you.

Take care,
Melody

[butterfly00199]

i so hate anything touching my feet... at night i keep my feet outside of the blankets... cuz it bothers me...PN... but my feet feel like they are burning... yet they too are cold to the touch... what can do??? it is almost like at times my brain is confused... i can not tell if my feet are freezing , or burning... but they hurt so bad!!! i am on a low dose of gabapentin... what else can i do??? HELP!!!

[butterfly00199]

yes... i should have mentioned that huh??? sorry... i am diabetic... not under the best of control... IDDM ... i know what to do & what i should eat & all that jazz... but i don't... i do... then i don't...
my numbers... well my glucose levels run aroung 200ish (please don't judge) i know...
sooooooo... yeah... i am diabetic... for 22 years now...

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by butterfly00199

yes... i should have mentioned that huh??? sorry... i am diabetic... not under the best of control... IDDM ... i know what to do & what i should eat & all that jazz... but i don't... i do... then i don't...
my numbers... well my glucose levels run aroung 200ish (please don't judge) i know...
sooooooo... yeah... i am diabetic... for 22 years now...

Okay, my friend, don't worry, no one here is going to judge you. We've been there and done that.

To me, (especially because your feet burn), you probably (and I say PROBABLY), have diabetic neuropathy. You are diabetic for the same number of years that I am diabetic.

What meds are you on? And what does IDDM mean?

Are you on oral meds, or insulin. We need to know this stuff. It's important.

I know how hard it is to change one's diet. Are you overweight? This is important.

I know because I walk in your shoes. I was very fortunate. I lost over 100 lbs and found a new way of looking at food.

It's hard but I'm better for it and my sugar is very much under control. Sure, I have my high days, but most of the time, I'm in good control.

Now I CAN help you with something for your burning. I found this information on these message boards.

I take Methyl B-12 every single morning. I take 5000 (it's a pill that you place under your tongue). I let it just dissolve.

Been doing this for almost 2 years now. There's B-12 and there's B-12.

But the Methyl form of B-12 is the one that we need because we have nerve damage.

My feet used to burn and buzz and drive me nuts.

I knew immediately that I needed to be on Methyl B-12 for my neuropathy. I couldn't find it anywhere in any health store near my house. The regular B-12 pills contain a different form. They contain Cyanocobalimin.

I take a better form. The Methyl B-12 (actually it's methylcobalimin), well, in my case, it's been wonderful.

B-12 helps our nerves heal. In my case, I've had much success. But I must tell you. I have done everything I can do (nutrition wise), to get my diabetes under control.

I lost my weight, I eat healthfully. I know this might sound like preaching, and I'm trying not to preach, but it is what it is.

If your numbers are 200ish, THEY SHOULD NOT BE. Because down the road, your other organs will be affected.

I believe you know this, otherwise you wouldn't be here asking for help right?

So if you want more info on the B-12, just reply to this post.

We are here to help. We are very friendly and we all have pain and sometimes it's cool to find solutions that we can pick up for just a few bucks.

How long have your feet being feeling like this?

Melody

[dahlek]

I encourage you to wade thru the stickies at the top of the forum page here:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread177.html
Just click on the blue and you will get to where you will likely learn far more about PN than you thought possible... But there IS more to learn for sure and we all keep trying!
Don't be afraid to ask questions, none are too silly!

Melody? IDDM is Insulin Dependent Diabetes Metillus....or Type 1.

Butterfly, there isn't a person here who doesn't HURT to some degree. Be assured we all understand. - j

[shiney sue]

Please read the stickies as J suggesred,there is a world of imformation
on PN a lot more then even some Drs. know, I mean it. Being a long
time diabectic,we have are up's and down's but we do have to think about
are other guts and we want to keep are toes and legs ect.Every time I
go too the diabectic center, that darn diiet aways seems to change even
in a small way.You have PN your in pain be sure it's also not a infection,I've
been going through kidney infections and the sugar goes up.

Mel has a good idea about the b12 meth it's worth a try,it's helping alot of
people.. But you know about your numbers they got to come down ,please
not judging there's a group here that works on that here as well. Good luck
thanks for stopping by and please come back,day or night. Hugs to all Sue

[Brian]

Hi & welcome to this forum, I think my first step move would be to try to get that burning under better control, i see your on a reasonably low dose of gabapentin at the moment, perhaps your doctor may be able to adjust or change your meds to at least get you more comfortable for now, i know it's pretty hard to concentrate on your sugar levels whilst in so much discomfort, that i really do understand.

Diabetes is a weird disease in that some people never even get complications like nerve damage yet others do, i had terrible burning in feet and legs at only prediabetic levels but once i got my sugars right i started to slowly heal and i mean slowly , but all the counting carbs and exercise was well worth it in the long run.

I know exercise is very difficult whilst your feet are burning so bad, i found it impossible to walk the pavements, so i opted to go to our local pool early in the morning when hardly knowone was there and just walk up and down the lanes for exercise, this does did not hurt my feet one bit, but made a huge differance in my sugar levels.

Supplements that may help, thiamine [B1] taking in divided dosages during the day may help with the burning also befotiamine may be worth checking out also, R lipioc acid, gamma-linolenic acid, carnitine, vitamin C, a multi B
vitamin & b12.

best of luck to you
Brian

[glenntaj]

--you're on a very low dose of gabapentin, especially if you're not 5-foot-nothing and 100 pounds; many people have used amounts in the 2400-4800 range before finding out at which level they get maximum relief, as the response is very individual. (And some people it doesn't work for at all.)

There's also the possibility of trying Lyrica (pregabalin), which is supposed to function much the same as gabapentin except more effectively, so one can take a lower dose.

Not to detract from those people here who've recommended getting your blood sugar well-controlled and working on a supplement plan, though. I understand why you may need meds to control pain now; but the other steps are quite necessary to slow or halt progression and promote healing.

[nide44]

Not only Gabapentin, but you should be on a mix,
a 'cocktail' of meds working together for the PN symptoms & pain.
Both together, work better than either, alone.
Usually a pain killer is used in combination with the Gabapentin or Lyrica.
Mine is Tramadol (Ultram)
You are at a very low 'starter' dose of gabapentin. You probably will not see any difference in relief until you reach the 2600-3200 range- if you can tolerate the med.
I was on 4200mgs/day for 6+ years, before switching to Lyrica.