Small Fiber Neuropathy: Foot Cramps?

Nervous · 10-25-2011, 09:05 AM

@Deb: Thanks for the advice. I have been off wheat and, as far as I know gluten, for 14-ish years — in other words, since well before I developed any PN symptoms.

Dr. Smith · 01-15-2012, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GolfPat

I know that this may sound like a crazy person is sending this to you, but my own MD recommends this, i.e, place an unwrapped bar of soap between your bottom sheet and your mattress pad. If you feel a foot cramp or a leg cramp coming on (or it's going full blast), slap your foot or leg on the soap. My some miracle, the pain will go away.

I happened to be at a.... "support group" (of sorts

) today, and this topic/remedy came up. Three people out of ten at the oblong table said they had heard of it, tried it, and it worked for them.

All afternoon/evening I've been thinking about how I was going to broach the subject here. I (coincidentally) came up with pretty much the same introduction as GolfPat above... "I know this may sound crazy, BUT...." and I could just imagine mrsD shaking her head as she typed her response....

But before typing this, I decided to search the site to see if it had come up before (Well aware that I'm often behind the curve....) Lo & behold, it's come up several times! (including mrsD's successful experimentation with same)

Ah, well.... better late than never!

Hope it's still working for folks. I'll probably try it myself.

Doc

Nervous · 01-15-2012, 11:28 PM

^^Didn't work for me, but some say has worked for them.

Report back with your findings, if you don't mind.

Dr. Smith · 01-16-2012, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nervous

Report back with your findings, if you don't mind.

Tried it last night, but I'll have to give it a few more tries; I was unusually restless, and I don't think my feet remained anywhere near the 2 bars of soap....

Doc

mrsD · 01-16-2012, 01:41 PM

Melody started it.... I think there are two long threads around on it.

Only certain types of soap work. Ivory is the best. Basically the alkaline soap absorbs organic acids given off from our bodies at night. That is what I figured. During the day, most of our body is exposed to the air more than at night where 1/2 is in contact with the mattress. Putting the soap there helps absorb these organic compounds that come off us as part of our metabolism.

I left two bars of Ivory, open in little saucers next to my bed on each side. That worked as well as under the sheet.

Here is a link to the main "soap" thread:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ighlight=Ivory

I do recall looking this up on Snopes, and at the time they were not able to accept or refute this remedy....so it remains "possible"

The soap bar has to be replaced periodically, as it deteriorates.

Nervous · 01-16-2012, 02:05 PM

I tried the Ivory. As I say, without much result.

mrsD's theory about what happens at night is interesting because my cramps happen only at night, and my spamicity only happens when I arise in the morning.

Dr. Smith · 01-16-2012, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsD

I do recall looking this up on Snopes, and at the time they were not able to accept or refute this remedy....so it remains "possible"

Yes, as I mentioned, I looked up all the threads/posts here before posting myself, and I checked with Snopes as well, which labels it Undetermined:
http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/legcramp.asp

Doc

Apollo · 01-16-2012, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nervous

My diet has been free of most of these items for more than ten years.

Accurate diagnosis? I only know what my doctors tell me. In 2008, after a rash, I had some neuropathy, so they said I had shingles. Last year, I started getting foot pain. It felt like bone pain or joint pain, not nerve pain (tingling and burning). Now, I have above the waist and below the waist symptoms of neuropathy, mostly hands, arms, legs, knees, and feet. My rheumatologist was so confident of his diagnosis two days ago that he said that, while a biopsy could be performed to confirm small fiber neuropathy, he didn't see the point of it.

Heredity? My brother has MS.

I always understood that dead or damaged nerves could not be restored. This site seems to argue otherwise. Now, I don't know what to believe. Hmm.

I have no desire to take neurontin or lyrica, the two drugs recommended by the rheumatologist, so I am going to start experimenting with vitamins and supplements, as per this forum's recommendations (B12, magnesium, CoQ10, etc.)

In the middle of the night last night, I woke up to discover that I was developing tingling in my left big toe. After an hour, the same thing started happening in my right big toe. It's like I'm watching myself fall apart minute by minute, which, to say the least, is disconcerting.

It should be interesting to see if I can keep from going cuckoo while I learn to deal with this.

P.S. Thanks for your help. It means a lot to me. Indeed, I think it's all I have right now.

Have you been checked for Lyme disease via a "Lyme-Literate" physician? I ask this because you mentioned the rash.

If not, you may wish to click on the following link for more information:

http://www.lymedisease.org/

130upchurch · 01-18-2012, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nervous

My diagnosis is one day old. You can imagine what kind of emotional/psychological state I am in right now.

Question: Can anything relieve or prevent the foot cramps that i get at night? Are they affected or improved by drinking water? Taking potassium?

Thanks.

I have learned so much in my battle with small fiber and larger fiber nerve diseases. I am finally losing control and hope I can help you and as many as possible feel better........ Mustard helps cramps anywhere at anytime. Take a teaspoonful. Over the counter potassium pills are not very helpful. Eat Sweet potatoes, V-8 juice, bananas, almonds, boxed milk on the inner isle shelves...and much more. Prescription potassium is helpful. I hope we can talk again. Let us know how you are dealing with this.

ps.....Nothing with the water affected my cramping one way or the other. Water is so good and necessary for everything else!

Nervous · 01-18-2012, 01:14 PM

"Mustard helps cramps anywhere at anytime."

What form of mustard? The condiment? Capsules? Mustard seeds?

Thanks.

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