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.

Are the cramps in the bottom of the foot , the top of the foot or all over?

I don't have PN but, I had cramps in the bottom of my foot and a sore heel at times, my chiro suggested arch supports - i got some partial shoe inserts w/ arch support and they really helped.

The whole front of the foot and toes is about the best answer to your question. I am getting them every night, several times a night now.

Arch supports won't do it. My symptoms are consonant with Small Fiber Neuropathy. I thought I was getting some relief from taking potassium pills, but I would like to know if anyone has any solid info.

Thanks for your response.

magnesium helps cramping. staying hydrated is also important especially in summer.

I'll give it a try.

Thanks.

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Yes, ditto on the magnesium.

For some severe cases, magnesium + a good natural Vit E (one with all the other forms of E in it like gamma etc) helps alot.

Here is my magnesium thread, which explains how to choose a good supplement. Not all work --magnesium oxide---is to be avoided.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html

I took 400 mg of magnesium citrate last night before bed. It was all I had in the house, so I thought I would give it a try. I avoided having any cramps throughout the night, but my tingling symptoms are progressing rapidly.

mrsD, this is my second day with the diagnosis and I can see that I have a lot of research yet to do, but put me in the ballpark here. Is small fiber neuropathy best described as "progressive," "degenerative," and/or "ultimately fatal"? I understand that I will have pain, numbness and tingling, and that this will cause impaired function, but am I liable to lose function entirely of any or all of the affected areas (hands, feet, etc.)? How fast do things normally progress? I have idiopathic small fiber neuropathy. My symptoms seem to be getting worse by the hour.

Thanks.

New to post. I've had viral small fiber neuropathy for almost 3 yrs. To "nervous" I have to say 1)Exercise(i do water aerobics daily). It gives you natural endorphines to fight the pain. 2) try to keep stress and negative thoughts in check. Learn to meditate. 3)learn a craft with your hands.( i make cards for the military. )when the pains the worst i get crafting with my soft music on,it all helps.4)I keep sugar out of my diet also limit potatoes and tomatoes.
Last week i went to pain specialist at mayo. She was great and said this will not kill me, at present it is SLOWLY progressing. She gave me prednisone pack for 6 days in hopes of "setting it on it heals". IT WORKED!!!! i've been pain free for the first time in years. i'll enjoy it for however long it lasts and keep positive because that was my Docs. parting words. Keep the faith and sorry for the length.

nervous anyone who tells you that your PN will definitely progress until you are in a wheelchair or will get entirely better if only you do their decompression surgeries or take their miracle cure is at best misleading you and at worst trying to swindle you. Mrs. D cannot answer your question because there is no answer. No one knows if your PN will progress, progress for a while and then slow down, stay the same or get better. None absolutely noone knows this. Its all a crapshoot. I have progressed slowly over the last 9 years, but others with similiar symptoms have stayed the same, some have gotten worse and yes others have gotten better. Wings, Brian, Lizajane and Glenn just off the top of my head have improved or almost gotten totally better. Glenn's progressed from head to foot in a matter of days, talk about scary but he is doing much better now.

Others like Dan and Bob just keep slugging it out and not giving in an inch. They have both had it for many years now and Bob still runs his own business and Dan is as active as ever. Not bad for middle aged guys.

Do what you have to do to live life as fully as possible, create the best conditions in your body that you can to promote nerve health and possible regrowth and dont give in or give up.


Amit i all too well knew that life was breakable long before i got PN. I agree with your post.

For echoes long ago: Thanks for referring to me as being "middle age"....oh, if only it were true. Does being 78 qualify??? LoL