Thank you for this. Actually he walks on the outside of his feet, to the extent that he is forming callouses. Back when i was a girl and shoes had rubber soles and heels mine were always worn down on the outside edges too. Newer sole materials don't show the wear the same way.
He isn't on our insurance anymore so on this recent visit home we just bought OTC ankle braces, which he loved as he had borrowed his basketball player brother's braces for a while. I did suggest he look up an orthotist back in China. Medical care is very affordable there, but also very uneven.
He doesn't drive, never liked it, so no worries there! But they have said if he hits his head again he is in danger of severe brain damage. I would go crazy if I thought about it too much, but we never know when we are going to get one of those calls or letters.
Thank you both.

I have an occasional wine cooler or glass of wine during the summer. It did seem to help PN pain a little sometimes but doesn't agree with my blood pressure med and is not worth it for me. I think there could be a real potential for abuse and related problems in self medicating that way...you might trade one set of problems for another.

I don't know how old you are Jiggered. An alcoholic death is not dignified. I live in a senior apartment complex and we have a broad spectrum of tenants. One of my neighbors died a few weeks ago of alcohol related liver failure. She spent the last 2-3 years of her life wearing diapers and occasionally 'escaping' when her husband left her alone. She then either fell down in the street trying to walk to the bar or stood on the corner attempting to flag down a car to drive her. She had been a paralegal.

I hope you find a comfortable solution.
Judi

'Only the good die young'...trying hard not to make any political comments..

Hi, Thanks for your input.
I am 47yrs old. Was in a car accident 2 yrs ago & then about a month later developed Trigeminal Neuralgia. Started taking Gabapentin & then over the course of the last 2 yrs the peripheral neuropathy started & has progressed. I started wearing the Butrans patch, 2 weeks ago & it seems to be helping with the neuropathy.
I've always drank quite abit. I'm a Canadian, I love my beer!!
I have been unable to work in the last month, as I had quite a flare up. That's when I started the Butrans. Over the last month, since I wasn't working I would have a few beer in the evenings. I'm now freaking out cause I have been constipated, from the patch, so I took some laxatives. Well today I noticed my stool was pale colored. NOT a good sign, in the liver dept.
Going to see my Pcp tomorrow & will definately cut out the booze.

Thanks again for your input.

Jiggered, if the BuTrans patch is causing constipation, try a regular daily dose of miralax. I have had problems with it all my life, (my earliest memories are of mom dosing me with Fletcher's Castoria) and resulting fissures, etc. but several years on miralax have done away with all my GI problems. I consider it a miracle. I am on low dose oxycodone along with my Gabapentin, but my problem far predates opiate usage.
So you find the Butrans effective? Does it have any other side effects? I am considering it for when my 325/5 once or twice a day are no longer effective for what I have to get done.

Interesting stuff. I don't recall hearing of it before. A little puzzling too. Are you taking it occasionally "as needed", or regularly?

Some information seems contradictory:
___vs.
Also of particular interest to us PNers....
Possible neurogenic properties?
Susanne, have you noticed any improvement in PN symptoms?

Doc

I suspect those treatments are topical. PEG is not well absorbed from the GI tract. In children there is a chance of
seizures or mental side effects with chronic use.

PEG used to be RX only, and labeling for it concerning OTC use
was determined by the FDA I would think.

Topical would be fine, if it worked. I wasn't thinking of running out and trying anything rash (I don't do rash. ) I was just reading about it, and the neurogenic mentions were intriguing.

Doc

Hi Susanne,

I'm really liking the Butrans. The first couple of days I was pretty stoned, & I've had a couple of really bad headaches from it. I needed to take some Gravol as I was nauseated as well, but after that initial couple of days it's all been really good. There is a long list of possible side affects, as with any other med.
My pcp just prescribed Motilium & wants me drink some Mag Citrate & some Milk of magnesia. I'll do that tomorrow, so I guess I'll spend my day in the bathroom. I talked to my doc about drinking beer, she said it's okay to have a couple of beer, it will help with my bowel issues. I will cut down though, as when I'm on days off I drink 3 -5 beer a night. I think that's too much.
You should talk to your Dr. about Butrans to see if it's right for you. It's nice cause u just put in on once a week, less pills to remember to pop!!

Hope u feel better.

How can beer help the bowel issues?

If it enables you to pass your stools, I'd be very suspicious that you have gluten issues. Beer of all the alcoholic drinks is filled with gluten. And people who get loose on beer, are showing a potential sign of gluten intolerance.

Gluten intolerance can be a trigger for PN as well!
This excellent website explains:
http://sites.google.com/site/jccglutenfree/
and this is the PN part:

http://sites.google.com/site/jccglut...eralneuropathy

Don't you think there is a better way to get better bowels then the drinking? I have never heard of beer causing bm but even if so it does not sound like a healthy choice. Sorry if I am out of place but just like laxatives cause bowels one should not take them regularly. I know you stated your doctor said it was ok to drink but that is concerning especially since you are on meds and I am surprised he or she would not feel liable if something happened just from that stand point. That has been my fear of drinking which I don't that meds do mix and I don't want other issues. Plus the liver issue which not from alcohol but I did have issues around and it is not pleasant.
Anyhow sorry if I am out place. I hope you take care