ugh... 3 shots in the ankles! that is alot.

I had one steroid shot in my left ankle, several years before now, and
before it never swelled up, and now it does. I had had a spider bite on the other side of the ankle, and the ignorant podiatrist (who I did not return to) did the shot on the medial side because I still had inflammation from the bite (which required antibiotics, and steroids on vacation, oral).

That foot also had a surgery 50+yrs ago, to remove a tumor on the instep...so I always blamed that surgery. But that steroid shot in the ankle, could have also done "something" too. That ankle flares and improves, and flares again. On a schedule only it understands!

I'd really suggest you start with magnesium .. soak in epsom salts for a few days and see if there is improvement.

Also do you wear those tight boots? Hiking boots? Those could be compressing things and adding to problems. I'd really look to your footware for a while. I use an alternate lacing for my athletic shoes now and that really helps. They take the pressure off the instep and stop squeezing the nerves there.

Here is some homework.... a great website with drawings of the feet, showing where the nerves are, the tarsal ligaments, etc.
The shoe lacing is found there too.

http://www.northcoastfootcare.com/
There is so much on this site to read...all of it very good and useful.

Here are the alternate lacing techiques:
http://www.northcoastfootcare.com/pa...echniques.html

I use springy white spiral laces now( from Famous Footware), which are made for kids, so you probably wouldn't go for those. But they take the pressure off the instep and stop the numb toes I used to get sometimes.

I don't wear tight boots and in fact, haven't been hiking in a while. Just too painful.

So, I'm trying to decide what supplements I should start with. As I mentioned my b12 test was over 700. Should I start with: Benfotiamine? It seems to help many. I'm already taking Vitamin D.

I agree about not starting with everything, but there are so many listed that I'm not sure where to begin.

Benfotiamine would be a place to start, if you drink alcohol, or eat alot of sugar and carbs. People with insulin resistance or beginning impaired glucose tolerances, find it very helpful.
300mg a day for about 2 months.

Make sure you are using a good magnesium product, at 200mg a day elemental (which is 1/2 the RDA)
And you can try the fish oil/ krill oil, for anti-inflammatory effects.
3 fish oil or 2 Krill oil daily.

The acetyl carnitine would be for those who have toxin induced symptoms either from drugs or chemicals. But if you want to try it, start at 500mg a day in two divided doses of 250mg each.

See what happens in 2-3 months on this, including your B12.

I forgot the R-lipoic acid stabilized by Doctor's Best... sorry.
100mg a day.

My computer is very slow today, as the DSL went down during a storm last night. It remains pokey today for some reason.

I really appreciate your recommendations.

In your experience have you heard of any Neurologists suggesting any of these supplements? Neither of the Neurologists I've been to so far never mentioned anything other than drugs. I went to an Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in feet and he suggested I take B6. He's the only one who suggested anything other than drugs.

There have been some posters here (not many but a few), who
have stated that their neuro suggested lipoic acid and acetyl carnitine.

Dr. Blaylock MD...has a newsletter, that Joano posts about now and then, and he recommends lipoic acid and theanine. He has thru his career as a neurosurgeon used supplements to aid healing of his patients. You can Google him, and see his own recipes for neuro support.

Excellent. Thanks again. Really glad to have found this forum!!!

I had a fairly thorough check-up by a neurologist a few years back when I was trying to get to the bottom of the pain that was at that time dx'd as fibromyalgia. We hadn't yet focussed in on neuropathic pain but he did know I have type 2 diabetes. The only thing he recommended at that time was Alpha Lipoic Acid or R-Lipoic Acid (a stabilized form of Alpha Lipoic Acid). When I asked what dose to take, I found his answer smile-worthy, he said, "any dose."

Evidently he knew of a patient who felt it really helped him, but didn't know of any specific dosing parameters.

So yes, I have first-hand experience with a neurologist suggesting a supplement!

You're probably OK without b12, especially if you eat red meat. Vit D is so inexpensive, and since you were low according to the tests, I'd stick to that one.

I am personally gibing the benfotiamine a shot. Here in Canada its not sold in stores so I went to I herb.com and ordered some. Its helpful to read the user reviews.

All of these take time , more than one bottle. Its tough, because we want results right away.
Alpha Lipoic Acid is a big one that is used with success, especially for diabetics. It ha some blood sugar lowering effects. I used to work at a health food store as the nutritionist.

As for medication, I have found that a combo of Lyrica and opiates to be what get me through the day..
Good luck

I actually don't eat red meat anymore. I'm not eating much meat at all. I think I'll start with what MrsD recommended and see how that goes. At this point anything would be worth a try.