I debated whether or not to share this with everyone, but if it's of a little help to another, then it was worth my time to type this out.

If you understand what I'm referring to with the "FSS" nickname, then you've probably have experienced it. I'm on 40mg daily of Nortriptyline, & after my body got used to it, it was like flipping the switch to the "off" position on the pain relief for it. The Nortrypyline definiely has helped with the burning, tingling, stabbings, etc, though. When I talked to my Neuro about the FSS, I could tell from the expression on his face, that he really didn't know how to help & the best I could do was try to work it out on my own.

When I first came down with PN in my feet, I thought it probably has something to do with some other sort of foot problem, like morton's neuroma, so I went to a podiatrist. That really didn't work out well, but had given me an idea. I was given test insoles with a metatarsal pad, which really didn't help much. This time I went out and bought some metatarsal pads at WM and stuck them to the underside of my removable insoles. After much moving them around, I was able to get them somewhat comfortable enough, that after some getting used to them, they did help. Unfortunately, after wearing these awhile, it felt like a large pebble in my shoe & was back to square one.

These metatarsal pads were similar to the teardrop shaped ones that most would recognize. Out of curiosity, I tried some "axe-head" shaped PowerStep metarsal pads which are much thinner & I am having some relief with them. Definitely not a cure all, but I went from a feeling like a string of broken glass behind my toes to more of a dull discomfort, which I can manage with for longer periods of time. I used a vinyl tape that's easily removed so I could reposition the pad on the underside of my insole, to find the best place for them.

I'm not a Dr, and this is something I tried on my own. I guarantee nothing except that it has been of some help to me. I wear a US mens size 9, and the front edge of the pad is about 7 inches from the heel (back) edge on the insole. You can get these off ebay in the PowerStep or New Balance brand for $5.50 to $6.50 a pair, delivered. If you try it and it helps you, let me know.

I'm also a believer, now, of New Balance, extra wide-shoes. Much fewer & less pronounced "MS hugs" going on.

http://www.protherapysupplies.com/Sh...sal-Relief-Pad

Thanks for the 411, Grouch.

FSS bothered me a lot for the first year or so -- it was the first symptom I recall manifesting. By the time the burning began, I had been to a podiatrist (no help at all -- just wrapped my feet in duct tape and told me to leave it on for a week... didn't do squat) and the neurology route that wrote me off with a scrip for gabby. Right about the time I broke down and took the first gabby, I also got ahold of some RLA, and within 48 hours the burning was gone. Since then I've tried other supplements as recommended here, but the only one that's made a difference for me I found on my own - pantothenic acid (B5). Over time, the shocks, cramps, and FSS have all lessened, but never gone completely. So I can pretty well attribute it to time, RLA, B5 or a combination of 2 or all of them.

Just my $.02

Doc

Doc:
Glad to see that you've been back, for awhile. Hope the "break" you took wasn't anything serious.

The Gaba worked for about 3 weeks, then would have to up my dose. When I hit 600mg - 4x daily, I felt I had enough. If I go above 40mg daily on the Nortriptyline, it's like I've ODed on caffeine. No fun, either. I don't think my feet felt any better at 50mg, but didn't stay on it (twice) long enough to know, maybe. Another fellow on here suggested natural vitamin E made his feet feel better in 2 or 3 weeks. After being on it for 2 weeks, I found my feet were no longer icy cold. Just kinda cool in the AM, to near regular body temperature later. That wasn't what he meant, and he never did tell me what "better" was for him, but if it helps my circulation, I would say (& my Neuro agrees) it's a good thing. I just added Omega 3 & am giving that a trial run, but will keep the B5 in the back of my mind. Don't like to try multiple new supplements at once. Hard telling what's helping.

Agree. Supplements can seem like a crapshoot sometimes. Everyone's different, and it takes time to find that combination of supplements that work for each of us. I'm really glad the RLA works for me though; gabby & Lyrica S/E are intolerable, and rob me of what's left of creative abilities.

Here's the blurb that put me on to B5:

Pantothenic Acid

I'm told I'm not diabetic (always test negative) but my PN responds as if I were. Go figure.

Doc

Thanks again. What dosage of B5 works for you? I've been taking ALA, and trying R-lipoic didn't seem to work for me.

If RLA didn't work for you, I don't see how ALA could, as only the RLA portion of ALA is useable.
Also, the study cited was for B5 with ALA, so if ALA/RLA don't work, I don't know that B5 would do any good either. But it wouldn't hurt to try it. I take 500 mg/day.

Doc