Hi malawigirl08,

I know this is an older post, and perhaps you're past this, but this paragraph really jumped out at me.

Anyone taking appropriately prescribed medications as prescribed and for the reason(s) prescribed is not an addict.

It's important that old misconceptions and confusions be dispelled; dependence and addiction are not the same thing!
From: http://www.ampainsoc.org/advocacy/opioids2.htm

Addiction
Addiction is a primary, chronic, neurobiologic disease, with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. It is characterized by behaviors that include one or more of the following: impaired control over drug use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm, and craving.

Physical Dependence
Physical dependence is a state of adaptation that is manifested by a drug class specific withdrawal syndrome that can be produced by abrupt cessation, rapid dose reduction, decreasing blood level of the drug, and/or administration of an antagonist.
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The fact that you are telling time by pain levels rather than a watch supports that you are not an addict; "clockwatching" is an addictive behavior (it is also a pseudo-addictive behavior, but that is a separate issue also explained in the above referenced document.)

I agree, support, and have long professed the view that "you do what you need to to get by" (with the usual disclaimers re: legality, safety, harm, etc.) with slightly different phrasing.

Hang in there,

Doc

I am 10 days using the rebuilder. I was having a lot of pain in the feet about 7-8 out of 10 at night, my balance problems resulted in 2 falls, and the numbness in my feet on a scale of 1-10 was about a 7-8. After 10 days, I am down to pain at night is < 4 , Balance problems < 4 (no more falls either), numbness at night < 4.

In addition to the rebuilder I am also using the supplement list from Wing42. trying to stay on an auto-immune diet.

One problem still is walking distance. At the end of a mile my balance gets worse (7-8 at the end ) starting with a 3-4 at the beginning. I am stretching.

I believe my neuropathy started with damage to the nerves in my back from back injury 10 years ago and has gotten worse through diet, stress, etc.

I am going to stay with the rebuilder. It does seem to be part of the answer for me. At the end of 30 days I will post another reply. I keep daily records and always try to observe my symptoms. I sure hope the distance and balance issues improve, but maybe there is still some aggravation of the nerves.

At the end of 30 days I also plan to see a doctor that has studied functional neurology in Broward Florida for possible next steps.

I have had a Rebuilder for over 10 years. When things are particularly bad at night, I use it for a soak, although if I had to do it now, I would either get a less expensive unit, or just soak in Epsom salts.
I do feel a bit better after a session, which might also happen with just a soak; I don't believe it's reversing the condition.

I was very successful in reversing neuropathy, and the Rebuilder was part of my program, along with the usual supplements (minus ALA), doing some heavy metal detox per Andy Cutler, going gluten free and eating antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetables. The Rebuilder definitely sped the process.

I had a quick onset PN after medication. Within about three months I was in a wheelchair because I couldn't feel either foot, I felt numbness up both legs and into my lower torso, and had shooting pains in my hands and arms. I was wobbly while trying to walk, my thigh muscles were degenerating. I have a phobia about doctors for conditions where there is no known medical treatment, so went straight to alternative healing modalities, and just dove in and spent the money for the Rebuilder. I figured I had to act quickly.

One thing I did that was really important was wearing warm socks and sock warmers 24/7 for about three-four months. Any time that my feet got cold, I felt an immediate loss of improvement. And this was during the summer!

Within a couple weeks after starting with the Rebuilder I was about 75% better, with greatly reduced numbness in my feet, my hands and arms completely better, no numbness in the thighs and torso, and my legs stronger so I was no longer wobbly. Today I'm about 95% better with some numbness still in my toes and in my feet if I do not remember to do the Rebuilder. I've started using the foot socks instead of the bath as the bath was becoming a bit too much work.

I can't say if the other modalities (epson salt baths, tens machine) recommended in this thread would have worked as well as I did not try them. The Rebuilder, last I looked, was much much cheaper than previously, $800 rather than $2000. Still too expensive, IMO. I have no connection to the Rebuilder Medical company.