sells epsom salts.... This is magnesium sulfate.

You soak your feet with tepid (not hot) water, for at least 1/2 hr.
Use about 1oz to a gallon of water.

Hi Mrs. D.

I have a big box of epson salt sitting in the other room. What exactly soaking in epson salts do for PN?

Thanks, Mel

Magnesium works against calcium which the latter is involved with
NMDA pain perception. So magnesium quiets nerve firing.

Also it relaxes blood vessels that may be contracted, and improves blood flow.
Some is also absorbed thru the skin, and may help if there is deficiency.

Some Autism treatments use it, for the sulfate portion also..they claim autistic patients have errors in sulfates, and this helps. They use a cream from Kirkman labs and rub it into the back.

I find it has good local effects. And it is great in the bathtub too.

Mrs. D,

Magnesium soaks cause a flare up in my feet. So does foot massage . Does this reaction give any clues about the type of neuropathy I have? It seems to be counterintuitive. You would think that increasing blood flow either by heat or by rubbing would help but it always causes a flare up.

Mary B., they say it is idiopathic small fiber, but ?

BTW, whoever came up with them I love the emoticons

Are you using very hot water? Too warm?

Another thought is that your circulation in the feet is poor, and they are cold. When warming up, they may feel tingly or burn.
This is like when you go out in the snow and get really cold, and then warm up... hands and ears may tingle?

There are two sets of sensory temperature nerves in the hands and feet. Heat sensing ones and cold ones. The cold ones take over precedent sensations because of their survival value. So when they are active, the heat ones don't get thru to the spinal cord to register heat. This is why certain rubs with high menthol content work well for burning sensations in the feet. Biofreeze is one example. Menthol stimulates the cold sensing neurons.

You can try putting something like Biofreeze on them after the soaks. Or you can take oral magnesium instead.
People vary in the sensations they get in their feet with PN. I get burning mostly. But others get stabbing pain instead.

Check the temperature of the soaks you are using. I would try to get used to the soaks. Say everyday for a week. Your reaction may dissipate as the magnesium starts working.
If not, nothing is lost, you will then have to try Biofreeze.

If your PN is highly compressive, say because of ligament pressure on the foot, you may have to experiment further with topical products. Lidoderm patches may help.

I'd like to add: If you put too much epsom salts into the water, it may irritate the skin...just like salt would.