if your PN started BEFORE the allopurinol, then it is probably not a factor. If it started after you were given it or worsened however, I would suspect it. Allopurinol is not an easy drug on the body, and I have seen over the years, that in US, where I am, it has fallen in use substantially.

most people here use colchicine for acute management only.

You just maybe right. I have had swelling and almost gout like symptoms since being on it. After reading your post I stopped and dramatic relief. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it was due to the Allopurinol but will wait another few days and post back

mrsd just wanted to report back and thank you for your advice. I was on Allopunrinal for several weeks and in the time my P/N just got worse and worse daily including painful electric shock shooting pains so I assumed it was progressing. Since stopping the Allopurinol it has instantly dropped back to just mild burning which is no problem as I live in Thailand so sandals are the norm however I will pick your brains a little if I may?
Since day one my right foot has been worse than the left and since day one it has been slightly swollen but only noticeable to me for example if I stand you can see the veins on my left foot but not my right. This gives me a slight limp when I walk due to niggling minor stabbing pain. The pain is mostly in the soft tissue in the arch of my foot and only when I walk or stand. My rheumatoligist who is aware of nerve damage has given me Prednisolone 5 mg x6 per day if I get Chronic Gout Pain. This swelling I don't believe is gout as Ive had it for over a month however the Prednisolone is very effective and take it occasionally to stop the swelling which doesn't appear to be Neuro related. I also take 200mg of celebrex per day.
Question

1.Is it dangerous take Predisolone for long periods?
2.What supplements can I use to help the swelling? you can see on my op what supplements I am taking.
3. What do you think maybe causing the swelling? I have only started taking low dose Lyrica 75mg/day in the last few days and the swelling started well before that

Thanks in advance

Same thing here much like I am a good drunk always it makes me feel better and sleep well, but oh man it's the biggest lie I ever told myself.
I walk one day at a time.
zorrro13 please note that all AA groups are differnt so shop around try differnt groups you dont have to go everyday I go once every 2- 3 months at best just as a remainder of how my ex-best friends {Beer- Vodkas} hurt me bad.
Here is a test dont drink for min 24 hours then drink 2 beers only, 2 hours later your peripheral nervous system will light up like a christmas tree or at least mine does . Other then PN I am in great health. So it's one day at a time for you me and millions of others. I am trying to find a newer and better friend in myself. We can talk any time you want email, phone or jJust know your not alone

are hard on the body. So yes, over time, it may thin your bones, cause low potassium/magnesium, and harm the stomach.

It is hard to evaluate swelling of the feet. I'll use myself as an example. All vacation my feet were great (except when I had the viral attack/stiff neck and ear pain). Neither swelled up either. But as soon as I returned home, my feet AND HANDS have been mildly swollen, like they usually are. So what is different? Well, breathing polluted air, drinking chlorinated city water, and climbing stairs all day long. Those 3 things are missing on vacation. Also there is a different mattress to sleep on. The chairs you sit in! (my chairs here at the computer do not exist at our vacation place).

Lyrica and Neurontin cause swelling in many people. So I would consider it a culprit too, even at lower doses. If you are doing better, I would consider dropping it to see if your swelling improves.
Swelling also gets better if you supplement vitamin B6. I would use P5P if you can get it there, in doses no more than 50mg a day.

People who have alcohol intolerance or prior addiction really should use thiamine daily to support the alcohol dehydrogenase system. The newer better form is benfotiamine.
But I don't know if you have that over there either.

Shoes can be a culprit too. Plain sandals do not give support to the foot, and are hard if you walk long distances. If you have any pronation issues in the ankle (weak ankles) this pain can refer up the leg and down into the foot. Using proper orthotic supports can correct this. Sometimes just mechanical changes can be profound (this happened with my son).

Make sure your magnesium is a good type. If it is magnesium oxide---you are not benefiting from it. The oxide form is very common, and recently was tested in humans by taking blood levels after consuming and found to not be absorbed compared to other types-- the chloride delayed release and chelates like citrate/malate/glycinate/lactate were all far superior.

Make sure if you are taking thiamine you are getting enough.
300mg a day at least. You would have to take this separately from any mixed complex type (which are lower generally). Benfotiamine is better and longer lasting in the body. It is a fat soluble form of thiamine and has been used in Europe now for many years.

These suggestions are all I can think of for now. But see how they pertain to you.

dpetti you are so right about the 2 beer test. The difference is astounding halfway through my first beer! At the stage I'm doing very well without AA. Pain is a very motivating factor!!! Thanks for your advice though and definitely will follow through if I have a relapse

I'm actually having molded inserts of my feet done today, that sort of thing is very cheap here and done at hospitals. I can buy Lyrica or any other Pain blocker prescription free and any strength but Vitamins are hard to get here but I'm off to Australia next week and will buy from there

This is interesting, I just had the mold of my feet done for the supports and after looking at them he suggested I lie on the the table and straight away he says your right foot is shorter than your left visually by around 1cm or more. That's got me thinking if its possible that it may be causing or contributing some way to my neuropathy as well . I don't have back pain and have never been to a chiropractor. I am a serious walker and walk everywhere, everyday sometimes many miles and have done so all my life. Should I see a chiropractor or just use the supports for a while? Really don't know where to go with this so any advice from anyone appreciated.

p.s I haven't been diagnosed with what type of Neuropathy I have yet but Alcohol is the front runner for now

I think sometimes it takes a huge issue to make one stop an addiction and never go back. I really feel that support groups regardless of issue can help one stick to recovery. It is not a failure to get support but a strength. Also to help you see why you used drinking to cope or not with life. I feel that if people don't find out the reasons behind there addiction other issues or possible addictions or unhealthy ways of living will come into there life. Not for everyone but for many. I have many friends who suffered from eating disorder and then got well but became addicted to drugs. It was just switching issues cause the feelings and issues were still there.
I do agree though pain is a huge factor and health issues that don't go away that I didn't even do to myself as a factor to keeping me in recovery. The days I want to give in I just remind myself of the health issues I have and how they don't go away so doing more damage to myself won't help. Ok there is my long rant. Hang in there and as we say in the recovery world take one day at a time.

Its all individual.
In 1998-99 I was drinking a quart (or more) of vodka a day to self medicate for the pain and became dependent on alcohol.
In 2000 when I was Dx'd with PN - I stopped- cold turkey.
No AA. No groups. Just stopped.
Stayed off for 5 years except at New Year's eve - 1 glass of champagne or my birthday- one drink- beer or wine.
Now, I like a beer or wine with dinner - one beer, on occasion.
Last nite I had brats with sauerkraut & a beer - one.
My neuro looked at my drinking history and pronounced alcoholic PN.
Some tests, skin biopsy,etc.- the Dx stuck.
I think it was B12 deficiency prior to the drinking (and the drinking made it worse, but I didn't know that at the time), but........ that's life.