I use about 4 ounces in the BATH TUB... soak up to my ankles.
Sometimes I will sit in it for a while too. It is totally relaxing.
Getting out you have to be careful... epsom salts make things slippery.

In a small dishpan size tub the 4 ounces would be too concentrated I think. But you could use it for compresses that way. I've done that on vacation where there is no bath tub.
I did my knee that way and just kept rewetting the cloth, with the concentrated salts..worked really well.

Well I did my big soak today, and checked the bag of epsom salts I use for it, and it said 2 CUPS per gallon! That has to be a typo..error!

I NEVER use that much! I put in my typical small dixie cup and it was splendid. I go up past the ankles, because my left has that old surgery scarring, and that ankle bothers me sometimes.
( I had a cavernous hemangioma removed from the top of that foot when I was 12).

On the bag of Epson Salt it says the same -2 cups per gallon. I never use that much either. I use 1/2 of a 3 oz. dixie cup. That works fine. I also go past my ankles.

It also says 2 cups in your bath water. I shower so that doesn't pertain to me.

It gets hot here in Texas...duh..I have used cold water straight from the tap..which in the summer is not cold . It's very refreshing and soothing. Cools me off too.

But I would say never more than a 1/4 cup if even that to a large foot tub.

Well, I finally did my first epsom soak in a small plastic dish tub. I just put in a pinch of the salts to luke warm water. I'm happy to say it all worked out and felt very nice. Thank goodness for that, because my feet are really getting worse and any additional relief that I can find is wonderful....

If the pain continues I would see a Dr. I had a problem with the bottom of my feet; eventually it became excruciating. Ended up with 3 seizures all tonic clonic. I was told usually when you have a fluke seizure; their is an underlying problem. See your primary physician you should take pain killers for a short time, and probably need an ant-inflammatory. I would ask for a referral to a Rheumatologist...Sometimes it takes an illness to be highly symptomatic for you to get the attention you need. Good Luck!

Dear Friends,

Is there a therapeutic component in Epsom salts that can relieve symptoms of PN?

Also, I don't understand the relationship between taking magnesium, and soaking in Epsom salt, which Hope15 remarked on but did not specify, could you explain please?

Thanks.

Patty

Epsom salts have magnesium in them. Magnesium is absorbed a little thru the skin, and it improves circulation where the person soaks. Small blood vessels close up during inflammation and nutrients in the blood then cannot get to where they are needed.

Magnesium also works orally, but in parts of the body that are not receiving good blood supply it doesn't reach where it is needed.

Magnesium helps with pain because it blocks calcium which activates the NMDA receptors in nerves that signal pain response. So magnesium is calming and reduces discomfort.

Epsom salts are especially good for people with Raynaud's syndrome, where the hands and feet get really cold. My son uses soaks for his hands when they bother him.

If you soak in a bathtub for a while (up to an hour) that has epsom salts, your muscles will be more relaxed, your skin softer and you will in general feel much better.

mrsD,

Thanks for that information. I will surly give Epsom salt a try, since in addition to having having PN, I was diagnosed with Raynaud's syndrome and have had that disorder since a very young age. My toes actually turn blue! at times. My fingers are not as sensitive, but still are affected.

I have a hard time keeping my feet mainly toes warm, as I sit here I have a little foot heater, my husband thinks I am crazy.

For me having Raynaud's is really an annoyance due to I live in WNY, where we have more cold than warm weather, and I am a snowmobiler.

I just starting taking magnesium pills, so I am hoping for some good happenings from that as well as the Epsom salts.

Patty

The hands and feet get really cold with CMT as well. Lots of the time, you don't really know it but if you feel them, they are cold.

However, I soak my feet in very lukewarm water and about 1/2 of a 3 oz. dixie cup of Epsom Salt. Any warmer water and they can hurt. That's how water that is too warm affects me. Another person might think the water is really cool.

I do this because my feet get crampy and this helps. I do not do it because they are cold. However, they will warm up during the night. It's just the way CMT is.