My aching foot pain
 

I went to see a podriatirst last summer for foot pain. I was told I had plantar fasciitis and told to do foot stretches, ice my feet and take pain meds. Oh and I purchased orthodics too. I did everything he said but instead of getting better my feet got worse, and I started getting numbness and burning in my feet and legs. I finally was given a nerve test in my legs and feet but it showed that everything was normal. Well everything isn't normal because my feet hurt and they burn and they get numb! My doctor's answer to all of this was to put me on neurontin which i have been taking for 2 weeks now. I am wondering if anyone else in this group has had a similiar experience?

Hi
Are you diabetic? If so, getting your glucose down will help a huge amount for your foot pain.

Sounds extremely familiar.
 

Far too many doctors, even neurologists, don't recognize that foot pain that is burning or stabbing in nature might represent small-fiber length-depedndent peripheral neuropathy--and standard nerve conduction studies will not pick up on this, as they can only measure the functin of larger, myelinated nerves.

There are certain types of tests, such as quantitative sensory testing and various autonomic tests, which might be able to pick this up, but the current gold standard is skin biopsy for intraepidermal small nerve fiber density/condition analysis (only done at about eight centers in the US, but Hopkins has a program to which samples can be sent and analyzed by them).

Take at look at:

http://www.thecni.org/reviews/13-2-p07-treihaft.htm

This is how my hypothyroid was many years ago....

My feet were a mess. I thought it was from standing at work for 13hr shifts! The pain progressed to numbness over time, and when I was finally given Levothyroxine to fix it, my feet woke up and started tingling/burning for over a year. I had to endure going backwards with the symptoms. Today I have only a bit left, and since my tests are good, no increase in levothyroxine dose is offered.
I also had carpal tunnel, along with it.

I got a bout of plantar fasciitis from wearing a size to small shoe last summer.
They fit fine when I bought them but it was early in the day so my feet hadn't expanded or swelled as most feet tend to do by afternoon time.

When we had a heat wave I noticed then after a few hours I had to take them off - they just got tight overall.
I had no clue this might cause something like plantar fasciitis...

I finally asked my chiro about it and he mentioned arch support/orthotics and the stretches... but he also did some ultrasound and low level laser tx on my heel and foot.
Just needed it the 2 times so far and with orthotics in my shoes- and got rid of the too small shoes -and make sure now to get shoes that are roomy.
Now I only notice it a bit if I hold my foot in a odd angle and then walk right away.

You may have more going on than I did, but the low level laser is supposed to help with all kinds of healing and painful areas.
Also called cold laser.
http://www.laser.nu/

Hi,

I am condensing this but I had arches rebuilt in both feet because of foot pain. That was about 10 yrs ago. I now have terrible foot pain on the top of the right foot. I have been diagnosed by Mayo Clinic with multifocal motor neuropathy. This started in my right hand (I thought) with numbness and cramping (3 yrs before diagnosed).
I have IVIG treatments and after one of the "12 treatments within 4 weeks", I noticed that the pain in the right foot was gone. I canceled a surgery that my dr was going to do (he agreed) and he told me to come back when the pain gets bad again. He said that the x-rays show arthritis and that the best thing he can do is fuse the bones!
I am trying to get back to Mayo to ask some questions about my neuropathy and how this could affect my joints (I had a knee replacement that still gives me trouble), my foot, etc.
My neuropathy is rare and my drs know little about it...frustration Big Time!

crstr

Has anybody tried Topical Magnesium Oil for foot pain? I use it for SFN whereever it strikes or for attacks and it acts quickly(like within 5 minutes)like a dose of Neurontin. It is worlds for your nerves and body in general then Neurontin. In fact Neurontin and Lyrica and other drugs will only make situations worse down the road. When I am able to post links, I will do so. I am not a salesman, just someone who has been dealing with this stuff for awhile and trying everything.

I think there is alot of deception by Big Pharma and mainstream doctors. In other words, they give you a pharmaceutical for one thing and it causes 5 other problems. Then they tell you, that is natural as you spiral downwards. I have found things on the alternative side of medicine without this negative action. In fact quite the contrary. Magnesium is natures(Xanax). This stuff stops my pain fast and relaxes me bigtime. It also is very energizing as opposed to Neurontin/Lyrica which make you fall asleep. In addition, it is also a mineral which a good portion of the world is deficient in causing a whole host of problems. I take this along with an ayurvedic herb called Gotu Kola and I feel much better than taking the Neurontin.

Magnesium gel
 

aeb105,
I do feel relief from using magnesium gel (rather expensive) what kind of magnesium oil do you use and where can I find it. I also use Ginkgo, R-lipoic acid, Acetyl-L-Carnitine and others. What brand of Gotu Kola and how much. I am starting a Lyrica detox (over 1 month period) since the Capzasin use on the right foot has helped over 30 day usage. Most who post here like IHerb for supplements. Last night medicial news stated that the baby asprin preventing heart attack ain't as truthful as stated. Have a monthly appointment this pm with the VA clinic for my methadone refill, this is one drug that does help with pain. My legs keep getting weaker, I believe from long term Lyrica usage.

I use Swanson Ultra: Dr. Barbara Hendel's Magnesium Oil. I got 3 spray bottles for $20 when I bought it about 4 months ago. The Gotu Kola I use from Vitamin Shoppe, but I am sure Solaray and others make it as well. I use Iherb as well in fact just got a $10 certificate cause I buy so much stuff.

Holy Basil and BC-95 Curcumin as an advil substitute for my headaches and pain.

My PN symptoms were masked or predated by plantar fasciitis also. The numbness in my toes was linked to a Morton's neuroma and it made sense at the time. I am a hockey referee and often skate for 2-5 hours at a time on a weekend day and it can be very taxing on the feet.

The Morton's neuroma went away, it took six months and the plantar fasciitis went away too. But it reappeared within a month (I blame going barefoot on the tile floor for this) and then it was back to hockey season. The numbness in the left pinky toe became more prevalent with all the pains and tingling. When it spread I went back to the podiatrist and he gave me more of the same but suggested the electro shock tests.

By that time it was in both feet and they were numb top and bottom past the ball of the foot. The glucose tests were normal so it was diagnosed as PN with no known cause, how far it will go or where it will stop (my left pinky finger is now getting it and spreading to the ring finger).

I have a pretty high threshold for pain so I don't take anything unless it's really bad in my feet - a lot of cramping and the burning/stabbing pains. Then I take ibuprofin and/or hydrocodone (although I don't like the opiates).

I still ice my feet at night and this provides significant relief. I do take 1 aspirin each morning but little else. I am back to skating but on significantly reduced schedule, 1or 2 games per day. I use simple German orthotics that I buy on-line or in stores that are inexpensive yet provide good arch support and support the ball of my foot.

My biggest problem is fear of where this is all going and how debilitated I am going to be. I am (was) a pretty active person (water skiing, tennis, hiking, golf) and this has slowed me way down. Until I found this forum (yesterday!) I couldn't find anyone who even knew what I was talking about. I am reading the posts here and learning lots but I am open to all suggestions.

:cool:

You know based on my experience with a very high instep...

I think lacing up that skate, might press on the instep enough to
compromise the nerves.

I have a very sensitive instep. You can test this without shoes and socks on, to tap or strike the top of the foot sharply, and see if you get zings in the toes/bottom.
This is called Tinel's sign:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinel_sign

Hi Kitt,

Did you find anything about a connection when you read about up on it?? Where did you find any info?
Thanks for the note,
Chris

Where do I get the Magnesium Oil?
 

Where can I pick up this Dr. Hendel's oil? I have Morton's Neuroma and have been putting off surgery......:)

Online:
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWU485/ItemDetail

My sister just had that surgery. :)

more itching than pain
 

My foot pain has remained minimal with some pain flair ups, but I get boughts of severe itching and it seems like it happens at night when I'm trying to sleep. If it continues I use a topical (China Gel). I'm very interested in the magnisium oil or gel.
Last week I spent most of work on a cement floor warehouse wearing crocs. Flat hard surfaces are bad for me and my feet hurt. Give me grass or a soft dirt or mulch trail and I can hike for miles. I use soft sole incerts but would like to find even softer or thicker ones.