Salt...
 

Has anyone else made a direct correlation between the severity of their neuropathy symptoms and salt intake?

I'm embarrassed at how long it's taken me to figure this out.

Could you say more about what you've noticed?

Alley

There is some evidence that mutant forms of some voltage-gated sodium channels are linked to peripheral neuropathy.

https://www.neurologyadvisor.com/pai...rticle/380020/

A couple of years ago, I sifted through my DNA results looked for the cited sodium channel mutations I could find. I didn't find anything then, but it's been a while. I need to re-check with the latest information.

Without going into all the gory details (unless you want them), here's what I can say conclusively at this point:

Moderate/high salt meals ramp up my burning symptoms immediately and last for hours. My thirst is pretty extreme. Despite drinking glass after glass of water, I'm still subject to incapacitating cramping in my feet and legs. If I have a salty meal in the evening, I'm guaranteed to wake up during the night with horrible cramps. I've even had what I can only describe as abnormal, widespread cramps where my entire leg feels like it's seized...for lack of a better word.

I'm also at the point where even if I don't overdo the salt in the evening, I still can't get through the night without waking up and having to drink water due to my "buzzing" symptoms that will make me up.

In the past month, I've started eating this substantial yogurt concoction at lunch instead of my normal soup or salad. It suddenly occurred to me how much better I've been feeling during the day, only to start burning in the evening. When I started experimenting with really low salt meals in the evening, that bad evening burn didn't manifest itself.

Anyone with cramping issues--
 

--should consider a magnesium supplement, and one that is well absorbed and not just dumped into the large intestine where it will tend to stimulate the bowel. Magnesium citrates or malates are probably better for this, instead of the usual magnesium oxide.

The body needs a balance of electrolytes, and those with too much sodium and not enough magnesium are quite common.

One should take one's magnesium supplements at a different time from any calcium supplements, as the tend to compete for absorption. And, there may be some drug contraindications, as magnesium may interfere with some drug absorptions, but one can usually find out about his through one of the more reputable drug interaction sites we have in our Useful Websites area here.

I've actually been taking 200 mg of magnesium threonate a day for probably a year now. I chose that form after doing some research, but really don't understand the differences well, nor have an idea of how much I should be taking.

I never thought that salt could play a part in PN. I quit both drinking alcohol and using salt in 2006 in response to my diagnosis of high blood pressure.
But, I did not become aware of my PN until 2011.

My PN of course is "idiopathic", largely just numbness with an occasional nerve zap.

Nothing seems to either help or make the PN flare, have taken B-12 in the past to where it actually showed increased levels in lab results(about 429->912).

I still take magnesium supplements, don't really see any dramatic effect, but magnesium is essential in different ways especially in support of the nervous system.

I have had it over 30 years, and still have not made the connection to salt intake and pain, I might try that tomorrow!
My Neurologist just put me on a anti inflammation dairy free diet, but I am noticing more EM pain, so maybe my recent modifications include more salt?
I am talking to a dietician in two weeks, I will see what she thinks.
I also have the unquenchable thirst, used to have horrendous cramping, but now only my high arches cramp.

Despite a very low salt meal yesterday evening, I was still hit by cramping during the night. The good news is that the burning was minimal, which I'll gladly take.

I just don't understand what could be wrong that my muscles can't make it through the night without cramping. I used to be able to sleep eight solid hours without ever waking up for any reason, but now it seems I can't go four-to-five hours without having to re-hydrate. My basic kidney values are fine.