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Neuropathy & No Med Ins.

Posted: Jun 3, 2013

I have severe bilateral foot neuropathy which I believe is from spinal stenosis. A neurologist told me that is probably the cause on an ER visit (not related to neuropathy). My feet sometimes burn so badly in the evenings I have to dip socks in cold water, put them on my feet with a fan on them to cool the feet down, or put them on ice. The pain is sharp, stabbing, burning but only lasts a few second at a time, striking about once a minute. It is excruciating to have to transcribe a horrid dictator, aggravated by having to keep stomping on the foot pedal, which I can barely feel under my foot.

I'm taking 25. mg. amitriptyline at night for this which is a minor help but can't afford the expensive medications without insurance. Does anyone know of any other relief for this neuropathy, symptomatic or pharmaceutical?

;

this is from the Mayo Clinic web site (meds) - Snow Bunny (the original)

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Pain relievers. Mild symptoms may be relieved by over-the-counter pain medications. For more-severe symptoms, your doctor may recommend prescription painkillers. Drugs containing opiates, such as codeine, can lead to dependence, constipation or sedation, so these drugs are generally prescribed only when other treatments fail.

Anti-seizure medications. Drugs such as gabapentin (Gralise, Neurontin), topiramate (Topamax), pregabalin (Lyrica), carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) were originally developed to treat epilepsy. However, doctors often also prescribe them for nerve pain. Side effects may include drowsiness and dizziness.

Capsaicin. A cream containing this naturally occurring substance found in hot peppers can cause modest improvements in peripheral neuropathy symptoms. Like spicy foods, it may take some time and gradual exposure to get used to because of the hot sensation this cream creates. Generally, you have to get used to the heat before you can experience pain relief. Doctors may suggest you use this cream with other treatments.

Lidocaine patch. This patch contains the topical anesthetic lidocaine. You apply it to the area where your pain is most severe, and you can use up to four patches a day to relieve pain. This treatment has almost no side effects except, for some people, a rash at the site of the patch.

Antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressant medications, such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), were originally developed to treat depression. However, they have been found to help relieve pain by interfering with chemical processes in your brain and spinal cord that cause you to feel pain. The serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor duloxetine (Cymbalta) also has proved effective for peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes. Side effects may include nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, decreased appetite and constipation.

As a side note, you can order Neurontin (anti-seizure med) and other neurologic meds from a New Zealand pharmacy. I've been getting meds from them for several years. They are 100% legal and 100% safe.

Snow Bunny - Thanks so much! - Angie

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