Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Find a Conversation
| Sun, 08-19-2007 - 8:09pm |
HI Folks,
I hope none of you have a complication from your diabetes known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy. I had never heard of it in the twenty five years or so I have had Type 2 diabetes. I have worked hard to manage my diabetes by losing weight exercising and usually doing the right stuff. DPN is nerve damage usually effecting the feet, legs and arms. At it's worst it can effect the body's core, too. Mine started as tingling in my legs and became intensely itchy. It was disabling. In the early stages it was diagnosed by nerve conduction tests by my neurologist. No medication was recommended then.
I came here when it got worse and Mary Frances gave me some hope and told me about Lyrica.
My Dr. agreed and we have bounced around trying different dosages. My Dr. started me out on 3X25mg daily but I experimented with some different combos and decided I need double that amount. So I take 2X50mg, 2X25mg and it works great. That is the minumum dosage recommended by Pfizer the pharmacuetical manufacturer. I have very little discomfort.
This is not a cure but my goal remains to control my blood glucose and hope for the best.
The internet can be scary and helpful. For instance I have read long term diabetics have an incidence rate of DPN of 1 in 3, 1 in 2, and 2 of 3. Who do we believe? Why haven't diabetes educaters told us about this? Do any of you have any experience with this monster. I would appreciate your input.
Stay safe,
Pray for peace,
Regards,
Paul

Pages
Hi:
I'm sorry to hear that you can't take Lyrica. My husband worked in Diabetic Neuropathy research and he says it's one fo the most promising meds to come on the market for peripheral neuropathy. I have have had neuropathy in my feet for at least 15 years and am noticing it in my hands as well. I tried Lyrica, but it didn't help me.
Have you tried Neurontin? If you haven't heard of it, it's an anti seizure med used mostly for people with epilipsy and MS. Ask your doctor about it. I used to get good results before my neuropathy became so profound. The one thing I didn't like about Neurontin was it basically robbed me of any emotion.
Another thing to try is if your dr knows anything about compound medications,
Lyrica didn't bother me, but it didn't work for me either. I took Neurontin for years for my neuropathy and had to suppliment it with narcotic pain killers. The one thing Neurontin did to me was it robbed me of my emotions. I felt "flat" all the time. Neurontin was originally approved by the FDA for seizures, so it does effect the CNS
If your neuropathy is mild to moderate, try the Lyrica. It can be a bit expensive, so I hope you have prescription merd coverage, but if you've had neuropathy for any length of time, you'll probably agree that anything that helps is worth it's weight in gold. Good luck!!
Hi Paul and Cheryl,
Thanks for the info to look up Lyrica....I am not sure if I want to take it or not...one of the side effects is dizziness and since I already am dizzy I don't think I want anything that could aggrevate it.
Cheryl,
Thanks for the tip as to where I can get those socks.
Auntydoxzz,
I am a type 1 diabetic, diagnosed nearly a year ago at the age of 45.
Hi Mustow,
Thank you for sharing with me.
Castaway
A Friend in Recovery
Paul
Pages