How to deal with neuropathy in feet?

[RememberBeKindWithKaren]

Well my mum has tingling, burning feelings in her feet most days. Seems worse in the morning and at end of the day.

She hasn't worn much on her feet since the spring but will need socks and or slippers soon.
Her carer is suggesting compression socks. But how would that work when her feet are so swollen all the time and it can hurt her just putting her sandals on? I don't understand how compression socks work when the skin is already tender. What am I failing to follow ?

Any other tips would be great.
Thanks in advance

Has she seen a nurse or a doctor, is she diabetic. Is she on any medication for the swelling and pain. You can buy extra large soft oedema socks and velcro slippers which would be more comfortable than sandals, a footstool to elevated her legs on too.

@MissMoneyFairy thanks , yes she saw a doctor about it but he said the only meds he could prescribe could make her dizzy so he wasn't willing to do it. I'll definitely look up oedema socks. Thanks for this suggestion 😃 x

Is she on any medication for neuropathic pain? That might help manage the symptoms.

That's ridiculous, is it fluid build up in her legs, what tablets did the doctor refuse to give her. What's the cause of her neuropathic pain.

I’d ask for proper tests. My feet become numb when my Vitamin b12 is low. I would also want blood sugar checks.

@MissMoneyFairy we don't know the cause. I don't know if it's because she also has acute something cardiac sort of thing stenosis and now Alzheimer's and dementia, but the docs just arent interested in the foot pain . I've been with her in GP appointments and they just say they can't help. They feel her feet and say she has pretty good circulation given all the other factors and they don't do anything to help.

Actually this isn't 100% true because they did give her something - a sticky, strong menthol cream, which she hates because you can't get it off your hands afterwards even after using lots of soap..

She describes it as a tingling and burning sensation. It's a little better after she soaks them in tepid water.

A few weeks ago she phoned me at 9 o'clock and I could tell she was choking back tears with the pain..

Gabapentin

@Toddlerteaplease , no they won't prescribe anything

I think I recall gabapentin mentioned but I think he said she could become dizzy with it- is that a known side-effect ? She lives alone and refuses to wear a falls pendant so would be in a bad way if she took a fall..

If she's got heart disease she may have fluid building up in her legs, is she on any medication at all for her heart, if she's not walking then her feet will swell, can she put them up on a stool or use a recliner chair, why won't she use a fall alarm? Seems a sensible thing to do is she lives alone, she could have a falls assessment if she is a risk and a keysafe so emergency services can get in. Personally I'd ask to see another GP and push for a diagnosis, pain relief and a mobility assessment. All meds have side effects, gabapentin or amitriptyline might help, it seems strange that a doctor would refuse to give a patient pain meds in case they might feel dizzy, that's bordering on neglect.

Does she take any painkillers, paracetamol, brufen, brufen gel?

You can now get wrist worn falls alarms that look like modern watches. Some will even detect the fall, activating without having to press a button.

@MissMoneyFairy she's prescribed clopidogerel, statins , vitamin D and Bumetanide. I think they say she must'nt take ibuprofen but she definitely still knocks back paracetamol when her feet are really bad..

@EwwSprouts , thanks yes I will probably end up getting the wrist watch type of falls detector..she got in quite a huff with the pendant type because she kept setting it off by accident.

I'm unsure when we need to see about getting her into a home as well, just to add that bit of background

I have neuropathy in my feet.

compression socks won’t help. It’s a nerve problem.

SSRI medication helps mine. I started on smytriptyline and am now on duloxetine. As others have mentioned gabapentin is also possible.

painkillers don’t really help unless you take serious opioids (tramadol or the like) which basically knock you out anyway.

i find cold water swimming helps but that’s quite extreme.

Gabapentin can make you dizzy but not for everyone. There are other painkillers like such as amitriptaline which I probably spelt incorrectly that might work too.

Re clothing - I wear m and s thermal fluffy socks. They are a couple of sizes too big for me so don’t put too much pressure on the skin. Crocs over the top of that - again, buy sized up so no pressure on the feet at all.

My neuropathy is caused by spina bifida so I don't know if the pain type and sensitivity is different but I have found an EMS devise a bit like this https://med-fit.store/products/medi-boost-tens-ems-foot-massager (mine is very old, not this exact one, I just use it on my feet not the pads elsewhere) to be helpful for mine.

@Octavia64 thanks for your posts. It's making me think I really should push for an appointment again. Thing is I'm sure 2 docs have said no to us. My mum was once on amitriptyline, altho I don't really know why but perhaps they'd put her back on it. Who knows. I guess it might clash with her heart condition though. Perhaps this is the root of the issue.

It's just really sad that her feet give her so much pain. She can't bear to wear anything on her feet but I will try and find some extra loose or stretchy socks because in the morning it must be pretty cold, even though the heating comes on and off during the day.

No one likes to think of their parents being in pain or discomfort.

Slightly left field but get a chiropodist to look at her feet. My parent was referred to the hospital by the chiropodist even when the GP said there was nothing to be done. If nothing else they are an amazing source of information and resources.

If you are thinking about care homes start looking now. The best homes tend to have waiting lists and it sounds as though you need one with dementia care and maybe even nursing. Start visiting as soon as you can, read the CQC reports and get your Mum on the waiting list ASAP.

I have this, caused by MS - I take gabapentin and it doesn't make me dizzy; It can be a side effect at higher doses, but I worked with my pharmacist to get the dose which I was could live with. It doesn't take the pain away, just takes the edge off enough to function. It has been bliss this summer not having socks/tight clothing (mine goes to above my knees)
I think maybe the doc said it could cause dizziness because if she took a large dose it might do. No way of knowing till she tries it, though... It could be worth asking them to work with your mum to find the right level for her to at least bear it? You have to start low and work up to higher doses anyway. Good luck, and much sympathy to your mum from a fellow sufferer.

As a Podiatrist I see peripheral neuropathy on a daily basis, mostly involving people with Diabetes who have had elevated blood glucose over a number of years. It can however be caused by lots of other things, alcoholism, hypothyroidism, spinal issues (compressed nerves). Unfortunately there is no treatment for the nerves per se, once they are damaged they do not regenerate. The only thing really is symptom management usually through medication; anticonvulsants like gabapentin and pregabalin and some antidepressants such as amitriptyline and duloextine.
Some meds do depend on what kidney function is like so may or may not be suitable for her depending what her status is. GP may need to do blood test to check eGFR levels.
Nerve pain is also worse in cold weather so maybe try wool socks and/or insoles (available on Amazon) to maintain temp of feet. Hope this helps xx