Peripheral neuropathy

[Saltandvinegarflavourcrisp]

Hello,
I have just been diagnosed with this. It’s mostly numbness, tingling in my and feet legs and stiff painful fingers. Neurologist says they can’t find a cause and it’s not uncommon in people over 60. Can’t tell how it will progress. Probably genetic. Nothing you can do but monitor.
Do any of you also have it? Is there anything you can recommend to stop it getting worse or even improve it? I don’t smoke, hardly drink.i walk every day.
It’s driving me mad as it wakes me up at night and stops me sleeping. The sensations change. Today I have crawling sensations up my legs and numb feet.
thank you.

Do you take anything with b vitamins? B6 excess can apparently lead to this.

Did the neurologist prescribe any medication for you or refer you to a neuro physio?

Hello,
I take vit D and calcium for bone thinning. I had blood tests and all results normal (B12 etc).

i have seen neurologist twice and had an MRI. He has booked me in for nerve conduction tests but he says he is fairly sure it is idiopathic peripheral neuropathy.

Yes I have this.

SSRIs are the first line medication for this. I started on amytriptyline but a few years later switched to duloxetine.

I’m surprised they haven’t recommended meds.

the meds really help.

Physio helps with the stiffness.

i have exercises I do every day (after getting up!)

@Saltandvinegarflavourcrispget checked for B12 deficiency if you haven’t already.

I'm prescribed gabapentin for this. But what's been most beneficial has been stretching the feet/calves regularly. Also a magnesium spray/lotion can make the legs feel more relaxed

Has anyone bought compression socks for this? I haven't been diagnoised with this but have all the symptoms.

It's worth trying magnesium supplements. They are very cheap. Most people in the UK do not have enough magnesium in their diets. Magnesium helps with nerve signaling, muscle contraction and relaxation. It can help you sleep .

I don't have it but I recently had to buy some compression socks for another condition.

I rate these - they are cheap and comfortable. Many different colours and patterns:

Compression Socks for Women and... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F2HQGQ69?ref=ppxpoppmobappshare https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F2HQGQ69?ref=ppxpoppmobappshare

Thank you all for replying. I think I will get magnesium supplements. It can’t hurt to try.
For anyone who has it, does it get worse with anxiety do you know? I was dealing with something horrible yesterday and then at night the PN was so bad. It woke me up twice and when I got up this morning my legs and hands were really cramped and stiff and numb.

For me, yes anxiety does seem to exacerbate. Becoming dehydrated too.

Hello,
can anyone explain to me how the meds work? I dont have any pain, just numbness and a crawling sensation (worse at night). Do the meds take that away? Also, do you still drive ok? We are just moving to a place where I probably need to be able to drive at times.
thanks for any advice you can give.
Salty

I take meds.

i drive ok.
peripheral Neuropathy can be interpreted by the brain as a number of sensations - the most common are numbness, pins and needles, a burning sensation, as water dripping on your skin and a crawling sensation.
basically your brain doesn’t know what the signal is and tries to make it mean something.

the drugs make the signal less strong so whatever sensation you are experiencing will be less so.

My DH has this. I would also suggest going to a podiatrist. He had to get special orthotics in his shoes ( really thin ones), as it can throw you off balance when walking.

@Octavia64
thanks very much for replying.
i am having nerve tests today. No idea why I have this but the neurologist told me that it is fairly common in people over 65 and you can have an inherited genetic tendency.
in your experience, can it be managed ok with exercise and meds? It feels fairly horrible at the moment but that may be because it is untreated? Thanks.
Salty