Wellness

[Annasmom]

Does anyone have any positive experience or information regarding neuropathy treatment? Has anyone tried alternative treatment modalities such as acupuncture, massage, et cetera?

Both my husband (cancer related) and my mom (diabetes) have neuropathy and nerve damage in their feet. My husband takes a low dose of Lyrica for this. It's one of those situations in which he doesn't feel the benefit of the medication until he forgets to take it. He refuses to increase the dosage as it makes him feel loopy. He works, drives, and leads a normal life despite his condition, so he needs to be "with it." My mother, on the other hand, is on the extreme end of the spectrum. She takes a higher dose of Neurontin which does help her pain. The problem is it makes her tired and basically drugged to where she can't function. The doctors also have her on some other heavy duty pain medications which only compounds the side effects.

Since increasing the Neurontin, she has been having issues with her thought process (i.e., memory, concentration, word retrieval), slurred speech, and motor ticks/jerks. These side effects happen on occasion, not constantly. I've done research which does verify that Neurontin can, indeed, cause these issue. I worry about her and want her to be pain free, but also be able to live life. She's basically homebound. She also has back problems which add to the situation. She is 66.

I tell you all of this in hope that someone might relate and be able to make a recommendation that we have not already attempted. I truly believe that one must be their own advocate and reach out to others as part of the research process. I know neuropathy is a fairly common condition. We are in the S.F. Bay Area, btw. Thank you in advance for any help! I truly appreciate it.

Laura