In a previous blog I commented about the fact that many people with neuropathy are told that they just have to live with the condition. This statement is not accurate and I suggest that you don’t take it lying down. My strong admonition to you is to explore the many reasonable and safe treatment options.

As I have written on many occasions, the traditional approaches, such as the use of anti-seizure medications such as Neurontin® are often not effective and in fact can produce many side effects. Lyrica® is a relatively new medication that is similar to Neurontin. In many cases it has not proven to very effective in relieving neuropathy symptoms and has many of the same side-effects as Neurontin.

Vitamin and nutritional therapy is an excellent approach to treating peripheral neuropathy since has a two-fold benefit: it can help relieve some of the uncomfortable symptoms and also slow down the progression of the condition. Let’s face it-in our fast-paced world our diets are often sorely lacking in the necessary nutritional supplements. For example, many studies have shown that the reliable dietary sources for vitamin B12 are meat, dairy products and eggs. Now it is known fact that Vitamin B12 is vitally important in maintaining proper nerve health. Certain neuropathies are linked to vitamin B12 deficiencies.

The question is: are we getting adequate amounts of Vitamin B12 from our diets? The verdict is not out. Here lies a major contradiction.  On one hand we know that excessive consumption of meat, dairy products and eggs, can have detrimental effects-leading to higher cholesterol levels and excessive weight gain. Yet these foods also provide important vitamins and supplements that help maintain and support good health. What’s a person to do?  There are two solutions to this dilemma. Obtaining proper nutrition supplements from natural sources is always important. So moderation is the key. “In the good old days” it was not uncommon to eat red meat and eggs on a daily basis. Then the tide turned and many of us eliminated these products entirely. Many nutritionists now agree that a limited diet including moderate amounts of eggs, meat and dairy products is acceptable.

Of course another reasonable way to enhance your diet is with essential vitamins and supplements. There are many excellent supplemental products that are available.  Nerve Health Essential Nutrients® contains many of the necessary and essential vitamins and supplements necessary for nerve health including Vitamin B12, Vitamin B complex, Alpha Lipoic Acid and Acetly-L-Carnitine. Another excellent source of nutritional supplementation for diabetic neuropathy is a product called Metanx®. Metanx is prescription medical foot food which contains an active and effective form of Folic acid is extremely beneficial for nerve health.

If you have further questions or comments about the role of vitamins and supplements in treating peripheral neuropathy, you can e-mail me at footpaincenter19@gmail.com . Don’t forget the neuropathy/expo fair in conjunction with Neuropathy Awareness Week.

Sunday, May 16 from Noon to 3 Pm

Neighborhood Community Center

Costa Mesa, Ca 92627

RSVP: footpaincenter19@gmail.com or call 877 686-2366

As leader of a peripheral neuropathy support group and a practicing podiatric physician, I can’t tell you how many times I hear that statement-“you just have to live with your neuropathy.” Here are the usual events leading up to the uttering those seven words.  Let’s take Mrs. Jones (fictional of course), a very pleasant 60’ish female. About five years ago she started noticing some numbness in her toes.  It felt odd but it didn’t really bother her at first and she just ignored it. As it became more noticeable, she chalked it up to some event-maybe it’s my diet, I haven’t been sleeping well or I am under a lot of stress. Yet the darn thing would not go away and in fact was getting worse. She makes an appointment with a family doctor and she relates her symptoms. Neuropathy is suspected and the first question asked: “do you have diabetes?” No she says-blood tests are done and the test results also confirm that she does not have diabetes.

The family doctor wants a second opinion and so she is referred to a neurologist. Nerve tests and EMG studies are done and voila, the diagnosis is peripheral neuropathy. Next step in the chain of events is the prescribing of Neurontin® or Lyrica®.  With great expectations, Mrs. Jones fills the prescription because her symptoms have now gotten a lot worse. States Mrs. Jones: “it’s hard to describe my symptoms-my feet feel numb-yet they burn and tingle at the same time.”

Continuing on with the saga-Mrs. Jones takes the medication. The results are not exactly stellar. The medication makes her sleepy and she feels as if she is walking around dazed and confused. Worst of all-the medication has not  helped alleviate her symptoms. She goes back to her doctors- a few other medications are tried such as Cymbalta®-but alas with no success.

The story varies here, but in many instances she might try other consultations-with more tests and more trial medications. Finally she is told the dreaded seven words: you just have to live with your neuropathy.”

Don’t get me started because that statement is simply not true.  Granted it takes effort and out-of-the box-thinking. There are so many options and approaches that will take another blog to discuss them. Here are a few to whet your appetite:

Vitamin and nutritional supplements, laser therapy, infrared, electrical stimulation, acupuncture, and mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy, to name just a few.

On a closing note, you are all invited to an exciting neuropathy expo/ seminar. The theme is –yes you can do something about your neuropathy! There will be speakers and exhibitors present to discuss the many options available for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy.

Event information: Sunday, May 16 from Noon to 3 Pm

Neighborhood Community Center

1845 Park Avenue

Costa Mesa, Ca 92627

Rsvp: drmarcspitz@gmail.com or 877 686-2366

The $100 word for today is neuropathic pain. By definition neuropathic pain is pain which results from a disease or disorder involving the nerve. In many instances diabetes is associated with peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain. In fact over 30% of neuropathy is the result of diabetes. Diabetes can cause neuropathic pain or the opposite sensation-numbness. This type of neuropathy is classified as metabolic. Other metabolic conditions which cause pain, burning, tingling and numbness include nutritional deficiencies (an example is Vitamin B1 deficiency) and alcohol induced neuropathy.

Other causes of neuropathy include:

Trauma

Trauma can result in phantom limb syndromes and in a complicated nerve condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndromes.

Toxic

The most common toxic condition causing neuropathy symptoms-pain, burning, tingling and numbness is due to chemotherapy or radiation for the treatment of cancer.

Compressive

Nerves in the feet and hands run through an anatomical tunnel made up of ligaments and other soft tissue structures. On some occasions these soft tissue structures can “strangle” the nerve. This is called a nerve entrapment syndrome. Carpel Tunnel Syndrome is the most common but a similar condition seen in the foot is called Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome.

Autoimmune

Nerve damage can be caused by the body’s immune system “attacking” its own nervous system. Two examples of autoimmune neuropathies include Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIPD) and Vasculitic Neuropathy.

Infectious

Infections caused by a virus or bacteria can result in nerve damage, pain and numbness. Post Herpatic Neuralgia is a painful condition caused by a virus.  Lyme Disease, HIV and Guillain-Barre are the result of an infectious process.

Congenital/Hereditary

Fabry’s and Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease are neuropathies that are inherited.

Idiopathic

It is estimated that over 50% of all neuropathies fall into this category. Idiopathic neuropathy is a disorder that affects the peripheral nerves and has no identifiable primary cause.