I was told by my dr. to lower my A1C. I have had it for almost a year. Its very important to let your Dr know about this. Advil helps me at night. They wanted to put me on pain meds, I wont take pain pills not yet, anyway.

I have it in my feet, hands, legs and back. No it doesnt get better. After I walk one block I'm finished. I feel like I'm walking on fire.

I have peripheral neuropathy in my feet and legs I could not sleep because of burning,tingling sensation .Doctor prescribed 300 mg gabapentin (Neurontin) at bedtime,this has worked for me for the past year.

Lower your A1C is the standard advice. They don't want to deal with it. Try alpha lipoic acid. OTC. Didn't eliminate my problems, principally with my feet, but doesn help. I didn't realize how much it helped, til I ran out one day and the pain got radically worse. I take gabapentin too, but that doesn't do much for neuropathy. Gabapentin does seem to help inflamation in my right arm, to which I had massive damage in a car accident.

This group may be helpful
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/neuropathy

Ditto what ArlineH said. Talk to your doctor.

Grannie - I think your last post was posted on the wrong site. Didnt you mean to post on 'low blood sugar' ?

Thought you might like to read this, I get reports in my e-mail weekly and this was interesting. I know everyone doesn't like cut and paste but...

47934
Topic: Alpha Lipoic Acid found to Reduce Neuropathic Pain
Keywords: NEUROPATHIC PAIN, DIABETES MELLITUS - Alpha-Lipoic Acid, ALA, Thioctic Acid
Reference: "Alpha lipoic acid: a new treatment for neuropathic pain in patients with diabetes?" Mijnhout GS, Alkhalaf A, et al, Neth J Med, 2010 April; 68(4): 158-62. (Address: Department of Internal Medicine, Isala Clinics, Zwolle, the Netherlands. E-mail: g.s.mijnhout@isala.nl ).
Summary: In a study systematic literature review of studies looking at the effects of alpha lipoic acid on neuropathic pain - something that existing conventional medicine finds quite difficult to treat - 600 mg/d alpha lipoic acid administered intravenously was found to significantly reduce neuropathic pain over a period of 3 weeks. While oral supplementation with 600 mg/day for 3-5 weeks was also found to have significant benefits, it is unclear whether those benefits were clinically relevant. Both oral and IV treatment were associated with a 50% reduction in total symptom score, however, in most groups, when compared with the control group, the reduction in total symptom score was less than 30%. These results suggest that treatment with alpha-lipoic acid, particularly intravenously, may be very beneficial in the treatment of patients with neuropathic pain.

Thanks for the cut and paste on alpha lipoic acid

Hi. While I was hospitalized for major post-sx things, I happened to be moaning(my floor was having a fire drill)...2 drs came in to see what the matter was; I complained of the burning, dead-weight(lead-like)in both thighs; and the fact that I had to call my Nurse for aid, in and out of bed did NOT help the matter. These drs happened to be PAIN MANAGEMENT PHYSICIANs and suggested I call and set-up an app't w/one of them....they did NOT think I have peripheral, nor diabetic, neuropathy....they said after an initial workup and consult w/all my drs..IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO GET RID OF IT W/A FEW SERIES OF SHOTS.........IT IS DEFINITELY NEUROPATHY...does this help you?
I found the advice on alternative treatments very helpful...we're all different....

The doc got me on alpha lipoic acid and pharmaceutical grade omega 3 oil.

The insurance company just denied me Byetta ... but they do not call it a denial ... they call it a "proactive patient care medication review" or some such corporate double talk and when you get them on the phone to ask why they are refusing to follow a doctor's advice they will correct you every time you say "denied".

Basically, Byetta costs them money, metformin is $5 for a month's supply. Shitty drug, but it cost the company less, so that's what I get.

The neuropathy pain has diminished as I have lost weight and my eating has gotten much healthier.

THanks for the support, everyone!