Problems with Neuropathy

Complications & More
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i started getting neuropathy about 8 years ago. it was mild at first; just pins and needles. i broke all 5 metatarsals in my right foot. i was completely numb and couldn’t feel my leg or my foot; i went to a diabetic specialist surgeon, and foot MD from NYU hospital. one of the best in the business. i had no idea what i was in for in the upcoming year. i went through 3 different kinds of casts and one walking boot.

what happened was that i couldn’t feel my foot or lower leg when i got out of bed one morning and i fell over and everything just went “crack.” i had to go to the ER, and i was in so much pain, they gave me morphine. still, even with that opiate i was in excruciating pain. i was screaming throughout the X-rays. it was a holiday w/end so i got a lousy intern to attend to me, and none of the doctors there could make a clear dx. so i sought out the specialist.

when i saw the specialist, they wrapped me up, gave me some crutches and sent me home with some strong pain killers. it took me an entire year to heal. i was bedridden for the first 3 months, and as my husband was working at the time, i was alone and had to set up i system for getting from my bed into the kitchen. i slid around our home on a big pillow user my tushy. i set up the kitchen so that it would be as practical as possible. i binge watched NetFlix and dosed on and off in a drug induced sleep.

anyway, about six months into my healing, and having my 1st cast taken off, the neuropathy had gotten worse. i couldn’t feel my foot or toes at all. everything was numb. i started to fear the worst; i was afraid that my foot would have to be amputated. (i had an uncle w/ T2 who had had to have both his feet amputated.)

anyway, fast fwd a number of years, to the present day. my neuropathy doesn’t hurt like some of the other PWD i’ve heard about. but, i get so numb that sometimes i cannot walk. or my hands get numb and i cannot feel them at all. i try and shake it off, massage it away, etc, but it frightens me; i keep thinking about my amputated uncle. is this going to be the road that i am on?

are there others of you who have experience with this? i am concerned. my A1cs are excellent. my endo said that there was no cure, but he didn’t seem so concerned (which i thought was weird). the meds that are available to lessen the discomfort are contraindicated for me, so i cannot take them. is this just another part of the D package? i already have D gastropareses. i have been T1D for over 30 years now.

all info appreciated. thx, Daisy Mae (DM, as eric calls me :wink:)

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DaisyMae, what an ordeal!! I am sending you a big hug!! ((( )))

My Tai Chi teacher is also certified in traditional Chinese medicine and told me, after my DX, that acupuncture can help with neuropathy in many cases. Might be something to consider? Helps the arthritis is my thumbs and knees a lot!

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thx for your suggestion; as a matter of fact, i have been having acupuncture since i was dx w/ Graves Disease in 1987. it put me into a remission. before the acupuncture, i had 3 diff MDs treating me for each individual symptom. (big bulging eyeball, weight loss, heart palpitations, double vision, all of which caused great physical pain). i was treated with multiple meds, one of which was a steroid…which as Ds, we all know plays havoc on BGs. i ended up having radiation treatment to attack my thyroid, but the bottom line was that despite all the fancy MDs i had, it was the acupuncture that worked.

i would recommend acupuncture to everyone. the only chalenge is finding one who speaks english and one who knows their sh*t :wink:

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@DaisyMae, so sorry to read this:( It makes your brilliant swimming chronicles all the more heroic!

I am sure you know this, of course – I am mentioning it for potential readers:

  • Neuropathy does not lead to amputations. It is the consequences of neuropathy that may cause it: you may not feel a sore or problem in, for instance, your feet, and get into a situation where an infection will not heal, and lead to amputation.

  • for those with neuropathy, daily inspection of lower extremities is CRITICAL, as are extremely good processes in taking care of feet: bunions, calluses, nails – every one of these can turn into a cause for amputation if not cared for properly, just the right way.

@daisymae, the best write-up I have read on amputation prevention is this one, by the diabetes council (the site focuses on T2s, but the present write-up is 100% applicable to both):

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wow, reading that article was intense !!! thx for the info :slight_smile:

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