Acupuncture for lower leg neuropathy

[RalphVa]

Worst for me is burning in the tops of my feet now with warmer weather. Can only last about an hour and a half before I had to stop and put my feet in ice water. Takes then about an hour and a half for the nerves to stop firing with the burning.

Went off gaba last Friday night. Never had burning in tops of my feet before it, but of course weather was cooler. Had emergency 3rd acupuncture Monday. Tuesday, lower legs and feet were better than on gaba but still got the burning Tuesday afternoon. Next acupuncture is Friday morning.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

We have a Veterinarian here that does it on horses.

You talking about Mark Bianchi?

 

[Xfaxman]

Yep, have used him for many years.

 

[RalphVa]

Former 3 star surgeon general who's a friend on Facebook (I worked for him when he was a lowly Captain in Vietnam) says the military is using it a lot, e.g. no side effects like meds. He also agrees that gabapentin is anti Viagra.

No burning feet this morning, but it was cooler. Found Arnica helps, too.

 

[JethroB]

I sleep with my burning foot out from under the covers. Getting warm or hot sets it off for me too. Socks are the worst. I use the 5% Rx version lidocaine patches some times. The OTC ones don’t help me, kinda wimpy In comparison.

 

[dlctcg]

Oh Acupuncture... Voodoo Magic as we call it...

Ok, in all seriousness definitely give it a serious try you will know if it is working for you in a 3 to 5 session. If it is not don't give up on it... try a different acupuncturist.

As I have mentioned on here (I'm sure multiply times) my wife wife suffers from permanent & life changing affect of Lyme Disease (& many co-infections) to the point where she on some days is unable to walk without help. She has diagnosed neuropathy in her upper & lower right side extremities. (she is only in her mid 40's)

She had been to 3 other acupuncturists prior, all with there own specialty & different training.... So, we joke about the Voodoo Magic because I was not a believer, at first (nor her, but she was willing to try anything), then a life changing event.... My wife is always in pain (to this day, sometimes worse than others... but always) & we were referred to another acupuncturist after exhausting years of treatments; we figured nothing to lose, but had little faith. At the time she was sleeping 20 - 30 mins at a time during the night due to the pain, she was always on edge. During our first appointment I wasn't impressed or convinced, but during our second appointment this amazing doctor really read her body / energy (if that is possible), talked to her while I watched him place over 30 acupuncture needles in her (she had no idea) & then said I'll be back in 20mins to see how we are all doing... As God as my witness after he left, my wife & I continued to have a conversation when I physically saw her body completely go into a relaxed state & she fell sound a sleep amidst our conversation within minutes (I know some of you will say, that means I'm boring). But now after 3 years of him definitely helping her, we just joke about it & call it, Voodoo Magic...

So does Acupuncture work for everyone.... I do not know
Can Acupuncture work & relieve pain with out side effects.... Yes, we have seen it work first hand... (it does not stop the pain for my wife but substantially helps certain conditions of it)
Does it make a difference who is doing the Acupuncture.... ABSOLUTELY... (the 2nd acupuncturist she saw was a nationally highly rated pain management Dr. that did acupuncture, it equated to terrible results for her)...

So definitely try it.... & if it doesn't work don't hesitate to look for a different acupuncturist & try again.

 

[txndncowboy]

I've been getting something called Dry Needling. Not for neuropathy but for serious back pain. From what I can figure out, Dry Needling is the west's way to accept acupuncture. It was discovered when an acupuncture needle was used as part of a steroid test. One group got the steroid and the other group got just a dry needle. Strangest thing happened, those that got the dry needle had better results in pain relief. I'm sold as it has helped me.

 

[RalphVa]

I sleep with my burning foot out from under the covers. Getting warm or hot sets it off for me too. Socks are the worst. I use the 5% Rx version lidocaine patches some times. The OTC ones don’t help me, kinda wimpy In comparison.

Yeah. Tried lidocain cream and lidocaine patch. Arnica seems to work better than these. Doctor recommends socks, but I'm thinking no socks would be better.

 

[RalphVa]

I've been getting something called Dry Needling. Not for neuropathy but for serious back pain. From what I can figure out, Dry Needling is the west's way to accept acupuncture. It was discovered when an acupuncture needle was used as part of a steroid test. One group got the steroid and the other group got just a dry needle. Strangest thing happened, those that got the dry needle had better results in pain relief. I'm sold as it has helped me.

Our insurance pays for acupuncture for back pain.

 

[monkeyduster]

Have a family member who is a Chiropractor. He uses a technique where electrodes are placed in pans of water, where you place your feet or hands. He says he has seen amazing progress with neuropathy.