re: burning feet
My husband had open heart surgery last November 2004; 3 days later his heart stopped, resulting in lack of oxygen to his brain and also apparently his feet and legs, becausenow his feet and legs burn- more than just an annoyance, they are REALLY painful - he doesn't sleep much, just walks on the cold tiles trying to cool his feet down.
He takes Neurontin (4 x 300mg capsules per day), but they don't seem to help - although we don't know whether the pain would be worse if he didn't take them.
He has just finished a lengthy course of acupuncture which didn't help.
Has anyone out there had any experience in this area?
Answers:
Sorry Petcat, I don't have enough medical knowledge to be able to help you there...has he been to the doctor or healthcare professional for a medical diagnosis?
Answers:
Azalia, thanks for sympathy. Doctors know of problem, but are at loss as to what to do. One says 'nerve damage' due to lack of oxygen, another says "excess acid from digestive system pooling in feet and legs". Asked about whether it would get better, the Doc who said it was nerve damage told us 'it takes time for the nerves to re-generate, maybe up to 2 years', another Doctor said it won't get better. If that is the case, we would just like something that might ease it a bit.
Answers:
Hi petcat
It could be erythromelalgia. This is a vascular problem and is, strangely enough, related to Raynauds Syndrome where the feet (and hands) are very cold.
Lesley
Answers:
have been looking up neurontin on the net. this is an anti epileptic drug and the makers were fined mega amounts for promoting its use for stuff it hadn't been approved for. wonder why yr gp prescribed this? highly recommend yr partner sees a good holistic therapist (such as a kinesiologist) or a homeopath experienced in this kind of illness rather than trying to self-treat.
by the way, one of the side effects of neurontin is sleeplessness, amongst other things.
Answers:
Hi Northernlights - thanks for your message. I also had looked up neurontin on the net and read about the trouble the manufacturers were in for their dubious test results etc.
The Doc who prescribed neurontin for RJ is a Pain Specialist, and he said it was to stop the pain message being sent from the brain to the feet (in the same way it stops involuntary movements of epileptics, which are caused by an incorrect message being sent by the brain, apparently.)
Yesterday we went to a Bowen Therapist, who also does Panabaa Release, Reiki, Therapeutic Massage etc, and he couldn't believe how knotted up RJ's muscles were - after an hour of massage RJ was without a headache for the first time in years. We are going back next week, and even if it turns out that it doesn't help the burning feet and legs, at least it will get his muscles supple again, and I believe it will make him feel a lot better.
I didn't know that neurontin caused sleeplessness - I wish we could stop having to take it, but it seems that every time we do cut back, the burning seems worse. It also seems worse whenever there is rain about...
Answers:
Hi Petcat,
Have a look here in regards to nerve damage; , its something I had some time ago, and found Reflexology helped with the pain, as at that point i was taking valium just for a couple of hours sleep, 3 sessions later andI was much better.
Maybe have your husband try reflexology or maybe thai foot massage, or something along those lines hopefully it will help.
Marios
Answers:
Hi Babira: Thanks for your message, I will look up the site you listed, and will certainly try Reflexology if I can find a practicioner here in Toowoomba. We are desperate, want to try anything that is recommended. If you have time, can you give me an idea of what is involved in Reflexology? Also, why did you have burning feet? (If it is not too personal for you to answer.) Tks again.
He takes Neurontin (4 x 300mg capsules per day), but they don't seem to help - although we don't know whether the pain would be worse if he didn't take them.
He has just finished a lengthy course of acupuncture which didn't help.
Has anyone out there had any experience in this area?
Answers:
Sorry Petcat, I don't have enough medical knowledge to be able to help you there...has he been to the doctor or healthcare professional for a medical diagnosis?
Answers:
Azalia, thanks for sympathy. Doctors know of problem, but are at loss as to what to do. One says 'nerve damage' due to lack of oxygen, another says "excess acid from digestive system pooling in feet and legs". Asked about whether it would get better, the Doc who said it was nerve damage told us 'it takes time for the nerves to re-generate, maybe up to 2 years', another Doctor said it won't get better. If that is the case, we would just like something that might ease it a bit.
Answers:
Hi petcat
It could be erythromelalgia. This is a vascular problem and is, strangely enough, related to Raynauds Syndrome where the feet (and hands) are very cold.
Lesley
Answers:
have been looking up neurontin on the net. this is an anti epileptic drug and the makers were fined mega amounts for promoting its use for stuff it hadn't been approved for. wonder why yr gp prescribed this? highly recommend yr partner sees a good holistic therapist (such as a kinesiologist) or a homeopath experienced in this kind of illness rather than trying to self-treat.
by the way, one of the side effects of neurontin is sleeplessness, amongst other things.
Answers:
Hi Northernlights - thanks for your message. I also had looked up neurontin on the net and read about the trouble the manufacturers were in for their dubious test results etc.
The Doc who prescribed neurontin for RJ is a Pain Specialist, and he said it was to stop the pain message being sent from the brain to the feet (in the same way it stops involuntary movements of epileptics, which are caused by an incorrect message being sent by the brain, apparently.)
Yesterday we went to a Bowen Therapist, who also does Panabaa Release, Reiki, Therapeutic Massage etc, and he couldn't believe how knotted up RJ's muscles were - after an hour of massage RJ was without a headache for the first time in years. We are going back next week, and even if it turns out that it doesn't help the burning feet and legs, at least it will get his muscles supple again, and I believe it will make him feel a lot better.
I didn't know that neurontin caused sleeplessness - I wish we could stop having to take it, but it seems that every time we do cut back, the burning seems worse. It also seems worse whenever there is rain about...
Answers:
Hi Petcat,
Have a look here in regards to nerve damage; , its something I had some time ago, and found Reflexology helped with the pain, as at that point i was taking valium just for a couple of hours sleep, 3 sessions later andI was much better.
Maybe have your husband try reflexology or maybe thai foot massage, or something along those lines hopefully it will help.
Marios
Answers:
Hi Babira: Thanks for your message, I will look up the site you listed, and will certainly try Reflexology if I can find a practicioner here in Toowoomba. We are desperate, want to try anything that is recommended. If you have time, can you give me an idea of what is involved in Reflexology? Also, why did you have burning feet? (If it is not too personal for you to answer.) Tks again.