Neuropathy is pain caused by nerves misfiring. It can be unrelenting and often has a dreadful effect on a person’s quality of life. Many people find it very difficult to get relief from nerve pain.
Unfortunately, neuropathy, or nerve pain, is quite common. People with diabetes are especially susceptible to peripheral neuropathy, pain, tingling or numbness affecting the feet or hands. Being unable to feel your feet can make walking difficult. But the biggest problem is the stabbing or burning pain.
Medications for Neuropathy:
Doctors may prescribe drugs such as gabapentin (Neurontin) or pregabalin (Lyrica). While some people find these helpful, others are discouraged by the side effects. (We have written about them here and here.) It is little wonder many people are looking for alternative ways to get relief from nerve pain.
Alternative Remedies for Relief from Nerve Pain:
Q. I have painful idiopathic neuropathy in my feet and lower legs. I vaguely recall you suggesting benfotiamine for the pain. What dose is appropriate? I would like to give it a try and see if I get any relief. I have been using alpha-lipoic acid for years. It really hasn’t helped, so I would like to try benfotiamine instead.
A. Benfotiamine is a B vitamin that has been shown to prevent the accumulation of dangerous compounds (advanced glycation end products) that lead to diabetic neuropathy (Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Dec., 2015). One physician who uses this approach suggests starting with a dose of 300 mg twice a day. If his patients respond, he recommends a maintenance dose of 150 mg twice a day. Benfotiamine is available without a prescription.
