Neuropathy in Hands

Malka

Hi,

My dad has been having bad pain in his hands. It was mostly happening in the early hours of the morning and his caregiver would massage his hands and make them feel better. She is away and the substitute doesn't know what to do to make him feel better. We gave him some Tylenol,but is there medicine for this? I looked and I couldn't find anything except that it's painful. I have called his doctor, but have not gotten a call back yet. 

If there is something over the counter, please let me know. I hate that he is in pain.

Thank you,

M

Oregano

I have an older family friend who has been battling arthritis for decades. He swears up and down about Cissus Quadrangularis being the only thing that actually made the pain go away for good, and he's gone through just about every therapy and prescription drug in the book.

Definitely something worth looking into!

Malka

Where do I get this? At GNC or Vitamin Store? I have resorted to a CBD/THC lotion that seems to work. I am nervous about giving him OTC supplements because he takes so much medication.

Thank you

Chammer

DH has neuropathy in his hands, feet and legs due to diabetes and alcohol.  Alpha lipoic acid is a supplement that I discussed with his endocrinologist who ok'd it with his other meds.  Another tool that is actually also helpful is a mix of diffused essential oils - I use peppermint which is supposed to help neuropathy and lavender which is calming.  He also used a CBD ointment that helps .... except he isn't taking any of his meds right now or using his ointment.  He isn't diagnosed with any cognitive issues yet and isn't refusing to take his meds or do anything to help himself ... he just doesn't do anything - I sort his meds, offer to apply ointment, and he will "do it later."   All that said - the essential oils are surprisingly very helpful and I don't have to rely on him to do anything.  I just put it on to "freshen the air!"

harshedbuzz

Malka-

Are you certain it's neuropathy?

My 85 year old mom has arthritis and carpal tunnel (nerve) issues that causes awful pain in the early morning. 

She tends to sleep with her wrists curled in. The answer for her is sleeping in wrist braces. Hers are custom, but the hand surgeon said the OTC ones would be OK as well. So long as she uses her braces at night she doesn't have the extreme pain and her fine motor skills are better. 

It might be worth a try is you see dad tucking his wrists when sleeping.

HB

mommyandme (m&m)

My mother’s drop foot gives her extreme pain when moved.  Moving her feet and ankles does relieve the pain but ugh.   She’s bed bound so I was keeping some very supportive sandals on her feet which helped wonderfully, not ideal but helped.  I found some soft booties from Amazon, braces if you will, that are fabulous.  They keep her feet straight and supported and ward off pressure points on her heels,  etc… 

I hope you find a solution soon. 

Sissi

Malka, have you tried massaging his hands with  Voltaren? I believe they sell it over the counter nowadays? Try to give him the massage in the same setting the caregiver used to. Good luck!

Oregano

Malka,

Cissus Quadrangularis is an herb, not a drug. To get it, you will probably have to order it online via Amazon or another retailer. As for the brand, I haven't been able to contact my friend, who is away for the winter. I would suggest looking at the reviews on Amazon and judging it based on them.

Chammer brings up a very good point about diffused essential oils. My suspicion is that it is the anti-fungal effect of the oils that is alleviating the arthritis. I can't be sure, of course, but CBD/THC also has an anti-fungal effect, which may be why you've had some success with it.

Malka

Thank you for all your replies.

Finally the doctor called back and prescribed gabapentin. Dosage started with one at bedtime. It worked until about 9 am, so the doctor prescribed one in the morning also. Today, about 10 days later his dosage was upped to 3 times a day. His aide told me that she thinks it is helping, but he says they still hurt. He is taking so much medication that I don't know if it is the right thing to do.

I also went to the dispensary and bought some THC/CBD lotion which he says works okay, but his hands still hurt. He can't cut up his own food anymore (this is his right hand, also saying the left is starting to have the same pain). I am afraid that he will have to be fed soon.

His 94th birthday is next Tuesday and he will be 94. He told me then he wants to die. I believe if he can remember, he might have the will to make it happen.

jfkoc

I have neuropathy  and take gabapentin which has helped. I also apply BenGay occasionally which has an immediate effect and can be reapplied.

Malka

May I ask how long it took to relieve your pain? My dad has been on it for close to 2 weeks. It definitely has been helping, but as I mentioned by this time of day they become sore again.

Also, he can't stand the smell of the menthol on his hands. Maybe they sell an odorless brand. I will look.

Thank you.

jfkoc

They do!

MaryG123

I think I’ve seen a foot rub with lidocaine at the pharmacy.  That might help.

Jo C.

Be very, very, very careful of substances being useds whether a "Med" or whether an "Herbal" or "Supplement," including CBD or THC.  Check with the pharmacist and the physician; many of these can interact with prescription meds or be contraindicated in other physical or mental health conditions.  (If ever there was a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder, even a very "low" sort of BPD, many, many meds and supplements can really cause much distress by causing the BPD to increase and become florid.)

Voltarin is now able to be purchased OTC: but it comes with strong warnings and directions; it is not a drug to be used without caution even if it is in a topical form; it is absorbed into the body.

Checking for splint comfort or lesser remedies is always good to see if it helps.  Has anyone checked to assess for carpal tunnel?  It can become very painful and restrictive and in severe cases, can cause the symptoms you have described.

J.

Malka

Hi,

Thanks for the information. I did tell his doctor about the topical CBD cream. She said that would be fine.

I do worry about him taking so much medication. It makes him tired. But I will talk to his doctor before I look for the Voltarin.

 I talked briefly to my dad about wearing a brace on his hand and he won't.

 Tomorrow is his 94th birthday. He told me he is going to die. I just read that 14% of people die on their birthdays. He really wants to go now that he has pain. It was bad enough that he lost my mother, and then his  mind.