Community Views: How to Manage Neuropathy Pain

Many people living with diabetes know the feeling of neuropathy. It is the numbness that shows up in the legs, feet, hands, and other areas of the body. Neuropathy can make many tasks, including falling and staying asleep, such a chore.

Some in the community are new to dealing with this pain, while others have been living with it for years. To find out more about the solutions our community members rely on, we turned to followers of our Facebook page. We asked you to tell us: “How do you manage your pain from neuropathy?”

Tips for how to deal with neuropathy pain

Nearly 150 community members responded. Here is what was said.

Taking gabapentin

The most common response from community members is to take gabapentin. This is a prescription drug used to treat seizures and relieve nerve pain. Many shared that this is their everyday go-to to keep neuropathy pain at bay. Always speak to your doctor about medication changes.

“I use gabapentin.”

“Prescription gabapentin, and sometimes acetaminophen with the gabapentin.”

“Gabapentin twice daily.”

Using creams and roll-ons

Many in the community shared that they also turn to neuropathy pain relief creams. Some creams are available by prescription, while some can be found over the counter. There are dozens on the market, including hemp creams, which are said to treat pain, aches, and soreness. There is no 1 cream that is right for everyone. Instead, it may take some trial and error before finding which 1 is most effective for you. You can also ask your doctor what cream they recommend.

“All kinds of roll-ons.”

“I use hempvana cream. It helps with the pain instantly when I put it on. Works great so I do not need meds.”

“I massage hemp cream onto feet and ankles. This has helped me a great deal.”

Walking on a regular basis

Walking was another popular answer shared by many community members. Walking is low-impact, increases blood flow, and costs nothing. This makes it a solution worth trying. Several community members said they started small and gradually increased the amount of exercise they were doing each day until they found the sweet spot that helped with their neuropathy pain.

“Walking, walking, and walking.”

“Walk till it hurts, rest, then walk more. Improves circulation in legs. Opens up those small arteries.”

Paying attention to diet

A number of community members said foods that cause inflammation make their neuropathy pain worse. Because there is often a link between foods and how our body feels, some people with diabetes found it helpful to remove foods like gluten or sugar to relieve their pain. A few in the community also shared that staying hydrated can also cut down on pain.

“Cutting back on carbs really helps.”

“Limited sugar.”

“Drink lots of water.”

Losing weight

This is a solution that takes time and commitment, but the results can be well worth it. A handful of community members shared that they made changes in their diet over a long period of time. In turn, their A1C number dropped significantly. This reduced many of their symptoms of diabetes, including neuropathy pain. If you are thinking about starting a weight loss journey, talk to your doctor about what is right for you.

"I was a type 2 diabetic, then I started a 90 percent plant-based diet. I still got my proteins: steak, chicken, fish. I lost 75 pounds. My A1C was 11.5, and in 8 months I got it down to 5.7. I no longer take medication”

“Weight loss.”

Thank you to everyone who shared solutions! We are grateful for such an active community so willing to reach out and help one another.