Question about Neuropathy Pain Cream

[Cordelia]

Anyone use cream on their feet to help with the pain of neuropathy? I was given a prescription today by my neurologist. He offered pills to help with the pain in my feet but I declined. I'll just suffer some horrible nasty side effect with more pills while on dialysis, noooo thank you....so.......he offered a cream instead. Anybody had experience using a cream? Does it help? Will I curse the cream and wished I didn't waste my money? Just curious what your experience has been.   

[greg10]

Anyone use cream on their feet to help with the pain of neuropathy? I was given a prescription today by my neurologist. He offered pills to help with the pain in my feet but I declined. I'll just suffer some horrible nasty side effect with more pills while on dialysis, noooo thank you....so.......he offered a cream instead. Anybody had experience using a cream? Does it help? Will I curse the cream and wished I didn't waste my money? Just curious what your experience has been.   

Yes, $86 for an 3 oz tube, which was about $80 too much and Medicare won't pay for it (perhaps they know it is ineffective).  It claimed to have Neurontin (gabapentin) in it, but it also has lidocaine and that is probably the active ingredient that is doing anything.  So save yourself about $80 and get a tube of lidocaine cream, it will probably be just as effective.   In our case, this Gabapentin cream was not effective against any symptoms of neuropathy (pain or numbness).

What has helped with the peripheral neuropathy was getting the blood sugar under control (even if you are not diabetic, you may be at risk, when was the last time you tested for blood glucose and is it normally under 150 mg/dL?)

Better dialysis seemed to have helped as well.  Our HDP is about 100.  Know your HDP if you are on hemodialysis.

Anti-glycation supplements such as Benfotiamine may also be helpful.  It is an antioxidant that was shown to be effective for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy.  You can get a 100x150mg bottle for about $12.  Benfotiamine has also been shown to protect PD patients against glycation due to the high glucose dialysate that they carried.
http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=23079.0

attached formulation

[Cordelia]

I'm not diabetic, just had a test done 2 months ago. Neuropahty is not just caused from diabetes.

The neuropathy I have is from the kidney dialysis/renal failure for me. My insurance will cover that cream if it's as expensive as you mentioned, I'm not worried then. I pay a copay of $15. I will try it and hopefully it will work.   

[Cordelia]

I got neuragena, over the counter, instead. It's helping to relieve that burning, stabbing, tingling pain!   

[jeannea]

I don't understand why you object to taking Neurontin capsules. I found they really helped with little or no side effects. I mean they really helped. Might be worth a try.

[Cordelia]

I have no idea what medication my doctor was going to prescribe, he did not tell me. I take enough pills with side effects I wish not to take more at this time.