What In The Hell is Going On With My Feet?

What Peripheral Neuropathy Feels Like To Me

Yes, I suffer from Neuropathy in my feet, or what doctors like to call peripheral neuropathy, which is basically when the nerves in your tootsies start acting all like Keith Moon’s drumsticks, all wonky!. This means you might feel numb, get zapped with pain, or find your feet just aren’t listening to your brain like they used to. It's like trying to get a good radio signal when you're in the middle of nowhere—sometimes all you get is static!

Why Do Nerves Go Rogue?

The reasons your feet can end up this way are all over the map. Here are a few of the most likely culprits:

Diabetes: This is the big one. High sugar levels can rough up your nerves over time. (Doc says this is my problem.)
Injuries: A bad fall or injury can directly damage the nerves.
Infections: Some infections go after your nerves like they owe them money.
Vitamin Deficiencies: Low levels of B vitamins can mess with nerve health.
Autoimmune Diseases: Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis can target your nerves.
Toxins: Exposure to certain chemicals and meds can harm your nerves. (I think this is my problem, personally, I was in the pest control industry years back and I think the chemicals are to blame.)

Symptoms: What You Need To Watch For

Symptoms can vary, but here’s what might happen:

Feeling like you're walking on pins and needles or on wadded up socks
Sharp, jabbing pains that can feel like electric shocks
Extreme sensitivity to touch—your bed sheet might even feel like sandpaper (Yup, Yup)
Losing your mojo when it comes to balance and coordination
Muscles in the feet feeling weak or like they’re on vacation
Not noticing injuries, which can lead to infections

Can You Fix It? Here’s the Scoop on Treatment

Curing neuropathy is very tricky. For some folks, it's about managing symptoms and preventing further damage. Here’s what might help:

Control Your Blood Sugar: If you're dealing with diabetes, keeping your blood sugar in check is like giving your nerves a peace offering.
Eat Right: Chowing down on a diet full of good, healthy nutrients can help your nerve health. Think of feeding your nerves like watering and fertilizing a plant.
Get Moving: Regular exercise pumps up blood flow to your limbs, which keeps your nerves more happily supplied with what they need.
Foot Care 101: Check your feet daily. It's all about catching those sneaky cuts or blisters before they become a nasty problem.
Medications: Sometimes over-the-counter painkillers won't cut it, and you might need something stronger. Doctors might prescribe medications typically used for epilepsy or depression because they can also help nerve pain. (Gabapentin, or Lyrica in particular)
Physical Therapy: It's not just for workout injuries—it can help keep your feet limber and less painful.
Alternative Therapies: Some folks have found some relief through acupuncture or capsaicin cream, which comes from chili peppers. It’s a hot topic (oh, Lordy, pun intended) in pain relief. There is a new drug, an ointment, called Quetenze, which is showing promise, also.
Supplements: Some studies suggest that supplements like alpha-lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine can help ease symptoms and improve nerve function in some people. Just chat with your doc before starting any new pill routine. (Please)
Electrical Nerve Stimulation: This sounds futuristic, but it’s just about giving your nerves a gentle electric nudge so they remember how to behave. Some Chiropractors use this and say it helps.
Lifestyle Tweaks: Simple changes, like avoiding alcohol or adjusting your posture, can sometimes make a big difference in how your feet feel.

Prevention: Better Safe Than Sorry

If you’re not dealing with neuropathy yet, keeping it at bay involves:

Dodging toxins (Always when possible)
Managing any chronic conditions (Blood Sugar)
Regular check-ups—catching issues early can save your soles (see what I did there?).

Wrap-Up

So, neuropathy in the feet can be an absolute, real pain, but understanding what you’re up against makes a huge difference. While we might not have a magic bullet cure, there's a toolbox of strategies that can manage symptoms and improve your quality of life. Stay proactive, keep in touch with your healthcare team, and take care of those feet—after all, they’ve got to carry you through a lot more adventures. Here’s to keeping those feet happy and healthy, no one wants to lose them!

Dean Benson, “The Dean Of Rock & Roll” SKY7music.com middays on the “Only Classic Rock Channel”. Also see more of my writing at: https://stan.store/DeanBensonRocks .

Email me! Deanbensonrocks@gmail.com