I am looking for some diabetic info for hubby~he has neuropathy which is nerve pain caused by his being a diabetic. Diet and exercise is best for a diabetic and the meds sork sometimes and sometimes not.

Does anyone have good resource for what works for this sort of pain? He is just starting a new med called Cymbalta for this not sure how long before the med is in his system good and is working. Has anyone used this med before for this?

Deb -

My husband had neuropathy in his feet and lower legs. He was not taking medication for it. His step mom takes something for it, but it may be what your husband is taking. I know there are studies on this, but sorry I can't give you any more info.

In the Recipe section I've made a new discussion topic of Healthy and I've posted a recipe for muffins that help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels. A friend's husband is diabetic and they each eat three of these a day and his numbers went way down. I have made these and depending on the brand of bran flour they are sometimes very dry and crumbly.

Deb,

I take Cymbalta for fibromyalgia. It really helped me a lot. I felt a difference in just a few days. Side effects for me were daytime sleepiness, dry mouth, and sweating more than normal, but all of the these symptoms went away after 2 weeks.

Hubby is seemingly thinking it is working for him, I sure hope he gets better than he has been.

So Kim you take it for fibro pain and that is working well for you then? My daughter is seeing a RA doc trying for a real DX of her problems, if the cymbalta is working for you I am curious if it would help her do you have any stats on how many people it wworks on for fibro? She just started going to Huntsville to the RA specialist and it is a hit and miss whit a med that works~so far no good med is there for her yet. I will mention this to her that will give her some avenue to check out anyway.

Deb, if your daughter has fibro, it might help. It helps some and doesn't others according to what I've read about the study that was done. Don't get me wrong...I still hurt a lot, but doesn't seem to be as severe as it was before I began taking it. I was experiencing extreme fatigue as well and it really gave me some energy.

I hope your daughter doesn't have RA or fibro, but whatever it turns out to be, I wish her all the best! Chronic pain, no matter what the cause, is no fun.

Wow that sounds like something worth checking into Kim I too have fibro however was not taking anything just something to help me sleep and in the daytime just try and deal with it, not a good thing however as I get older and keeping my mum my stress level is being tested to the max so am looking for a specialist here in Houston as to not have to keep going to doctors without much success.
Deb I too wish that your daughter does not have either one of these but if this is the case sure hope that they can help her gt some relief.

Deb,

I also have neuropathy and I went to rehab for 3 months and it's LOTS better now. It's an infrared light treatment that takes about 1/2 hours 3 times a week (I'm sure this varies with each patient). It took awhile before the effects were felt, but it's been 2 years ago now and my feet are still OK. Check with your doctor or hospital to see if they have the machine to use. I know in the Chicago area they have special centers for this treatment. There isn't any invasion to the feet nor any medication involved.

Good luck

Hi I am new to this site but I just saw your note and had to respond. I have MS and am also diabetic, I am confined to a wheelchair and my right hand doesn't work. I have had the exact same pains you are talking about and everyone is right the medicine does help some---but not me. The Dr. finally put me on Lyrica and it has been a relief for me. I had it all down my right side and even on the top of my head in my hair, I think the worst was on my face, it hurts so bad. I hope his medicine works for him but don't give up there are other treatments. Good Luck

Welcome Grandma Molly- happy to have you here with us. Are you quilter? Or with the NHGC? We have a thread for introductions- would like to hear more about you.

Molly
Hang in there, it was looking as if nothing was working for the pain hubby was having either. He was 2 new scripts for cymbalta and Trasadone just recently and he started with the trasadone one at bedtime and it is working great for his neuropathy pain, he took some of the cymbalta samples and never did get the script filled on it after he seen how the trasadone is working well with the elavil and insulin finally. He couldn't get relief until he started the trasadone. The elavil keeps his mood in check and the trasadone is keeping his neuropathy pain in check as is the insulin keeping his sugar regulated much better.

I really do wish each of you better days and relief from the hurts and pains that you have. The diabetic association seems to automatically acknowledge the limbs as where pain comes into play but most don't know why the entire body can have pain but it does and it is from having diabeties. Hubby has a Diabetic doc and a neuropathy doc so they both seem to be getting him undercontrol finally. So keep having them try different drugs if the ones they put you on aren't working as you need for them to be.