Questions posted in the Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Subject: Re: Chronic foot burning and pain
Forum: The Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum
Topic Area: Neuralgia
Posted by CCF Neurology MD MJD on September 18, 1998 at 21:57:55:
In Reply to: Chronic foot burning and pain posted by Karen on September 18, 1998 at 20:16:58:



Thank you for your quick responses. I do not know how to use the follow-up procedure, so I'm just sending another message. Just to add on to my situation, with the change of weather, from hot to cooler, my feet feel wet(even though they are not) they do not feel hot or cold, although the are burning)the toes are the worst. There is no seeming pattern of pain, it does not follow after an activity or particular time. It is either very bad or just there. There are no more good days ever.Also, why do you and others prescribe anti-seizure medications for the foot pain? Thank you for all the information. I plan to go armed to my next Doctor Appointment.


________

I didn't answer your first question, (but as a new message, I don't know who did), but maybe I can help.
Certainly, different people experience different sensations from nerve damage. Most commonly - burning, tingling, numbness, but certainly people describe temperature changes or other sensations (like your feeling of wetness).

As for treatment of nerve pain - Interestingly, although some patients report pain from ordinary pain medicines, they often are of little help. In fact, despite the intensity of the pain, opiates are of little use. What does help are medicines which stabilize or "calm down" (in a way), the nerves. This is simplistic but an easy way of thinking of the medicines that help neuropathic pain. Seizure drugs (like Carbamazepine, Dilantin, Neurontin), Antidepressants (Amitryptiline, Imipramine) or even Heart Drugs normally used for abnormal rhythms. There is a long list of drugs that can help, it just is a matter of finding the right one for each patient (with the fewest side effects).

Hope this was of some help. As always, this should be used for informative purposes and does not substitute for seeing a doctor for therapeutic or diagnostic reasons.



[Neurology Forum]      [Neurology Forum Archives]