Numb and Tingly feet

  10/26
  I am 76 Years old and for past year have had gradually increasing numbness and tingly feet (both) from toes, now almost to heal.
  My family physician has prescribed Amitripline (?) for symptoms,but I have reactions and discontinued. He is very vague about cause and apparently thinks it is result of getting older.
  I feel sure it has something to do with the never endings, but am reluctant about going over his head to see a specialist.
  Is this common in older men? Will it keep progressing? Is it serious enough to consult a neuroligist?
  Thanks for your help.
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Dear Sam,
The problem you are describing is called peripheral neuropathy and is due to
small nerve endings in the feet becoming inflamed, it causes numbness,
tingling and some times pain which CAN progress up the legs.
It is more common in older people, and should be checked out as some of
the caused are reversible, I do not think it is enough to just leave it
without further investigation as it may be curable.
I really think you would be justified in seing a neurologist about this.
A number of newer drugs are avaliable to treat this including one drug
Neurontin which has very few side effects, I suggest that you should try
this. First however this should be investigated for a treatable underlinng cause.

[nunnie327]

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