B-Complex Vitamins Improve Neuropathy

Neuropathy is the poor functioning of nerves and can lead to significant abnormalities in the feet and legs including: 

- My feet are numb and may even feel dead.
- I don't feel pain in my feet, even when I have an injury.
- I can't feel my feet when I'm walking, and may trip periodically.
- I have trouble feeling heat or cold in my feet or hands.
- My feet are usually tingling.
- I feel "pins and needles" in my feet, like they are trying to wake up.
- I have burning, stabbing, shooting or electrical shock pains in my feet.
- My feet are very sensitive to touch.  It hurts to have the feet touched, even from a bed sheet.
- Sometimes I feel like I have leather on my foot, or like I have gloves or socks on when I don't.
- My feet hurt significantly at night and keep me awake.

Although diabetes is the most common cause of neuropathy in the United States, neuropathy can present in many individuals without diabetes.  In both cases, nerve functioning may be damaged by decreased blood flow to the nerves or even damaging of the nerves.  As with many natural conditions, there is a natural substance that can improve these symptoms and improve nerve fuctioning.  No longer is neuropathy (diabetic or not) a condition that you need to continue with.

The most common natural substances to improve neuropathy is B complex vitamins: B1 (thiamine), B6, B12 and folic acid.  Many of the over-the-counter vitamins that contain these products, however, are in a form that are not as easily absorbed or utilized by the body.  In our research, we have found two products that provide the vitamins in a form that are beneficial and easily utilized by the body.

1. Metanx - A prescription item that contains L-methoylfolate, Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and Methylcobalamin (all natural forms of folic acid, B6 and B12 respectively).  These products work together to produce increased blood flow to the nerves and assist in nerve repair.  Many people are finding not just decreased symptoms but improvment of the neuropathy over time.  It should be utilized, however, for at least 4-6 months to ensure it has time to repair the nerves.

2. Neuremedy - A over-the-counter item that contains a form of B1 (benfotiamine) that is absorbed and modified by the body to the active form of B1 (thiamine).  Most forms of this vitamin fail to be absorbed in the body, but the benfotiamine of Neuremedy is easily absorbed and utilized by the body.  It has been shown to nourish dysfunctional nerves and allow them to conduct impulses more normally.  It has been utilized since the early 1960s in Europe and Asia on thousands of patients. 

So, neuropathy although a common problem doesn't need to continue to cause problems in your life.  It can be treated often very effectively through the use of one of these two options.

Dr Brandt R Gibson
Mountain West Foot & Ankle Institute
36 North 1100 East, Suite B
American Fork, UT 84003
801-756-0765
http://www.utahfootdoc.com/