Tom and everyone else,
My sincere apologies for posting this and giving false hope.
After rereading it, I think, since it improves blood flow, it would be a
preventative of neuropathy (for diabetics), not a treatment (for neuropathy).
I got excited and drew the wrong conclusion, because I think it can help people
with Raynaud's
http://www.raynauds.demon.co.uk/raynauds.html

So sorry, and so sorry Tom, I'm not sure which medication is causing the
balance problems but probably the nortriptyline causes the drowsiness. It's in
a "class" of tricyclics (helps with pain and sleep), which I had to quit. Some
of us "oldeis" have a harder time with such. if you're not an "oldie" my
apologies too :-) Hope you find something better that helps with your
neuropathy, although it's my understanding that neurontin is one of the best.
Maybe it wouldn't hurt to try the cream once but do check with your doctor(s)
first.
J

"Tom mastin" <mastinnospam001@hawaii.rr.com> on 10 Jan 2004 suggested:

       I have neuropathy of hands, feet, memory and vocabulary.  My doc
at one point mentioned that vitamin B shots might help, but we never got
around to my getting any of these shots.  The following is not a
recommendation for any product, nor a claim to its efficacy in treating
any disease or symptom.  It is merely a report of my personal experience
offered to share my experience with neuropathy.

       One day, I was wandering in a "Ross Dress for Less" store, and
came upon an Iced Tea concentrate that said on the bottle "Fortified for
Stamina".  Since I was (and still am) having problems with my stamina, I
stopped to read the rest of the bottle.  It said "Each 8 oz. serving
contains 100% of the Recommended Daily Allowance for Vitamin C, Vitamin
B-5, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin B-12 and vitamin B-3."

       Since I was still having trouble swallowing pills, I thought this
might be a convenient and easy way to get some vitamins into my system.  
Now, I'm not making any claims for this product, but in the month that I
have been drinking it, the neuropathy in my hands and feet has improved,
as has my ability to access vocabulary.  My memory still sucks, as does
my stamina.  It could just be coincidence, but I went ahead and bought
more, and will see if I continue to improve.  If nothing else, it makes
sure I get my daily supply of the B-vitamins and fluids, because the
iced tea is tasty.

       The stuff is from Arbor Hill Gourmet Foods.  It's $12
(outrageously expensive to me) at their website, which I will provide
just so you can read about the product, at wwww.thegrapery.com, but at
"Ross", the bottles were $4, each, which was not unreasonable.

       My neuropathy was caused primarily by chemotherapy, though my
abdominal nerves were cut in the surgery.  The surgeon said those would
grow back at about 1 millimeter a month, but wouldn't state how long
before I could feel the area affected again.

       I guess I am fortunate, then.  Mine was primarily a constant
tingling, as though the hand/foot had fallen asleep, though at times
they did get painful.  The most interesting/annoying thing was that the
affected areas were always VERY cold to the touch, and when it would get
cold outside, they would become arthritically painful.  This is where I
have noticed the MOST improvement.  The hands/feet now tolerate the cold
much better, AND they don't feel as cold anymore, though they are still
colder than they used to be, or the rest of the body.

       I've never tried any creams, nor have my docs ever suggested or
recommended any.  If you get any positive results, I'd like to hear
about it.

       I wish you the best in everything, and I hope that we find
something that completely eliminates the neuropathy, as it is a very
annoying side effect, but hey, it's a reasonable trade off for still
being here, at least for me!

--Douglas

Hi Tom,
I have Peripheral Neuropathy.
The summer of 2002,my feet begain to burn.It got to the point I had to
soak my feet in ice water 4 to 6 times a day.I had to take a small tub
and a bag of ice to work just to get through the day.
To make a long story short,My Dr. prescibed Neurontin and after a
couple of weeks,my feet started to feel better.There is still mild
pain at times but for the most part they feel good.If I forget to take
my medicine,the burning feeling starts to return.I take the Neurontin
and about an hour later the burning goes away.The Dr. has had to
adjust my dose a couple of times,but from what he tells me,Im taking a
small dose and if need be he can up it many more times.
Im dont have Diabetes and Im not an alcoholic.However my Family Dr.
was prescribing Percocet for my back pain and then she put me on
steroids and that is when I started to have P.N. problems.
I also recomend a book," Numb Toes and Aching Soles" by John A.
Senneff.It answered a lot of questions I had.

Joe

Hi Tony, for some reason some of the replies, got uncross-posted and were
only sent to alt.support.cancer.
So you may have missed it that we determined that the "blood flow" creams
are a preventative for neuropathy.
Helps the circulation in diabetes and/or cold. I think Douglas is going to
try one anyway.
I just looked up your cream, it too seems to have the same ingredient, but
I'm so sorry we didn't tell you (cross-post) that it may not help with
nerve damage unless there's a bit of both happening.
So since you've already ordered it, do let us know if it helps Gloria.
Please and thank you.
oh and disclaimer, I'm not a doctor and I suppose, even these should maybe
checked with one's doctor.
Do read any warnings first on the label or package insert.
all my best,
J - alt.support.cancer