The first indication I had something wrong was severe stabbing pains in my feet, usually in the heel or ankle, sometimes in the ball of my foot, and even sometimes 'shooting' out the ends of my big toes. These pains happened several times a week, usually at night. Many tests and many doctors later, glucose testing finally showed diabetes, even though I had been tested many times previously and found negative for diabetes. Anyway, I have good sugar control, am on oral medication, have no obvious signs of any foot damage, but have such severe pains of all kinds, from itching and burning, to electrical shock sensations, etc. But by far the most debilitating is the sensation that all the toes in my feet are broken. I wear good shoes and socks, do not get a great deal of exercise, and do not have the luxury of a sympathetic neurologist. Gabapentin certainly helps the foot pain (I can tell when I've missed a dose) but I am at a loss as to why my feet should hurt this badly, especially in the morning. Any ideas?

Well since you have been prescribed Gabapentin then it seems that your doctor has diagnosed you with a neuropathic condition. Neuropathy is a condition which causes altered sensation to the nerves mainly of hands and feet; commonly known as "stockings and gloves" sensation. The symptoms are often numbness, tingling, burning and electrical sensation and is commonly seen at night. Your condition obviously was quite severe since it manifested prior to being diagnosed with the diabetes. There are however other condition which can cause the condition, such as alcoholism, HIV/AIDS, syphillis, vitamin deficiences, medications and a few other conditions. You should further discuss your concerns with your medical doctor.

Foot.com staff member