Dr:

I've been having some numbness in my toes for about 1 year now. It hasn't been too bad, and considering the otherwise excellent results I've been having (Abacavir+ Combivir+Ritonavir for 2 years and v/l is undetectable , C4 count is 540 which is the highest it's been in more than decade) has been well worth putting up with. Nothing painful, it juist feels like my toes are about to go to sleep.

In the past month, though, things have really deteriorated -especially on my left foot I seemt o have no feeling at all in my toes and they are always cold. I broke my toe, but because It didn't hurt I kept walking around and made things a lot worse than they needed to be.

My dorctor takes the approach that this is a small price to pay, but it really is impacting on my life - I'm not really comfortable doing some of my favoutrite activities (surfing, yoga, hiking) as I'm unsteady on my feet and I'm sure this is affecting my mood badly.

I'd stop my meds altogether except that it's the beginning of winter (I'm in Australia) so I think that should wait for a few months.

Do you have any suggestions - vitamins or similar approach, to minimize this? The actual PN is marginally bearable, but what it's doing to my life really isn't.

Many thanks

Mark

Sometimes peripheral neuropathy is aggravated/triggered by the 3TC in the Combivir so a trial switch off that drug is something to consider with your HIV specialist. It remains possible but not proven that use of L-carnitine supplements and perhaps other anti-oxidants may help peripheral neuropathy some. KH