DEAR DR. GOTT: Seven years ago, I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy due to numbness on the bottoms of both feet. My podiatrist made the diagnosis. Because I was not a diabetic or an alcoholic, he diagnosed idiopathic PN. I was 75 at the time. He wanted to do muscle tests, which I turned down in favor of a second opinion at the local Mayo Clinic. Their tests showed the neuropathy to be present, and they suggested I take 600 milligrams per day of alpha-lipoic acid from my health-food store and exercise.

My neurologist prescribed 10 milligrams of baclofen for the few leg cramps I was getting at night. I declined after hearing the side effects from my pharmacist. Because the weather was hot, I decided to try a high-carb sports drink, which took away the cramps until the weather changed.
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