After five years of that annoying buzzing sensation in my feet, I really thought I’d tried everything. I’ve gone through countless bottles of B-vitamins, magnesium, and even those expensive compression socks that never seemed to do much besides make my feet sweat. Honestly, I was extremely skeptical about spending more money on supplements because most of them feel like expensive placebos.
A friend who deals with similar issues mentioned a specific combination of extra strength Alpha Lipoic Acid and Benfotiamine. I decided to give Nervala (ordered here) a shot, mostly because I liked that it was a higher dose than what I found at the local pharmacy and I was tired of taking six different pills a day.
Here is how the timeline went for me:
Weeks 1-3: I didn’t feel a thing. I almost stopped taking it, thinking it was another waste of thirty dollars. I had a slight plateau where I thought the buzzing was getting worse, but I stuck with it.
Week 4: I noticed the “electric” zaps at night weren’t waking me up as frequently. It wasn’t gone, just… quieter. I could actually sleep through the night without having to get up and walk around to shake the feeling out.
Month 2: This was the turning point. I realized I could walk the dog around the block without that desperate need to sit down halfway through. Compared to just taking a standard B-complex, the Nervala seemed to target the actual intensity of the discomfort rather than just providing a temporary mask like the topical lidocaine creams did.
Is it perfect? No. I still have “off” days, especially when the weather changes or if I’ve been on my feet too long at a wedding. It’s also not the cheapest option on the market. But for me, the consistency of the 600mg lipoic acid in Nervala has made a noticeable difference in my daily mobility. It took time, but those small wins really did add up over the months.
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I had a very similar experience. I’ve been on Nervala for three months now and the burning in my toes has finally calmed down enough for me to sleep through the night. It took about three weeks to kick in for me.
Glad to hear you’re finding some relief. I’ve been stuck in that ‘skeptical’ phase for a year. Did you change your diet at all while starting this, or just the supplement?
I tried the pharmacy brand lipoic acid and it upset my stomach something fierce. Did you have any issues with that? I’m hesitant to try a higher dose if it’s going to be worse.
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The Lipoic acid in Nervala is definitely more potent than the cheap stuff I found at the big box stores. My husband noticed I’m not limping as much in the mornings when I first get out of bed. It’s been worth the price for us.
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Are you taking it once or twice a day? I’ve heard mixed things about when the best time to take benfotiamine is.
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The ‘buzzing’ description is spot on. That’s exactly what I feel. It’s like my feet are vibrating. It’s exhausting just trying to ignore it all day. I might look into this approach.
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I’m on week two of a similar regimen and haven’t felt anything yet. Your post gives me some hope to keep going until the one-month mark. I’m so impatient!
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I’ve found that cutting out processed sugar helped the supplements work better. When I have a ‘cheat day’ the tingling comes back regardless of what I take.
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Small wins are everything with this condition. Just being able to walk through the store without pain is a huge victory.
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It took about six weeks for me to see results, but Nervala has been a game changer for my leg stability. It’s not a miracle cure, but it’s significantly better than anything else I’ve tried over the last decade.
Does this interfere with any other medications? I’m on a blood pressure pill and always worry about interactions.
The cost is the only thing holding me back. It’s hard to justify the monthly expense when you’re on a fixed income, but if it actually works, I guess it’s better than spending it on doctors.
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Consistency is key. I missed a few days last week and I definitely felt the difference. You have to keep the levels up in your system for it to do anything.
I’m doing physical therapy alongside my supplements. The combination seems to be the sweet spot for me. The supplements help the nerves and the PT helps the muscle weakness.
Thanks for sharing the week-by-week update. Most people just say ‘it works’ or ‘it doesn’t’ without explaining that it takes time. Very helpful.
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