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Old 05-28-2014, 06:41 PM
CoachT CoachT is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 26
10 yr Member
CoachT CoachT is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 26
10 yr Member
Default Small Fiber Neuropathy Caused by Autoimmune Disease?

Since I was 17, I have some underlying problem that has waxed and wane over the years including joint, muscle and neuropathic pains, fatigue. Now 45, my symptoms are increasing and worsening. At 17 and during my 20's, I had an ANA 1:640 speckled pattern and was positive for Anti-histones on several occasions, but never had any other postive subsets for the various autoimmune diseases. When I was 26, they wanted to rule out scleraderma because my sister had CREST syndrome and therefore I had a skin biopsy. The biopsy showed increased collagen consistent with lupus, scleraderma and others, but it was nonspecific. A specialist did a nailfold capillary microscopy and concluded that I didn't have scleraderma, but wondered about Sjogren's, although I was negative for those antibodies. I do have dry mouth and eyes and frequent costipation now. Over the years, I have been getting more and more neurological involvement during my flare-ups and the pain has become unbearable. At 43, I saw a rheumatologist who did a complete work-up and my result were normal including, to my surprise, my ANA. He sent me to a neurologist who gave me a skin biopsy that revealed idiopathic small fiber neuropathy. It is diffuse and doesn't spare any part of me. I am simply being treated symptomatically. I am concerned because I know it is progressively getting worse and nothing is being done to find or treat the cause. I suspect that all along, I have had some undiagnosed autoimmune disease. Anyone have an opinion or advice?
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