Hi. I'm new on the forum and new to PN. I have done a few posts, but I would like to explain my PN and perhaps get some input from some of the wonderful posters here.

I am a 51 year old female who just became post menopausal (one year with no period) last December. I had a horrendous menopause, and I am still experiencing symptoms of that. Anyway, at the beginning of last November, I started feeling a horrible burning in my upper back. I thought it was because I was on the computer too much. Then I started feeling some burning down one strip of my left leg. Then burning spread to the right leg. The burning was only felt from the knees down to the angles. Nothing in the feet. I went to a neurologist who took some blood work and took one MRI of my lower spine. The blood work came out normal and no nerve compression was found on my lower spine. He put me on gabapentin and that's it.

Since then, the pain has spread to my feet (mostly cramping and funny sensations), my arms, my hands, my entire back (which burns the worse), my waist, and my stomach. I have mostly sharp, stinging pains and cramps with burning. Currently, I have no numbness, weakness, or balance problems.

I am trying to see another doctor for a second opinion, as the first doctor was very difficult to talk too. I'm afraid the 1800 mg. of gabapentin is not working much. I really want another MRI done on my mid back and neck as well, as I have had back issues. Why the doctor didn't do this the first time, I don't know. I have tested negative for diabetes, but my mom was a diabetic. I also take a lot of high blood pressure medication.

Oh, I should say that my onset was very fast, within weeks. Does this sound typical? I would appreciate any input or comments. Thanks so much!