Originally Posted by AnnieB3

Pain is a complicated issue and there are MANY causes for it, including the obvious ones of Vitamin D and B12 deficiencies. That is why a differential diagnosis is so important before a doctor throws a drug or two at you.

If a doctor had given me Neurontin for pain (which is relatively contraindicated in MG) and Provigil for fatigue during my B12 deficiency, I would be fairly pain-free and more awake but would have eventually died of that B12 def. because you can't live without it.

Some causes of peripheral neuropathies:

http://www.questdiagnostics.com/hcp/...eralNeurop.htm

The biggest problem with figuring out what is causing the pain is that it isn't "easy." It may involve many doctors and tests. Or involve a doctor having to think. If you have a good internist, they may be smart enough to run a bunch of tests and think about what could be going on. A neurologist can also assess pain syndromes. Fibromyalgia can be assessed by a rheumatologist too, who can exclude inflammatory diseases as the cause.

You can find yourself running all over town for help. However, it is worthwhile to do that if you are in extreme pain because knowing the cause of what is going on is the BEST way to alleviate the symptoms.

I'm sorry that Erin had to go half way across the country to get answers about her pain but if she finds an answer, then it's worth it for her. But it can be expensive and exhausting. I hope you do find answers Erin!

If you have a good doctor or two, who are smart and nice, then you have a good chance of figuring out what is going on. You may need to make more than one appointment to figure it out. Some medical problems can't be figured out by one appointment or a few tests.

I don't have the energy right now to put up a bunch of sites but I'll bet some of you guys do! The sooner you deal with and get rid of pain, the better off you are, especially women who often have pain that even befuddles researchers.

My opinion is that HOW you think about doctoring and medical issues is the most important factor in figuring out what is going on. Doctors don't often have the time to do that thinking and so you may have to pick up the slack by writing notes, doing research and trying to figure it out (and then going back to your doctors).

It seems that a lot of you have pain issues, so I wanted to at least try to help.

Annie
This is where I wish your pain would go! Far, far away!!!