I'm chillin just fine, so don't be concerned about me. I'm just glad I had the idea to call up his hmo and find out about the ivig coverage and in fact they do cover him so just in case he ever needs this treatment, he'll get it.

Alan's neuropathy has actually not progressed at all. He still has it but while I wouldn't say it's reversed, it's gotten much more manageable since he discovered Dr. Theirl.

6 years ago Alan couldn't drive because he couldn't feel the pedals. He then had to go on the Fentanyl pain patch because the pain, the stabbing, the burning was so bad. So he went on Social security disability.

Then, through these boards, I found Dr. Theirl, who, when Alan first walked in (weighing over 250) and could barely bend his legs, Dr. Theirl said "oh my god, we have to help this man". Then with all the adjustments, over a period of months, Alan was weaned off the patch.

Now to me, this speaks of a back issue, (but what the heck do I know).

He has not had to take any pain meds of any kind since going to Dr. Theirl.

The severity of the neuropathy has lessened. A long time ago, (before the patch, they tried neurontin, elavil, (which made him deathly sick).
The fentanyl patch (he went up to 125) was he only thing that made him live a pain free existence but he never went to the bathroom and of course, like I said, due to a lack of exercise, his body was so stiff, he could barely move, But after going to Dr. Theirl, all that changed. Dr. Theirl said "you might never find out exactly why you have this but we can make you feel much better and this man actually achieved this (using a G5) machine.

Alan has the neuropathy in 3 toes on one foot and some toes (in between them) on the other foot. He's had carpal tunnel but it doesn't really bother him that much so he won't do anything about that.

And since the neuropathy only kicks in when he lied down or sat up in a sitting position, (not when he walks around), the lyrica did help but he went off because of the fluid retention.

Now he has been on cymbalta for 2 or 3 days and this morning he remarked to me "Melody, I think the cymbalta is working, look, I slept the whole night on my back and my neuropathy is not bothering me". I checked his ankles and no swelling. So for now the cymbalta is doing whatever it's supposed to do for neuropathy.

So from 6 years ago (when his neuropathy was so bad he had to go on a fentanyl pain patch ..... till today, when there is no more patch, or vicodin, well, I assume that means it's not progressing, right? That's a good thing I would imagine.

This Dr. Goldfarb is a specialist in her field. I brought Liza Janes Charts to her and she read all of them and then she whipped out her own PN tests and she said "Don't worry, I know all the tests to give Alan, (this is a Peripheral Neuropathy department at Methodist).

In 18 years, we've been to every doctor you can go to, and no one has done the things, or ordered the tests, and no one has been as thorough as Dr. Theirl or Dr. Goldfarb. So I do have faith that she'll do her best to possibly find out why he has the PN. No guarantee, I know this. SHe told me this too. Too many things cause neuropathy.

But Alan can only take the tests that his insurance covers. So far, we've been lucky. And if you think about it, I'm the one who has spoken to every single doctor, asked every single question, and done all the research. He doesn't know how and doesn't seem to want to learn how. He just wants to go and get it "fixed". He depends on me. Thank god, he goes to the gym and takes yoga. His body is much stronger, he has muscles where I never knew a man could have muscles, and his skin is clear and his color is good.

ANd since he's using the clobetazol on the psoriasis patches on his left ankle and on his elbows (and I put vitamin e there too), they are diminishing too.

So all in all, (and this is just my opinion), his neuropathy is NOT progressing, and maybe this is due to his exerise program and strength training, I don't know. But all his doctors are pleased as punch with his progress.

Now the only hurdle is the feet. WE have to find out if he needs the operation.

I shall update.

love,
Melody