Hello MrsD:

Just wanted to give a quick update on day 3 of taking the Benfotiamine (300 MG/day), Methylcobalamin (1MG/day) and Alpha Lipoic/L Carnitiine (the only form I have at the present).

Well, as in the past, by the end of day 2 experiencing fierce tingling over MUCH of my soles, even without much provocation or contact, and keep in mind I usually get a pretty good level of relief eventually AFTER taking shoes/socks off, removing any weight/contact. Palms of hands also tingling severely...and they're often more than tolerable.

Should I possibly stop all supplements and then add-in 1 at a time? If so, what might might be a telling order or addition? The ODD thing about this is when I took the B12 shots daily for a week 2 months ago, I didn't really sense any increased tingling, possibly minor improvement. IF the B12 is the culprit, and it has been in the past in solitude, why just the oral version?

Not so sure it seemed necessary, but I did have a draw for a comphrehensive thyroid panel/male hormonal a few days ago - this relates not just to PN issues, but also some others things I have NEVER had tested before, plus thyroid 'can' relate to PN. By the way, certain branches of my family tree are heavily affected by thyroid issues, so perhaps a clue?

Any thoughts/references to the following? Wanted to illustrate another scencario I experience and have noticed regarding the neuro pain symptoms. Upon waking but still in bend, soles will start their tingling/burning sensations within anywhere between 5 & 15 minutes 'after' I gain 'heightened' consciousness, yet sometime AFTER I wake for when I do when, I have NO/ZERO pain. Bear in mind that this is with no movement & me retaining my 'side-sleeping' position with both soles not touching anything. It's almost as as if my brain or some part of the nervous system is sending a 'false alarm' as I wake up? While maintaining this position, tingling usually starts in heels and then works its way up to the ball of both feet. This happens no matter what I'm thinking about, how calm, relaxed, rested, or tired...just very confusing

Can anyone share experiences with different SFN skin punch labs? I'd consider another test to guage where I was back in 2010-which was neg for SFN. With a roughly 90% accurracy rate, the odds seem in the test's favor for my old neg reading over any hunch I may have. But another go round would be even more confirmative to my mind, in the absence of a source/cause?

Does anyone know of a way to test the hypothalamus? This just relates to the possible 'neuro-fibro' dx that's been suggested in my case as many think fibro is some sort of malfunction of the hypothalamus or central pain processing system(s)?

Can any part of the sympathetic nerve chain (post spinal cord) cause neuro-hypersensitivity WITHOUT the swelling/skin changes as seen in CRPS/RSD? I've never had any sort of nerve block, would a lumbar sympathetic block possibly be diagnostic for where the pain originates?

Want to thank NeuroLogic for his/her excellent link to the Teitelbaum article on neurotoxins. With my negligible past Lyme/and/or/toxic exposure, makes me wonder. By the way, I have another Teitelbaum book about chronic pain, good intro work and available for free from google books!

At the end of the day, I really just seek diminished symptoms, for which I rarely enjoy and make life so difficult.

Been seeking relief for over 5 years...will do whatever I must for the next 5 to be more tolerable than the last. Throughout all the nerve pain, I still work, albeit at a diminished rate which is just as well since I cannot take much comfort in sitting/lying down etc.

Kindest Regards,

JB