After continued nerve block injection treatments with only temporary partial relief of the neuralgia, my neurologist referred me to another doctor (MD) who specializes in nutrition and environmental medicine. This was an excellent referral as this doctor is familiar with all of the aforementioned labs/tests (e.g.
SpectraCell,
Metametrix,
Genova) and appears to very well understand my description of symptoms (I wish I had known about this doctor back in 1999 after the initial onset of drug “side-effect” symptoms). This doctor was open to ordering additional testing from the aforementioned labs, however unfortunately my insurance doesn’t cover this doctor and most of the tests from these labs are rather expensive. It was suggested that I get a hair mineral analysis done. This is a relatively inexpensive set of tests and covered additional minerals that I had not yet been tested for. Needless to say, the results turned out to be quite surprising:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/at...5&d=1178031264
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/at...6&d=1178031343
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/at...7&d=1178031401
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/at...8&d=1178031438
The doctor was mainly concerned about the elevated aluminum and arsenic levels and recommended that these be targeted before working on the other “non-toxic” minerals. I am now on an EDTA chelation regimen using
this product (I am getting the chelator from the doctor and not from this web site, more details below in my updated vitamin/nutrient regimen). Per mrsd’s post here
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...edta#post72949, I have also included some additional chromium.
I have been attempting to learn more about toxic metals and have collected a number of web links, however any input from anyone would (as always) be appreciated. From what I have learned, it is my understanding that elevated levels of toxic metals are not commonly diagnosed in the U.S. and is generally believed to happen mostly to people working in specific industries or working with certain chemicals. Aluminum is fairly ubiquitous and exists in numerous products (incl. antiperspirants, antacids, etc.), but the body can supposedly excrete aluminum relatively efficiently in most cases. Arsenic is used in certain pesticides, treated lumber, and can be absorbed by other means, but elevated arsenic is supposedly not very common. I have not worked in the metallurgy industry in the past. I have used a few pesticides/chemicals around the home (following all safety information), but none that I know of with arsenic as the active ingredient (based on the labels). It is my understanding however that deficiencies and/or imbalances in nutritional minerals (and possibly vitamins also) can over time cause a person to absorb toxic metals much more readily than otherwise would be absorbed. I have of course had various long-term vitamin/nutrient depletions/deficiencies (drug-induced), as previously documented in this thread. Note the high hair zinc (indicative of cellular zinc deficiency) that is consistent with the zinc deficiency documented last year in the SpectraCell tests (
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/at...9&d=1162758249 and
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/at...&d=1162758307). It appears the zinc supplementation over the past several months hasn’t done much good (absorption perhaps blocked by the toxic metals).
It is my understanding that there may be some differences in opinion between conventional/allopathic and complementary/alternative medicine regarding the value of “nutritional” hair analysis, but both sides appear to agree on the value of toxic metal hair analysis. Also there may not (yet) be a universal standard that all labs follow for reference ranges, but it is my understanding that this lab (
Doctor’s Data, Inc.) has been providing hair testing longer and has more experience than most (if not all) labs that perform this testing.
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While continuing to search for additional information on neuralgia/neuropathy (prior to receiving the hair analysis results), I came across information on some additional supplements that might help. Most of the following information is related to diabetic neuropathy and although I have not technically been diagnosed with diabetes, the previous SpectraCell Glucose-Insulin Interaction test (
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/at...9&d=1162758249 and
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/at...0&d=1162758307) was near borderline. Along with other nutrients, this information stresses the importance of Omega 6 based Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA). Of the 3 main oils that contain GLA (borage, black currant, evening primrose), borage oil appears to contain the highest concentration:
http://www.larrylands.com/lark/TR12_...-Nutrients.PDF
http://www.geocities.com/bsy53/dn/neuropat.html
http://www.fatsforhealth.com/library...s/diabetes.php
http://www.fatsforhealth.com/library...s_Diabetes.php
http://www.sbrc.ca/ncarm/PDF/Borage%...l%20Report.pdf
This reference
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/001407.htm states:
Quote:
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Diabetes can produce almost any neuralgia nearly anywhere in the body, including trigeminal neuralgia.
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The following is my current/updated regimen. This is a LOT of supplements and I hope I can cut down on some of them eventually. As always, any input is greatly appreciated!
