Yes, SFN is characterized by that burning sensation, right? I have Sjogren's and T2 diabetes. I thought my neuropathy was primarily from T2D but it seems I'm experiencing neuropathy even with fairly good BG control. It takes a lot of effort to control your BG and an autoimmune condition. I've gone completely gluten- and dairy-free and I've done some experiments bringing these items back. I can tell you, I definitely react to gluten and dairy: my eyes and throat dry out after 24 hours. These two are so clear cut: I react even to a tiny slice of cheese or butter.

At one point, I was also nightshade-/legume-/soy- and nut-free but that limited my food choices too much. But I never overeat these items - just a little bit of paprika and tomatoes here and there. I'm also fairly low carb (>100g) to control my BG.

One thing you can control is what you eat. It's a full time job but if you eat whole foods and stay away from processed garbage, artificial ingredients and other stuff you react to, your symptoms might improve. At least it seems to me for those who're recently diagnosed. You can read about Terry Wahls and her Minding Your Mitochondria: she was supposedly able to push her MS symptoms into remission by following a strict, wholefood diet.

Hello I am new to this site but I wanted to answer your question as best as I can. My husband was just recently diagnosed with CIDP which does affect both CNS and PNS.

hi, I was referred to this thread by Darlene, because I have questions about Chronic Inflammation, which i have been told is an auto-immune disorder. It is characterized by a slight (3 degree) elevation in temp. for a year or more. I have had it for about 5 yrs.

I believe it led to weight gain and diabetes, and likely to an arterial condition which degrades the vascular system's ability to pass gasses, nutrients and wastes. As i gain control over the diabetes and slim down (from a BMI of 49 to 42), the temp also has dropped by about one degree.

Doc's all act like I'm an idiot for thinking a 3 degree temp means anything. Am I alone in my thoughts ? Does anyone know how i should approach research on this ?

Thanks,
StormE1

I understand a bit about auto immune problems as I have a number of them. Presented when I was 29 and went to mayo clinic. That being said, I believe a 3 degree temp increase is considerable. That means your immune system is indeed fighting something. May I ask if you have had any tests? T & B lymphosyte tests are the ones I was given first. They are your fighting responces. Getting your weight down, all of that of course is great for you. I did the same thing and dropped 60 at one point. Have gained about 15 of that back and I struggle too. The American Journal of Medicine has many articles about auto immune problems. If you can access that through a local Teaching hospital, that is a good place to start research. I did that when I was in a trail study at the University of missouri medical Center. I at least found out what was wrong with me. An Endocranologist may be the field of medicine that you may want to investigate. Again I would recommend that you seek a teaching hospital as they do pretty good with DX. JAMA is another name for that particular journal, that gives alot of information regarding auto immune diseases. The Computer file can access articles according to symptoms, or DX. May I ask what your PCP doctor has said so far?. I will be thinking of you. ginnie

I suffer from neuropathy as a result of Behcet's syndrome....auto-immune disorder. And also would say that yes, if you have one auto-immune disorder you are susceptible to getting others unfortunately.

Ginnie, I couldn't agree more with what you say above. I would also stress that a lot of my symptoms with Behcet's are neuro type symptoms and I also suffer from arthralgia - joint pain which is caused by inflammation so no impact on the joints. I trailed around seeing rheumys and neurologists who were of no help to me whatsoever as there was nothing wrong with me in their eyes (they could not diagnose my illness and didn't even really understand it).

I got my diagnosis in the end, from an immunologist. It's important for anyone with these sorts of symptoms to look at other types of docs if they want to get help. You can get very ground down knocking on doors hoping the next neuro will have an answer for you and get totally dismissed because your bloodwork is clear. With Behcet's and some other auto-immune issues, no bloodwork will give you a diagnosis. I only ever have raised inflammatory markers and sometimes not even that.

Hello,

I was diagnosed with Crohn's in 2000, and began developing peripheral neuropathy like symptoms. I had Nerve Conduction tests. Crohn's has now damaged so much of my insides that I have developed magablastic anaemia because of Vit B12 malabsorbtion. All of these conditions are very well correlated as occurring with Inflammatory Bowel disease, particularly Crohn's

Hi, I fallow this forum and also on the neuropathy forum. I have vasculitis(small vessel) which is autoimmune disorder as well And so far, this is what the doctors have for reason to neuropathy. I have been tested for other auto immune diseases too. I have some symptoms off Sjogren, but so far negative.
I think the vasculitis must have been slowly develoed over last 2 years. Then, 1 year ago, the neuropathy started.
I am now beeing treated for vasculitis and neuropathy, and I am being fallowed by specialty neurologist and a good rheumatologist.
My treatment is Methatrexate and periods with Prednisone for vasculitis,and for neuropathy( which is so bad, it is not being controlled with all the meds) I take combination of Lyrica and Amitriptyine.

[QUOTE=en bloc;801685]Many AI diseases can cause neuropathy. I have Sjogren's and antiphospholipid syndrome (with strokes). Sjogren's can cause numerous neurological problems to include central, peripheral and autonomic neuropathies.

Also, many AI diseases can overlap so patients can actually have more than one.[/QUO
I know this posting goes way back, en bloc, but I know you still contribute so often and with a lot of good advice still. If you happen to catch this one, I'd appreciate your input. In a nut shell, I have body-wide neuropathy, absolutely everywhere, pretty bad joint pain and terrible muscle pain. The most recent blood work finding showed a highly positive antiphospholipid antibody. All other blood work is pretty normal, including the specific testing for Sjogren's. Have any doctors ever linked your neuropathy more specifically to aPL than the Sjogren's? I'm really wondering if I'm one of those antibody negative people, especially now that the aPL is so strongly positive. My rheumatologist seemed to think it a possibility it is related to prolonged viral activity since the other rheum blood work is normal. I guess the only reason it would matter is because my treatment options would be different. I know I could get a lip biopsy, but I've been through so much the last couple years and the idea of going through and recovering from yet another procedure that seldom produces anything revealing is too much for me.
Thanks so much for your input. I really appreciate it!

Heb1212, why are you trying to get a lip biopsy? Do you have Sjogren's or not? APLS is often linked to a thrombotic form of SLE, not Sjogren's. If you have very high APLS, then your rheumy should have done a full SLE panel which includes ANA, DS-DNA, SSA/SSB, etc. The last 2 are Sjogren's antibodies but they're used also to diagnose SLE, especially SSA/Ro, since more people with lupus are positive for it than Sjogren's.

That's to make sure that your APLS is not secondary. You need to rule that out since you have muscle aches and joint paints which are indicative of SLE as well as other rheumatic autoimmune diseases. You need to see a rheumy who's up to speed on autoimmune diseases and is up to date with her continuing education requirements, not someone who specializes in gout or osteoporosis.

Make sure your blood records show SLE antibodies (DS-DNA, Smith, Sm-RNP, RNP, Chromatin, SSA/SSB and ANA) and other antibodies for rheumatic autoimmunity like RA, Scleroderma, MCTD, etc. She may not have tested all but a few like CCP or RA factor given your joint pain symptoms.

With regard to neuropathy, that could arise with SLE, Sjogren's, MCTD and even RA, in other words, most rheumatic autoimmune diseases. However, neuropathy is usually not that severe with rheumatic autoimmunity. It's peripheral, i.e., your limbs, not systemic. That's why you really need a good doc who can screen you properly to see what else is lurking.

The most urgent thing for you is to retest that APLS. If it was a false positive and due to some viral activity like your rheumy says, then we don't have to worry about this. But you still need to chase down your joint/muscle and neuropathy issues. After retesting your APLS and making sure your rheumy checked antibodies for rheumatic diseases, I'd go see a neuro for your neuropathy if not solved. .

I don't recommend a lip biopsy; it's disfiguring and has little value. Some doctors do it for their intellectual curiosity. Sjogren's can be easily diagnosed based on symptoms and antibodies. When you don't have dry eyes or a dry throat, there is no point.