Hi, I'm Tina, and have a "tentative" dx of Churg Strauss Syndrome---reason is that doctors here say they cannot give definite dx without a Lung Biopsy.....For about ten years I have suffered with severe pain in the bottoms of my feet-feels like they are infected from the inside out.
I had a lung infection in October of 2006 that triggered many things in my body to go haywire, and tripled the foot pain. The soles swell kind of marsh mallowy, and turn very, deep red and sometimes show a temp of up to 101.1 degrees. I do seem to have flares that are worse, and the pain is there regardless of standing, sitting, propping, or applying hot or cold compresses. I also have this same thing in my hands, though not really bad. There is burning, but more like that of calluses being made-and socks and shoes make this much worse.
I have searched the internet for this but haven't found a lot of info. My neurologist says it is a type of small fibre Neuropathy.
Does anyone else have this kind of pain in the bottoms of your feet, to the point that you walk or sit funny so that you try not to let your soles touch the floor?

Hello Tina...Welcome to NeuroTalk

There is a condition called erythromelgia...where the feet turn red and hurt. It is a vasospastic disorder and by coincidence I found a book on Google by a doctor I really follow and respect.

He had this himself and discusses it in the introduction of his book on Magnesium treatments:

http://books.google.com/books?id=oD3...esult&resnum=7

Dr. Jay Cohen also has a website, you might like to look over.
He welcomes emails/comments too.
http://www.medicationsense.com/

Here is my long thread on Magnesium covering many points in using it wisely:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html

Another thing-- If you were on fluoroquinolone antibiotics during your infections, these are known causers of peripheral nerve damage. Cipro, Levaquin Avelox are examples.
Dr. Cohen discusses that too on his website.

These are just two thoughts I have now about your post.
Feel free to come to our PN board too. We discuss various
supplements that might help you heal and reduce your pain.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/fo...aysprune=&f=20

--Churg-Strauss syndrome, like many of the vascular/connective tissue/anti-nuclear antibody family of autoimmune disorders, can cause neuropathy, either through compressive mechanisms or through ischemic insuifficency:

http://neuromuscular.wustl.edu/antib...max.html#churg

I do have EM and CSS, also was on Levaquin (high doses) during infection, & subsequently for kidney/bladder infections. I've taken it many times, & have questioned my Dr.s about it but they make no comments....
Thank you for the readings MrsD. I will read on up on magnesium.

Dr. Cohen has on his website information from a patient who
had severe PN from Levaquin. His treatment was IV glutathione.
It reversed most of it.

Glutathione cannot be taken orally. You can possibly stimulate
production of it in the liver, with NAC (n-acetyl cysteine). IV glutathione is usually done by holistic physicians, also called alternative by some.

But since you took fluoroquinolones alot, I'd Google for links where others are sharing their experiences. There are active
communities out there about this toxic side effect.

Feel free to come to our PN forum. If you post your experience there too, someone may respond. Those patients still read there and pop in now and then.

mrsD,

Do you think cipro would have similar side effects? I have been on it twice now. One time for prostatitis, which requires a lengthy course of antibiotic. In my case it was for a full month.

Interestingly, not long afterward, I have developed a pain in my right leg near my hip. X-rays have not shown anything, which is sort of frustrating because sometimes the pain is severe enough that I can barely walk.

The fluoroquinolone family can cause neuropathies.

It can also cause TENDON ruptures! The tendon ruptures can happen months after stopping the drug. I have not seen yet a mechanism that has been discovered that explains it.

If you are having pain in the hip, I'd get that checked out.
MRI, or whatever other test they can do. Physical therapy may help.

There is also a burisitis you can get there too.

If you cannot walk, that is severe and something should be done. Perhaps a sports medicine doctor would be able to help.

This article may be helpful for you.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000401/2109.html

Thanks mrsD. I will read the article. I had not thought of seeing a sports medicine doctor, but that is probably the best person to see.

This has been keeping me from running like I used to run, which was 3-6 miles at a time. I do want to recover rather than manage a condition.

We'll see. Thanks.

That is a good article. I am bookmarking the AAFP website for future reference.

I probably still need to get an MRI, as you suggest. That is also what my doctor's nurse had suggested. What has probably kept me from having an MRI sooner has been the results that I have seen with a cocktail of antioxidants that I am taking.

*edit*

After reading the article, it has made me think that this may be an inflammatory issue. It is my understanding that antioxidants reduce cellular level or systemic inflammation, which would explain their effect.

I also had a hemorrhoidal flare up that lasted the entire second half of last year through about the end of February. Daily psyllium and 2% hydrocortisone cream were giving me only temporary relief between each BM. Interestingly, both times that I have taken cipro my inflammation has gone away. My month of cipro to deal with prostatitis was this past March. *edit*

It seems strange that something like an over the counter supplement would work, where the hydrocortisone and psyllium (prescribed to by my GP and GI docs respectively) only gave me temporary relief.

So, returning to the leg/hip issue, I wonder if the antioxidants are merely treating symptoms or if they have dealt with the root cause. Before antioxidants I only knew of two ways to deal with inflammation: NSAIDS and gluco-corticosteroids. Neither of these appealed to me as long-term solutions.

We'll see. I know I probably still need the MRI, just to find out if there is any other serious cause.

*edit* It seems that these are just vitamins, amino acids, and other substances that would be less hard on the body than even NSAIDS.

I used to have that. I was treated for Bartonella, a tick-borne disease and it cleared things up for me.