I am a 78 year old female. Up until a year ago my health was pretty good. I had had both hips, a knee and the last knee replacement failed, they put a rod in it. Think it is called arthedesis (sp). Trying to shorten this post. For the past 6 months I have been going crazy with pain and cramps in legs etc. I have been staggering around. My toes are actually curling.I was sure it was rhuematoid arthritis. Finally got my GP to send me to a Rhuematoidologist. He said it was not arthritis but posasibly nueroparhy.Tomorrow I go back to my GP and she will refer me to ? I am not sure what to ask for in tests or even what sort of Dr. Sure hope it isn't a nuerologisrt as there is only one in a 80 mile radius. I can make a trip to Seattle but honestly I am fading fast. It would be hard. It is about 200 miles away. In my reading I have not yet discovered what to ask for. I have had a perscription for hydrocoderne 5 mg and this last month have been using them freely. 2 every pills every 4 hours but try not to excede 8. I was going to ask for something stronger but after reading the posts of people trying to get off something I am reluctant. This is absolutely the strangest pain Last night was so bad I didn't sleep all night but right now I am better. Even my hair hurts. I suspect I have had this for some time, but havn't had a clue. I use to tell my husband I felt like I was wearing socks.I remember my mother had restless feet and at that time we were all in the dark. I have been taken naproxen for a long time and did need it. However a year ago this thanksagiving I wound up in the hospital and was given 4 units of blood. I was very ill, This new Doctor said the naproxen had caused the blood loss. That was news to me I was still taking it. So I am certainly wondering what the prognosis of this is. I am particularly concerned about my toes, legs My feet have lately taken to being cold, and my toes are actually curling under. I thought I read somewhere about magnetic treatment. Should I ask for that? I rather suspect that the rod in my leg may have really set this off. They put it in last july after two failed knee replacements. It is a difficult thing to get use to but I am so grateful to be on my feet again and so I have just been pushing myself and keep going. I have been under the care of several specialists for my knee, for mersa (which I no longer have since 5 weeks in the hospital getting antibiotic through a pic line twice a day.) I am pretty sure nobody can make much sense from this rambling. However if you can tell me what or who to ask for tomorrow for treatment. Thanks Rose I know there is a spell check but where?

Hello, Rose, and welcome! I just recently woke up and am having trouble focusing my eyes, so I'm afraid I'm not much help, but did want to extend a welcome...someone will be along soon who can answer your questions!

Hi Rose ~ I does sounds kinda like Neuropathy to me BUT it could also be a symptom of diabetes.

Have you been checked for diabetes lately?? If not, ask your doc to do some blood work for it. You should be checked. The cramping of the toes and leg cramps etc. could be caused by it.

Let us know what you find out. Best of luck. god bless. Hugs, Lee

I am not sure how to use the reply, but hope this will post. I just got back from the Dr. and I must say I thought she was pretty thorough. So much for diagnosing ones self. I had no idea those were the diabetes symptoms. I will go for my blood tests tomorrow and that will be one of them.
I don't understand the code but this looks pretty thorough. She filled the 7.5 hydrodecone perscription with no problem.If it is diabetes I usually don't eat sweets but this last 2 weeks it has been nothing but. I feel better about this. Rose

Hello Rosalinda and WELCOME to Neurotalk!!

You have found a wonderful community filled with very caring, kind, and compassionate people who share a wealth of knowledge and understanding.


Here are a couple of links to get you started and may be of interest to you.

• Peripheral Neuropathy
  • http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum20.html

• Diabetes/Insulin Resistance/Metabolic Syndrome
  • http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum53.html

Please feel free to roam around and join in anywhere!

I look forward to seeing you around the board!

Abbie

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. There are a great number of fellow members to assist you. Just let us know if we can be of any help.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene

Hi Rose!

I am new here too, but I popped in to read your post and though I am no doctor, I have some of my own story to share with you.

I have been diabetic for many years. Because of my Diabetes I also have peripheral neuropathy (hands, arms, feet, and legs). In a nutshell it means that the nerves in your extremities have been damaged by high glucose levels over time. My Neurologist initially described it like this: If you have an extension cord and there is a damaged part the electrical current will flow from the outlet to the damaged part, skip over the damaged part and reconnect on the other side where it is again, undamaged. When it reconnects it sends a jolt down the remainder of the cord, which is what kept me awake many nights and in misery most of the time.

Now, when I had a good amount of damage to those nerves I began to lose muscle mass as well as the fat from the bottoms of my feet. My toes on my left foot curled under as the muscles underneath my toes got worse, however, my right foot was much worse and those toes now point upward a little bit because the muscles under my toes are gone and the muscles on top of my foot are now strong enough to pull my toes up. Does all that blah blah blah make sense? I am by no means trying to diagnose you, but sharing what happened to me. Your doctor may have already done this, but you might ask if an A1c check was done with your blood test. It will show the glucose average in your body for the past 3 months. That will give your doctor a clear picture of whether you are diabetic or not.

Good luck to you Rose, I will keep you in my prayers,

Hugs,
Deb