Welcome jdvp.

I am so sorry to hear about your father in law's suffering. The Mayo Clinic focuses quite a bit of resources and research to neuropathy.

I hope he finds relief soon. Sending Healing Love,

Dr. Chin at Cornell Weill clinic in New York City has worked well for some of our members. Mayo, less so.

https://weillcornell.org/rlchin

This is the testing protocol they use there:
http://www.questdiagnostics.com/test...ripheralNeurop

You can look thru that testing list and see what your father in law has had.

The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN is very good.

Hi Jeff,

Firstly, I feel for your Father-in-Law. Chronic pain is not something that is easy for any of us to live with, and I have been suffering severely physically for 25 years and deteriorating to that point for longer.

Secondly, his mental state. Dutch Law for Physician Assisted Termination of Life is very strict. Here:

the patient's suffering is unbearable with no prospect of improvement
the patient's request for euthanasia must be voluntary and persist over time (the request cannot be granted when under the influence of others, psychological illness or drugs)

I doubt your FIL could find a Dr to assist on the grounds of Neuropathy on these first two points alone. We are talking about the pain of terminal cancer here. Believe me, I am 45 minutes from a ferry to Amsterdam - if it was easy…

What he needs IMO is Therapy and effective treatment for his obvious Depression. Does he have any treatment at all. As for all the treatments he has had for his physical condition, does this include Infusions? IVIG, Lidocaine, Ketamine? From what I've read on our Forums the latter two are more readily available this side of the Atlantic for some reason.

Keep searching, but address the mental health issues as a matter of urgency.

Dave.

Thanks Kitt, I called them today and I was told they absolutely don't do any phone consultations. I'd hate to have my father-in-law go to Rochester and have them look at his history of treatment and tell him, "sorry, we can't do anything for you".

I don't understand why they wouldn't at least let us pay them to review the documentation of his treatment to-date and give some kind of indication about whether they thought it would be worthwhile to go to Rochester to be evaluated.

JDVP

I would try the Cornell-Weill center for Peripheral Neuropathy in New York, or the Neuropathy Center at Massachusetts General in Boston, or Jacksonville Shands in Jacksonville Florida first (probably in that order).
Then perhaps the Johns Hopkins neurology department in Baltimore.

All would be shorter trips, as well.

In the midwest, my first choice would be the Jack Miller Center in Chicago, followed by the Washington University Neuromuscular Center in St.Louis.

All of these have the virtue of being dedicated to neuropathy research and treatment.

I understand what you are saying. However, I would imagine that they have to see him as a patient and not just review his treatment to-date. I would think that would be true of any physician. Here is a site on Dr. Dyck. He is the Professor of Neurology. He and his team specialize in all kinds of it.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/biographie...d/bio-20053356

Hope you find an answer. In the U.S. News and World Reports the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN ranks #1 for neurology and neurosurgery.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/department...w/ovc-20117067

The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota is one of the best.

Hi Jeff,

First a couple of questions, if I may. How long has your FIL been suffering, and what was the cause?

From what I've read from other Members here, and elsewhere, to expect an electrical implant to work on relieving pain after one day is expecting far too much.

I do not see a problem with Morphine, many take it as I do to help ease severe Neurological pain. I also have Lidocaine Infusions every 4 weeks and take oral Ketamine.

The high doses of the anti-convulsant Topiramate I take for Chronic Cluster Headaches also has the beneficial side effect of reducing my Chronic Neuropathic Facial Pain and severity of TN Attacks, and my overall Neurological Hypersensitivity (Allodynia). I learned how much it helps when increasing dose due to severity of Cluster Attacks.

You see, treatments can take months - or longer - to mix and match to a particular sufferer, titrating up and down with combinations of meds. There must be untried treatments - Italy is not behind when it comes to treatment, try getting Cannabis Oil everywhere in the States.

Keep an open mind.

Dave.

I have suffered from chronic pain for 3 years due to fibromyalgia and arthritis. I have been prescribed many, many different medications, had ketamine infusion and PSTIM ( a modern form of acupuncture). Nothing has worked long term. I then tried Suboxone, which is actually prescribed for people with an addiction to opiates. It was a lifesaver! 4mg 2 times a day and it controls my pain and I can function normally. Some take 8mg twice a day, but 4 works for me. Problem is, RX plans don't like to pay for it unless your an addict and getting counseling. I pay 5 dollars a piece with a coupon from the company, so costs me 300 per month. However, for me it is worth it to be pain free. I go to a pain management clinic for the script. I hope this info may help someone. I also was at the end of my rope before I discovered Suboxone.