We have posts with info on balanced diet, vitamins, minerals , supplements, other treatment options..
No one thing works for everyone, but a combo can be helpful a try it and see thing..If something doesn't help try another ..

That Dr with the very poor answer to your question......
Not all lose use, and it may be many years in the future.....
A better reply would have been - every case is different, I can't predict the future..But lets work to keep you going the best we can..

There are some good Drs out there, don't stay with any poor care providers..they need to be weeded out..

Hey Michael,

It sounds like a break down in communication between you and your doctor. Perhaps the doctor was talking hypothetically. Either way the take home message you were left with is erroneous. Perhaps at the most you have sensory PN, but that does not impact motor nerves.

Type of Nerves

1. Motor
2. Sensory
3.Autonomic

Motor nerves control the movement of all muscles under conscious control, such as those used for walking, grasping things, or talking.

Sensory nerves transmit information such as the feeling of a light touch, temperature, or the pain from a cut.

Autonomic nerves control organs to regulate activities that people do not control consciously, such as breathing, digesting food, and heart and gland functions.

Best wishes,
Atty

--is a very typical presentation of small-fiber neuropathy, particularly when caused by blood sugar dysregulation or other conditions that compromise circulation to some extent, as well as some autoimmune neuropathies.

Fortunately, most of those neuropathies remain predominantly sensory over time; there are very few people who experience compromised motor function.

It sounds, though, like not enough effort has been put into definitively pinning down the cause of the symptoms. It is true that investigations into neuropathy can be time consuming and expensive, as there are so may potential etiologies and even after extensive testing a good number of them remain stubbornly "idiopathic".

Still, though, take a look at these:

An Algorithm for the Evaluation of Peripheral Neuropathy - American Family Physician

Quest Diagnostics: Test Directory

Hi, Michael H,

I agree with others that your doctor isn't being very helpful if you've been told that you could lose the use of your legs and yet the doctor doesn't seem to want to discuss the condition.

It sounds as if you're keeping an eye on the blood sugar. You might want to check it at least once a day, at different times of day, for a while to see if it's doing spikes at some times.

Have you consulted with a dietitian about your diet? I have diabetes (Type 2) and found that going over my diet with a dietitian was very helpful. You do have to follow the diet recommendations to the letter though.

The importance of diet in diabetes can't be overemphasized. I was diagnosed with diabetes in 1984, and ever since then I've been counting calories daily and watching the carbs, protein, fat as well as potassium, cholesterol, and especially fiber.

I'm wondering if paying really close attention to getting the diabetes under tight control might help with your neuropathy. Maybe it's worth a try if you're not already doing this.

Welcome Michael H.

Hi Kitt, and thank you. I'm feeling better already!

Kind regards
Michael H

Thank you to all of you who took the trouble to reply to me. It has been most helpful. (But although I've posted an introduction I seem to be having problems with posting. I keep being told I've not been "vetted" yet and I can't post links!) lol.

I promise I will try to behave myself in the future.

Michael H

Hello Michael and Welcome to NT,
The initial automated system of post moderation and linking restrictions applies to all new members as outlined in our guidelines, and the registration email you received. It is in place to be sure we can attempt to prevent spam accounts or others that are not in accordance with our terms of use.

Hi Agate. Yes, you're right. I have a lot of homework to do on this forum, haven't I?
I do have a dietician, and I use a MYLIFE Unio Nova to measure my blood sugar. But my doctor told me to stop using it. She wants to rely on the Ha1 blood test. I think that's what it's called. My readings are usually between 112 - 146 mg/dL. After exercise I have seen it drop as low as 96. Do you know what reading would be considered to be a "spike", and do you think that it's a good idea for me to go to all the trouble of riding my bike at midnight if I think I would be going to bed with too high a reading? Or am I just being silly?

Still, all this reading will keep me out of mischief!

Kind regards
Mike H

Thank you for that, glenntaj, that's encouraging. I've copied those links, and I'll be taking a look at them.

Kindest regards
Michael H