Hi everyone

I'm 76, and a new member here, although I've been reading some of your good advice for a month or three.

My problem is PN, but it has been strange. It started in 2003 as a small, numb patch on the top of both feet. It became a bit worse in 2012 but nothing much happened until a year ago, when I first mentioned it to my G.P. About three years ago I was found to have pre-diabetes, and was put on Metformin. So I bought an electric bike and started using it to exercise.

The doctor took me off the Metformin, but I keep a regular check on blood-sugar, and try to keep it down at night by going for a second ride at midnight.

Even so, recently, prickling and numbness has started to creep up my feet and into my lower legs. Compared with some stories I've read here my symptoms are quite trivial, but that doesn't stop me worrying that they may get consistently worse until they are far from trivial, and there doesn't seem to be much that I can do about it. Or am I missing something?

When I mention it to my doctor she doesn't seem to want to talk to me about it. I asked her if it meant that I would lose the use of my legs and she said yes. I had a doppler on both legs and the blood supply is fine, so I'm confused.

Anyway, thanks to you guys for running this forum, it must be a great consolation to so many people.

And I'll shut up now. Thanks for your patience.

I don't have any advice or info for you (I'm also new here), but just wanted to say hello and welcome! Hopefully, some people around here can give you some words of wisdom.

Hi Michael H

Welcome to NeuroTalk .

You could consider discussing things with another medical doctor about matters which are concerning you.

Best wishes.

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.

Thank you Dannibal. You are most kind.

Yes. Thank you kiwi33, you're right. I actually do have a doctor back in the UK who is medically qualified, and a naturopath. I'll chat to him.
Kindest regards

Mike H