Originally Posted by WannaGetFeelingBack

Update on me: Still taking all the recommended vitamins religiously. My fingers are getting worse though. Tonight I sliced my thumb while using the large slicer on a grater to slice potatoes, although I don't think it was a result of my finger numbness, I was just in a hurry.

The fingers are bad but hey, at least I can still type at this point in juncture!

I broke down and made a doctor appointment. First one will have to be with a general practitioner, in early February. The city I live in has very limited neurologists (with terrible reviews) so I will have to drive a couple hours to one of the nearby cities (assuming the GP will recommend seeing a neurologist as a next step). I have a lot of fatigue lately so I did more research and that almost points towards MS - but I doubt it, not with my 24/7 PN symptoms and my history of heavy drinking. From my understanding, MS symptoms come and go, and aren't constant like they are with alcoholic PN.

We bought a rowing machine which is great - I can get exercise, both arms and legs, without having to worry about my stupid numb feet slipping, or doing something like tripping. (I am petrified of trying to walk on a treadmill because of that!) Still scared every time I get in the car to drive, that my feet will quit working like they did before. I drive only a cautious few miles each week, only to get groceries. Not to mention that I drive like a grandma now (as well as walk like one).

So, that's my update. I still have "good days" and "bad days". Today I am feeling pretty good, the extremities are moving well enough to get laundry done and use the rowing machine and cook a nice dinner and type this message! I am relieved, because the weekend was really a bad two days and I thought I had taken a decided turn for the worse.

I'll check in once I get some news about whatever testing they may do. I haven't been to a doctor ever since the symptoms started, almost 2 years ago.

Originally Posted by kidwonder

It will get worst before it gets better, or at least it will seen that way. Numbness is something I've yet to overcome, all my other symptoms of PN had simmered down after 2 years of abstaining from alcohol. It will get better, but to what extent, is different for everyone! Keep your head up, find the right care, but most importantly keep up the vitamins for the time being and eating healthy. The best shot at recovery.

Originally Posted by WannaGetFeelingBack

Thank you, Kidwonder! I also have been continuing to research it online. Some doctors perform an EMG - electromyogram - has anyone here had that done, and is it effective for diagnosis? I read a bunch of horror stories about how much getting zapped like that hurts, and I am a total wimp, so I would rather not go that route!

Originally Posted by Kitt

It can hurt for some people. Others not so much.

Originally Posted by newstown

unless, i suppose, if a doc or technician ripped the taped sensors off one's body.

Originally Posted by newstown

Maybe i had a different test. There was nothing that could hurt, unless, i suppose, if a doc or technician ripped the taped sensors off one's body.

Originally Posted by newstown

That doesn't hurt, wanna, at least i don't see how it could. Thats a fairly standard test.

Originally Posted by Wide-O

I wonder if we are all talking about the same tests. I had it done 3 times (to measure progress if any), and while it didn't really hurt badly - compared to the PN itself - it did involve sticking needles into my leg. Second time there was even a little bit of blood, which is how I know it was needles and not just a sensor. I'm assuming he was trying to get as close to the nerve as possible and then measure the conductivity lower in the feet.

That said, I'm not convinced an EMG changes much to the diagnose. In my case the larger nerves (sural) were damaged, so he could easily measure it, but in some cases when it's just the small fibres an EMG will not necessarily pick it up (if at all).

In any case, it will not make the cause (or causes) any clearer. But if alcohol was ever involved, it's a fair bet that it's the cause or part of the cause.