Well...Mel..... if Alan never goes out in the sun...his D would be very low. With all the tests and medical stuff he has had done,
this test may be the most important!

Have you watched the video...newly released based on the newest research?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ-qekFoi-o

And BTW....you should get this evaluated as well!
Diabetics can benefit from the new research too.

Hi.

I just got out one of his blood tests (this blood test, tested for EVERYTHING).

His B-12 was 1252 (so I don't think that's his problem).

I'm checking on that youtube link.

Thanks much

Mel

Mrs. D.

I was in the middle of watching that Vitamin D video on youtube when the youtube link gave me an error message. I tried to go back and it's still giving me that message. I'll try again later.

I just asked Alan "What is your Vitamin D level" and he said "Dr. Fred would have ordered that when I get my blood test every three months".

He doesn't know his level. I have most of his blood work right in front of me and I can't find any Vitamin D. Level.

I actually have this one gigantic blood test that gives everything from Hemogram, Automated Differential, General Chemistry, etc. etc. Can't find his D level.

Does it just say Vitamin D level, or is it another terminology?

Thanks much

And be sure, when Alan goes for his blood test in about 2 weeks, WE WILL ASK FOR A VITAMIN D LEVEL.

Thanks much

Melody

Here is the testing information:

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/healt...eficient.shtml

Here is another one explaining stuff:

http://www.naturalnews.com/027345_Vi...ure_blood.html

Melody,

I was reading an earlier post where you had mentioned an MRI of Allan's lumbar. Also, I noted Glenntaj's post here on this thread.

Just my two cents worth...

My feet will just kill me at times UNTIL I get bi-lateral facet injections (I noticed Allan's MRI noted facet hypertrophy along with issues at L3/L4/L5 and S1). I just has a bi-lateral facet rhizotomy not more than 3 weeks ago. My feet feel great!! And it is not just the steroid they injection because that would wear off in less than a year. And where I ache and burn strictly follows the L5/S1 dermatome. It is funny because I never feel pain in my legs. It seems to bypass them but sitting and driving will absolutely kill my back and my feet of all things!

And, I will just add, my EMG's are ALWAYS normal and I have had plenty. My Neurologist also tried to tell me it was strictly PN. But, honestly, I don't believe it. This is the 3rd time I have had an RF and each and every time I have it done my feet feel 100% better. It is just that the nerves regenerate in about a year and I have it done again.

Anyway, just a thought if nothing else works. But I tend to agree with Glenntaj and the other poster...look at the lumbar/sacral spine with a GOOD spinal pain management doctor.

Why would Alan need a good spinal pain management doctor? He has absolutely no back pain.

And he DID GET AN EPIDURAL injection YEARS AGO when we began our journey, and he went to various orthopedic back specialists (because he was certain that the PN might be coming from degenerative discs (or something). One spine guy (after all the mri's and such), said "Okay, let's try an epidural, maybe THAT WILL STOP THE PAIN IN YOUR FEET'.

Did absolutely nothing.

Oh, just wanted to add, in your post you mention that you ache and burn. ALAN HAS NONE OF THIS. No aching, no burning, Just severe tingling between certain toes. Only when he lies down or sits down. Not when he stands or walks. I asked the doctor and he said "when he uses various positions, the nerves fire differently. Alan's nerves are ALL DAMAGED"

I think he's done FOR NOW!! (with doctors I mean)

But thank you very much.

Okay, it was just a thought based on my own experiences. And what you had posted about his MRI. I really believe, as Glenntaj pointed out that some of this could be from his spine. Tingling IS a symptom of lower back issues and is something my spinal PM always asks...if I have any tingling ANYWHERE. Sometimes I can feel a buzzing or tingling in my left lower leg and ankle. Anyway, my one and only lumbar epidural didn't help either because it was determined eventually it was coming from the facets; mainly L5/S1 but the levels above are bad too. Anyway, just a thought...I hope Alan can find some relief.

Hi again.

Alan has been to NUMEROUS back specialists. They all took their own MRIs. They ALL came to the conclusion that Alan's tingling has absolutely nothing to do with his back. Now we are talking examinations, workups, x-rays, mri's, the WORKS.

He even went back to the same guy twice in two years because his neurologist said "I want you to go back to this guy, I want to make absolutely sure this has nothing to do with your back.

So we went (a few months ago), bringing the most recent mri of his lower back, (among all the other mri's and reports).

The guy sat with us and showed us WHY it could not be Alan's back that was causing the tingling. Don't ask me to repeat what he said because it was all Doctor Speak. but I do remember he said "I can categorically tell you, that Alan's foot problems have nothing whatsoever to do with his back.

So unless there is a Dr. House in my neighborhood who has some device from Star Trek that can scan Alan's body and show absolutely every blood vessel, nerve, .....etc. etc..(and I remember asking one of his ortho guys just such a question), and he looked at me and said "No, such a device does NOT exist". well, I guess we are just stuck in limbo.

Maybe in 2010?????

One never knows!!

lol
Melody

Hey, I've never had an abnormal nerve conduction test--
 

--or, for that matter, anything abnormal on a lumbar MRI. Nor do I have any lower back pain, and I am always negative on the provocative position tests used to show lumbar radiculopathy (nerve root compression)

The problem, though, is that these scans don't go down far enough.

I have a documented 2cm leg length discrepancy, left shorter than right, and it throws off my posture. One can actually see the hips are tilted when I stand. It is my theory that what this may be doing is causing both facet joint problems and/or problems in the SACRAL spine. The S2, S3, and S4 nerve levels all contribute to the sciatic nerve through the lumbosacral plexus, and therefore to sensation all the way down the legs to the feet.

Admittedly, too many doctors take the dermatomal charts literally, and think only L5/S1 levels are involved that low, but dermatomes have considerable overlap and individual differences. The trouble is often to try to get doctors to consider problems in that area. They think the sacral spine is an immovable object, unlikely to be malpositioned. But torquing forces in the pelvis, hypermobility of the sacroiliac joint. etc., can certainly change its position enough to possible impact nerves that go through it.

It's certainly possible this has nothing to do with Alan's sensations, but it may be worth imaging of the area to make sure (and no just through simple X-ray, either).