Echoes,

I am almost convinced that I have the double crush phenomenon going on. That is probably why my feet are worse when my back is really hurting. When I lay down with heat on my back, both my back and my feet are somewhat better after a period of time. And now since the stenosis is horrible in my back, my back symptoms are worse and so are the feet. In the meantime, the elevated B6 could be responsible for the original SFN diagnosis.

Like I told mrsD, I've stopped the B6 as instructed and I have lumbar stenosis surgery scheduled for 11/30. It will be very interesting to see what happens with the SFN in the next 6 months! Thanks for your input.

I would go easy with the heating pad. I found that heat stirred up the nerves too much (this was confirmed by my chiropractor).
My Chiro is adamant about using heat for only 10 minutes at a time!

Now I put a cold pack on my back when I have pain, and this works better. Twenty minutes once or twice a day, takes much of my pain away. I tend to have more problems in between my shoulder blades, probably from overdoing it in the garden.

Yes, what I think happens is that warmth helps at first, by increasing circulation to the area. (Dr. Sarno believes that back pain is due to micro-constriction in the area). However, with longer heat , this overstimulates the nerves which become hyperactive and continue to fire.

I think cold treatments work best on inflammatory problems.
Doctors are now recommending it more often, even for arthritis pain.

It is worth a try. Just don't overdue it.

i can confirm with this latest back episode that ice applied to the side of my leg below the hip and where i can feel the swelling in my lower back has helped with the pain whereas i tried heat before that and felt worse.

I agree with what all have said before me?
 

When I first 'got' PN then another neuropathy 'version' I did the whole vitamin route.... and cautiously I mite add. But, My neuropathy kept getting worse! So, I persued various medical testing, while I could still walk and drive and got myself all that testing!
I then took a look at all my meds...cross referencing side effects etc. AND there were some... BUT WHEN I took a whole gander at my vitamins? I found out that B-6 was thrown into almost anything! I was ingesting over 6+ times the MDR for B-6 from this combo! I switched to pre-natal multi-vites and then searched for any other brands of other vites W/O b-6.... It Can be done! And yes I am a lady, but that doesn't mean the combos of vites if pre-natals aren't for you?
Thing is? You don't want to make things worse, and B-6, while in some instances is needed? Too much of a good thing this is NOT.
I hope this helps -:hug:'s - j
Also? Application of heat or cold - remember this rule [Told to me by a former ER nurse] 20 minutes on any spot? 20 minutes off that spot. For Heat? I use a moist heat-heating pad and simply rotate, same w/ice pacs. You can get some in the drug stores? That are like those chiller packs for toting foods to football games etc? But, these are flexable...cost about $6-10 a pack and are great for the chilling aspects. They sort of thaw after about an hour? But put 'em back in the freezer and in 2-3 hours? They are good to go again! IF You have a severe PN tho? Be sure to use some sort of washcloth or the like between IT and your skin. Too much too fast isn't good nor comfy!

mrsD, I really want to hear from you regarding B6 toxicity studies. I just found out, by complete accident, that my b6 is through the roof 9335 nmol/L). I am having severe fatigue, muscle pain, and peripheral neuropathy. I figured I had lyme disease yet keep testing negative for it.....

Could you contact me? my email is*edit*