How common
 

I'm asking myself - how common is this SFN. Do you have any idea? statistics?
Thanks

I'm not sure Amit, I have read that their are over 20 million Americans that have some form of PN, so I guess a lot must have SFPN, there are a lot of people on Neuro Talk that have SFPN. I did try google( I google everything) but nothing helpfull can up. Their would be a lot of people who have it but are not aware of it.

All the best

Lesley

Over the years, I have tried many times to find the statistics, and Leslie you are right, Google just can't find them. From my understanding, there are no statistics on pure idiopathic SFN, because SFN is so often named by its etiology. For example: Diabetic Neuropathy, Toxic Neuropathy, Alcoholic Neuropathy. They are all predominately small fiber neuropathies.

Here is a chart I downloaded some time ago from the Neuropathy Association. It is 22 pages of the types of Neuropathy. I was really surprised by all the varying types and subsets of PN. On the very last page, you will find the Idiopathic Neuropathies. It states that up to 1/3 of neuropathies are Idiopathic. Small Fiber is listed here, with unknown epidemiology.

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0...ODFjMTkz&hl=en

Small-fiber neuropathy--
 

--is likely the most common type of neuropathy; most diabetic neuropathy begins with dysfunction of the smaller, unmyelinated fibers that subsume the sensations of pain and temperature (and often diabetes produces autonomic symptoms, which also involves small fibers).

Small fibers are also preferentially affected in a number of autoimmune and toxic conditions.

Certainly, there are many neuropathic conditions that are more global, affecting both large and small fibers. There do seem to be a lot of people, though, who show up with "normal" EMG/NCV studies (the ones that measure larger fiber functioning) that have abnormal qualitiative sensory tests, sudomotor axon reflex tests, or skin biopsies (that measure small fibers). These small-fiber tests are relatively recent, though, compared with those for larger fibers, and many older docs/neuros are not as conversant with the possibility of small-fiber syndromes as they perhaps ought to be.

Hi! I am a newbie. I also have been dx small fibre neuropathy. I suffer like you with the night pain and feet and leg pain,and like you i am experiencing not quite tingling of the scalp but what seems to feel like severe contractions! I am so puzzled about this and can only presume it is a form of neuropathy. I also suffer from Parkinson's and acromegaly. I find life a bit of a bother and struggle but i fight the good fight (with the odd meltdown!!)

Hi Smurff, You have come to the right place Smurff, everyone is so friendly here, there is a new sub forum which has plenty of information which will help you. Hope you are feeling better soon.:hug:

By the way i am from Oz too..live in Perth !

Hi again Smurff, good to talk to a fellow Aussie. Hope you find out the information you need to know. Neuro talk has defently helped me, you don't feel so alone.