i never heard of smoking causing pn before.

As Rrae stated, most all states have an insurance fund for the "uninsurable"; and each state sets their own eligibility criteria. Some states have very restrictive criteria, but NC's appears to be rather flexible. Their rates look high, but they are comparable to other states, and they do offer financial assistance.

You can check it out here:

http://nchirp.org/cost.htm

--on whether the substances in cigarettes and such are directly neurotoxic.

However, they can certainly exacerbate already exisiting neuropathy by contributing to vascular inusfficiency (circulation breakdown). This is the prime mechanism in diabetic neuorpathy and some others--the nerves are starved for nutrients and accumulate toxins, which are normally transported away, and wind up malfunctioning.

Hi mizz mg, the good news is that the peripheral nerves do have the ability to regenerate once the cause/s of the nerve damage have been taken away, healing is a very slow process but certainly not impossible.

best of luck to you.
Brian

Hey,

Are you still drinking? ANY alcohol at this point is going to further damage your nerves. You must stop drinking. Look in your local phone book for a listing for Alcoholics Anonymous. Call them and someone can help you. You must do this, as it will only get worse....I've been there.....

Ann

It doesn't cause PN !
But Glenn is very knowledgeable, and his take on it
should be considered

Hello,
Being a smoker for over 50 years I have seen in a laboratory setting the capillaries constrict due to the action of nicotine, its almost the same as putting your hand over the wind pipe and impeding the flow of oxygen. Most of us smokers don't get the message until our first heart attack.

Or worse, sometimes.

In holland there is a neuropathie center that uses acapuncture and supplements
i have seen a youtube movie of a ex-alcoholist that was threated.
His simptomes where numm feet and the feeling like walking pillows
The first 5 or 6 threadments this guys didnt feel much but after the nummnes disapeard and he began to feel his feet agian,in hs own word it was a big changes
I can post the video but none of you would be able to understand dutch

I feel what you have to go true battling this disease in my case its still not sure what its casing my problems.
I suspect it is alcohol case even if my b12 level was good but having symtomes that are typical for a b12 shortes
Or the use of a medicine like dapsone

Hi i have the same. According to dr wise young Alcoholic neuropathy is 100% reversible. You will need yo go to his website and search it. However it means you have to stop drinking for good, this is difficult and most dont stop but rather increase consumption to deal with the stress and its also good pain reliever but does and will make things much worse in time.