I am so glad I found this site.

I have had neuropathy for about 8 years. It started with burning in the soles of my feet, and this past year has moved to the top of my feet and up my left leg. In addition, several toes on my right foot are going numb. My hands now feel like they are going to sleep.

I have diatebes (which the endo says is not the cause) and ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis in which the spine fuses itself (and the rheumy says is not the cause). I am going to a neuro who has done all the nerve conductibity test and nothing has shown up. He is checking to see if any of the meds I am on could cause the problem, but it all started before I was on any of the meds.

With the arthritis I have spells where I am extremely tired and the only thing that seems to help is the oral steroids (predisone does not help so I take something stronger) and it helps the neuropatjy. But we all know that a couple days after taking them, everything returns again.

Several doctors suggested I try Adkins as the low carb is supposed to help with the neuropathy symptons, but I hate meat and see very little change. I am on lyrica, but it does things to the memory! And I have enough senior moments without meds causing more!

If anyone has any suggestions, I sure would appreciate it.

how could the endo be so sure that diabetes isnt the cause? diabetes and pre diabetes are the main cause of PN by far.

Hi, katikat, I cant offer much help (yet), as I am new to both NP and this forum, but I can tell you to stick around, I have only been here two days but folks here are very welcoming, freindly, knowledgable, and helpful.

If low carb is suposed to help NP symptoms, that's more rotten news for me too ... to say that I eat a high carb diet, would surely be an understatement. I stopped eating meat about twenty years ago, not for health but for "animal welfare" reasons. That being said, I have never been much of a "fresh fruits and veggies" kind fo person, and probably have one of the worst diets possible, vegeterian or otherwise ... I dont know much about Adkins, but if you want to eat a protein-rich diet, there are fo course other sources for high protein, than jsut meat ... iwhs I could help more.

Im curious, in what way does a low carb diet help? My symptoms are pretty much the same as yours

I think it goes back to controlling diabetes. Since diabetes is the number one cause of neuropathy, and keeping it under control also keeps neuropathy under control. My brother-in-law is diabetic. For 30+ years he followed the diabetes meal plan, that was a well-balanced diet. But even following it strictly, he couldn't keep his glucose levels under control. A couple of years ago his doctor suggested he switch to a low-carb diet, and he swears it has made a big difference with both his glucose control and his neuropathy.

This does a good job of explaning the low-carb diet for diabetes:

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/pre...teslowcarb.htm

--both the Atkins and Zone dietary approaches are about trying to keep blood sugar levels on more of an even keel, as wide swings in blood sugar can be just as damaging as steady high levels.

It also sounds like you have (at least right now) a predominantly small-fiber neuropathy, which would not be diagnosable with standard nerve conduction studies, as the small, unmyilenated fibers that control pain and temperature sensation (very often the first to be damaged in glucose dysregulation situations) cannot be measured that way--it often takes quantitative sensory testing, or even skin biopsy, to find damage to those types of nerves.

Yes, a skin-punch biopsy would definitely see
if small fiber neuropathy were present.

Hi could you talk to your doctor about seeing a nutritionist who deals with diabetes to help you create a meal plan for your condition and to help your overall health? I think sometimes if your doc rights an rx your insurance may cover. I have seen nutritionist in the past and had to pay but even if you go for a few sessions to develop a plan. Have you had other blood work to rule out other problems like some on here have low b12 or auto immune?

When you eat alot of carbs, your insulin goes up! Insulin then interferes with fatty acid metabolism and tends to push products into the inflammatory side of things. (these cytokines are called PGE2's ).

Staying on the PGE1 side of things quells inflammation.

The Zone diet, and the books about them explain how this works.
So even if you are not showing diabetes in glucose tests, you might be having high insulin events, and thus be in the inflammatory condition.

By balancing carbs with protein you control insulin levels, and also stimulate glucagon its opposite partner, to move glucose around in a more stable way for you.

Eating more Omega-3 fats, like Flax oil, and fish oil, moderate and dampen the inflammatory side of our fatty acid chemistries.

Don't forget, inside all of us is a biochemical factory of huge complexity, and food, can alter the balance of this and create many problems. I think the Zone diet is quite diabetes friendly. There have been studies showing good results with type II diabetics. It is possible to do Atkins without animal flesh, but not wholly vegan...because there are alot of carbs in most vegetables. Atkins is a high fat, high protein diet. Tomatoes are not typically allowed, at least in the beginning. One could do the Zone including dairy/eggs, and soy. But some people cannot tolerate high soy either. But I think the Zone is possible for some vegetarians.

I have an appointment with the neuro this week and will ask him about the small fiber neuropathy. Maybe he will do the test for it.

With all medical science has learned, it seems there is still a whole lot more to go! Oh well, you know what they say- The good thing about growing old is that you only have to do it once!

Thanks for your input.

Elizabeth