Why couldnt they just run the blood work while you were there? and has your Neuropathy gone body wide?

I am glad you had a good follow up. Could you ask that doctor who spent so long with you of a recomendation for a rheumatologist? Maybe he could suggest a good one at CC and often CC docs can get you in to other ones there quickly. When I was at CC I got squeezed into the pain doctor from another doctor. I hope you feel better.

Actually on the day I was at CC, I think the neuro would have gotten me into the rheumatologist but I had such a long drive ahead of me (3.5hrs) that I just wanted to get out of there. I wasn't feeling horrible, I had some pain in the joints but not like what I am experiencing now. He thought maybe gout, but I was quick to rule that out. The joints are not red / hot. Just hurt with movement, especially the wrong kind. OUCH....... If I really have to wait 6 months to see a rheumatologist, I will call in some favors and ask the docs I work with to pull some strings. Unfair, but you do what you have to do!!

Is 600 mg of ALA ok to take? I have only been taking 100mg....maybe not enough?

100mg of ALA (alpha lipoic acid) is not enough. All the studies used 600mg or MORE to show effect on PN pain.

100mg of r-lipoic however, the newer one, may be enough because it is far more potent.

Are there any US oral studies on ALA?
The UK dosage was 600, but it was administered IV.
No oral studies I've heard of.
My neuro said 'it couldn't hurt' when I asked him about ALA
and then he gave out a print sheet to patients at a later time, that suggested
OTC ALA was OK, but didn't mention dosage.
I've been taking a 'maintenance dose' of 200/day for the past few years

Examples:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20519180
(oral or IV mentioned)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19125705
(found improvements with both oral and IV)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18598095
(this one doesn't say but I am assuming oral )

There is a definite lack of US studies.... no one to fund them I guess. (Big Pharma is certainly not going to fund them )

It has always been Europe doing the most work on various supplements for PN and pain in general.

One thing most commonly reported about ALA is that results are slow in coming. At least 60 days, in some of the studies.

Actually, they could have but I was trying to hold off until after the first of the year since my insurance started 11/7/10 and I did not want to pay a deductible for 2010 and then in 2 months start over for 2011. Guess my body had other plans because i had to have blood tests drawn from my PCP for sed rate, C Reactive Protein and a Rheumatoid factor before they could even begin the process of making a referral. Apparently it will take up to 6 month but even longer if you don't complete the required labs. So, i will end up eating the costs of those but felt the testing for gluten sensitivity could definitely wait until after the first of the year.

Just called my PCP today to see if the lab results were back. They have been for almost 2 weeks. One nurse thought another nurse had called me so they were just sitting there.......waiting for me to call, I guess. Anyhow....

C-Reactive Protein 0.21 Normal <0.80
Sed Rate >120 Normal 0-20
RA Screen Negative

So, now I get to wait until after the first of the year to see a rheumatologist. Already had 2 rounds of steroids.........hope I make it through the rest of the year without any more flare-ups!!

Do try the AlkaSeltzer then. This works very quickly and more completely than NSAIDs in IMO. In fact WalMart has a generic for $2.00! That is where I get mine! AlkaSeltzer is one of the fastest oral pain meds on the planet.

Your tests are similar to mine. Although my Sed rate was never that high, it was moderately elevated every test.

I've had the ANA and RA screen 2 times several years apart with negative results both times.