Hi, I was diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy then autonomic neuropathy.
These were from Lyme Disease and other infections. I have had lots of aggressive treatment for this. Now I'm having chest pain and uncontrolled blood pressure. So far I'm told I have pericarditis (inflammation of heart) but I'm still having tests.
I'm so frustrated that I keep getting one body system after effected and it's hard for me to believe Lyme is still causing all this. And I wonder if I could have another autoimmune disease that causes high inflammation and neuropathy too
One night my chest pain was so bad laying on my back or side with throbbing pain up my neck and boring into my back. At the same time, the neoropathy in my legs was extreme. It was much much worse than usual!

So my question here is has anyone else had these two symptoms together and what caused it? I don't have diabetes and tests for lupus have always been negative.

I'm so upset now. I've been dealing with this for SO long.. It's one thing after another no matter what I do. I'm getting worse!!! Thanks.

I do not have it, but I do know that you can have cardiac problems from SFN with autonomic neuropathy.

Lyme disease can cause a whole lot of various symptoms to all aspects of the nervous system and other parts of the body as well. I would agressively treat the Lyme if I were you. I knew someone with it and it was a long process.

Thank you both. What is SFN???

I was diagnosed with Lyme 11 years ago. It was an advanced case and I couldn't have been more aggressive. IV antibiotics, two years of IM injections and oral antibiotics on and off this whole time.
So yes I know it's a long process. The reason I wrote here was to see if anyone knew of any other auto immune diseases that cause both neuropathy and cardiac issues.

My replies aren't going through!!

What is SFN???

Thanks both. I have had extremely aggressive Lyme treatment. You wouldn't believe the whole thing. For 11 years! That is why I question if something else is going on...

SFN is short for small fiber neuropathy.

Some Antibiotics can cause neuropathy. So if you were on them long term you may want to read up on them in the stickys section at the top of the page...

What antibiotics were you on?

--since the small fibers include the nerves that control autonomic responses, people with small-fiber syndromes can have dysautonomia, with disruptions in any autonomic system (blood pressure, digestion, breathing, cardiac . . .), fortunately, "major" autonomic disruption beyond "subclinical" levels tends to be fairly rare (though it does happen).

Do you recall what antibiotics you took? Some have lingering problems with mito damage.

Pericarditis can be from inflammation or viruses too.
http://www.medicinenet.com/pericarditis/article.htm

My son's math teacher in high school developed a serious case of this from exercising/lifting weights while having a flu. He was also a coach and PE teacher, and rather addicted to daily exercise and the virus went to his heart!

I hope your doctors are doing autoimmune testing for lupus, and the other inflammatory things on the list at the link I gave today.

Thanks everyone. I have been on many different antibiotics. Right now it's biaxin.
I knew Autonomic neuropathy could cause heart rthytm and blood pressure. My blood pressure is out of wack now. But I also have the inflammatory percarditis. I feel terrible. I think I will ask for lupus and other tests now.

I really appreciate the input and the perecarditits link

The more I read about small fiber neuropathy, I couldn't believe how many problems it can cause!! It's amazing! Yet the neuropathy doctor I saw basically pushed me out the door to pain management. Can you believe he told my doctor he only wanted to see "pure" neuropathy cases? My Lyme history was too much for him to deal with and he refuses to discuss it. I didn't expect him to treat me for it!!

Many doctors who are not educated in certain special things...like Lyme... or others, will not see you.

That is not because of YOU... but really a good thing. They want a more experienced doctor to take over. Think of it this way.... If you had a special car...say a diesel... and a regular mechanic said, "I can't deal with diesel engines, you need to see another".... you would accept that! It basically is the same with medicine, I'm afraid. In the end you will ultimately find the "right" doctor.

SFN is not a stand alone diagnosis... it is the result of many triggers, and other things. The only "pure" SFN is Charot Marie Tooth which is genetic, but it can also affect motor functions too.

SFN is not an end stage diagnosis.... it only describes which nerve fibers are damaged...but does not reveal the triggers or causes, of which there are many many!