[brendaingram]

Question for all you knowledgeable folks from a newbie: Is it normal for Small Fiber Neuropathy to progress from no symptoms to high level of pain, tingling, major symptoms within 2 months?

I did notice a tiny problem with both toes when sheets touched them about 6 months ago (toes felt weird), but on 1/4/11 had pedicure and had pain in entire procedure. Been treated by podiatrist since then and he did a skin biopsy on 2/1 which showed 3.4 fibers (positive for moderate neuropathy). Now one month later symptoms are much worse, and now include some motor functions including overall unsteadiness on feet (using a cane to help). Getting nerve conduction test next week.

I am a 49 year old female, diagnosed as Type 2 diabetic 9 years ago, but sugar levels have been in controlled range always. I know that diabetic neuropathy is usually large fiber, not small fiber. I also have Hypothyroidism for 20 years and took statins for 20 years. In fact, Dr. increased my pravastatin last year - doubled dose. So I know any of those things could be the cause of the SFN.

Does it matter what the cause is?

Help with both questions would be appreciated!

Brenda
Atlanta, Georgia

[invisable]

Originally Posted by brendaingram

Question for all you knowledgeable folks from a newbie: Is it normal for Small Fiber Neuropathy to progress from no symptoms to high level of pain, tingling, major symptoms within 2 months?

I did notice a tiny problem with both toes when sheets touched them about 6 months ago (toes felt weird), but on 1/4/11 had pedicure and had pain in entire procedure. Been treated by podiatrist since then and he did a skin biopsy on 2/1 which showed 3.4 fibers (positive for moderate neuropathy). Now one month later symptoms are much worse, and now include some motor functions including overall unsteadiness on feet (using a cane to help). Getting nerve conduction test next week.

I am a 49 year old female, diagnosed as Type 2 diabetic 9 years ago, but sugar levels have been in controlled range always. I know that diabetic neuropathy is usually large fiber, not small fiber. I also have Hypothyroidism for 20 years and took statins for 20 years. In fact, Dr. increased my pravastatin last year - doubled dose. So I know any of those things could be the cause of the SFN.

Does it matter what the cause is?

Help with both questions would be appreciated!

Brenda
Atlanta, Georgia

I am not as knowledgeable as others on this site, but I will try to answer to the best of my knowledge, understand though, I may be corrected by others.

I believe from what I have read Diabetic Neuropathy can be small or large fiber.

The cause matters in some ways and not in others, the treatment of pain is the same for any cause, however, controlling the cause is a way of lowering the damage and symptoms of the neuropathy. In your case keeping a very tight control on your sugar levels would benefit your health in many ways (as I am sure you are aware of), neuropathy being one of them.

[zorro1]

Im no expert either but I have learnt that P/N can be rapid if its toxic. You may have multiple causes. In the last few months have you been exposed to anything new? below is cut n paste google

Causes
Drug abuse and chemical exposure in the workplace are the most common causes of toxic neuropathy. Exposure to lead, mercury, arsenic and thailum in the workplace makes you more vulnerable to toxic neuropathy. In addition to drug abuse, sniffing substances like glue can lead to toxic neuropathy. Herbal medicine remedies, especially Chinese remedies, can be another cause of toxic neuropathy because herbal medicines can contain dangerous chemicals.

[glenntaj]

--that involve a farily rapid onset and progression, and can involve more than the small, unmyelinated fibers:

http://neuromuscular.wustl.edu/nothe...etes.htm#acute

True difficulties in motor function do imply some larger fiber involvement (all motor nerve are myelinated large fiber).

But, as the other posters mentioned, you may be co-morbid--it's possible that other factors beyond diabetes are contributing to the neuropathy. This is not all that unusual--once the nerves have been assaulted in one way, they are much more vulnerable to other assaults--the so-called "double crush hypothesis", in which two agents combine to act and increase symptoms to a greater degree than the sum of their parts would imply.

It may be well worth further investigation (and I, too, wonder about the statins being involved).

[mrsD]

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

I would definitely suspect the statin.

Are you supplementing with CoQ-10? Eventually your body will run out since statins block its synthesis in the liver.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread122889.html

[brendaingram]

[QUOTE=mrsD;749941]Welcome to NeuroTalk.

I would definitely suspect the statin.

Are you supplementing with CoQ-10? Eventually your body will run out since statins block its synthesis in the liver.


Mrs D,

Thanks for the info. I stopped taking the statin (the dr. had doubled my dosage last spring - not too long before initial toe tingles - suspicious!). I am not supplementing yet, just found your website so I need to print out the sticky about that then buy those items.

Appreciate the help and words of encouragement.

The last year has been a real b**ch. I had frozen shoulder, several horrendous dental surgeries, a double hernia operation, found out I have dupuytren's contracture (hereditary hand problem) and I quit smoking.

Brenda