I've felt better this week. I wonder why.

I've had much reduced pain in my legs and almost none in my arms. The muscle spasms (fasciculations?) are way down. I've been sleeping better too. And the off balance/dizziness episodes are better (although today not as good as previous days).

As best as I can tell there are a few possibilities:

Maybe the nortriptiline kicked in full force (taking 10 mg every night).

Maybe the vitamins are having an effect. To answer a previous question put to me, I've been taking the following for about a month:

3,000 mcg/day of b12 (just reduced to 1,500)
800 mcg folic acid
1,000 mg of calcium
500 mg of magnesium
500 mg of phosphorous
2,000 mg fish oil
60 mg of CoQ10
a general multivitamin (I've always taken this)

Maybe I'm just getting better. I've tried to get more sleep each night and this seems to help.

Or maybe this was some sort of viral thing and my body is getting back to normal.

I had an EMG and nerve conduction study this week. Preliminary results were "looks good". Also went for some more blood work on B12 and thyroid function - awaiting the results.

Anyway, still not back to normal/perfect but I can not argue the trend recently.

I'm very happy for you--it's always great to hear someone doing better!

That's great news, whatever your doing right keep it up, i hope of more improvement is coming your way
Brian

Great. Enjoy it . However don't get depressed and feel despair if things get worse in the future. Not to rain on your parade, but PN is a chronic disease and most of us have had a roller-coaster of good periods and bad periods. After the acute phase with rapid deterioration and increasing pain and numbness, improvement or progression of the PN is best measured in six month or yearly intervals.

The vitamins and supplement look like a pretty good mixture. The magnesium supplements could be the main cause that your fasiculations are reduced. Magnesium stopped my fasiculations and leg cramps.

If you're starting to exercise, the rhythmic firing of the nerves and improved blood circulation could account for sudden improvement.

The same with getting enough sleep.

Many of us are either diabetic, pre-diabetic, have metabolic syndrome, syndrome X, or insulin-resistance syndrome. In other words, eating too much sugar that isn't slowed down with fiber, fat, and protein upsets our metabolisms and insults the nerves. If you're improving your diet, that could account for your improved symptoms.

Much of the sugar in our diet is somewhat hidden. A can of cola has about 10 teaspoons of sugar in it. But so does 12 oz. of apple or orange juice. A vente Starbucks frappacino, at about 300 sugar calories, has about 24 teaspoons of sugar in it! That would set off a sugar reaction for anybody past teenage years.

Finally, all drugs, including nortriptiline, have side effects. The old board was a horror show of people who got neuropathy from various drugs, including statins and antibiotics. It's interesting that in the list of side effects of nortriptiline are numbness, tingling, and parasthesia (see http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/nortrip_ad.htm ). Everybody with chronic disease should look up dosage and side effects for all the drugs they're taking, including over-the-counter. That way, you'll know if a symptom is actually a drug side effect.

To reduce drug side effects, take the minimal effective dose for as short a time period as possible. Your dose of nortiptiline is minimal, and probably helps you sleep. Beware of taking several drugs with similar effects (that almost killed my mom).

It's great that you are feeling so much better, I hope that your improved health continues .

In many, if not most, cases PN is chronic. But, it is not always.

I agree that you should not become discouraged if things do not continue to improve in a linear fashion. But it is possible that you caught something before a lot of damage was done and that you will continue to improve and it will go away altogether.

Time will tell.

rose

Hi, I don't post much but I read alot. My back hurts and I need a better computer chair/table combo.
I was always on St. John's Wart off and on for 7 years.300 mg or so. Last month, My GP put me on amytript. which has issues with the "wart". I bloated up,gained weight and felt lousy.I cried and had a lot of anger issues. So, the neuro-she changes me to Nortrip and I've been on that for about 2 weeks or so.Now, I too feel a bit better.. She said it has less of the side effects. I'm thinking it has kicked in. My ear, though, is a bit techy especially using the phone and I get these funny non-painful jumps and ripples. I'm also on 2700 of Neurontin/day and all the vit.a girl could want. My mood is improving and I want to be more social again. So, I guess I have to give one to the the pharmaceuticals. I do wonder though if my nerves actually feel better or if I'm just "accepting their awfulness" better. Best not to question... Glad you feel better too.

It's a real bad roller coaster during a thunderstorm...it'd definitely got ups and downs...look for the good parts of each UP and each DOWN...it's that or go bonkers?

Don't overanalyse which what may be the key aspect working? Keep it all up, it can't hurt you and what have you got to lose at this point?
ANY relief is REALLY GOOD RELIEF! Tho, yes, you can get 'used' to the pain in some ways...

Docs after almost a year would ask me my 'pain levels'..I'd reply, well, I've had it soo long, I don't think I'd know what 'no-pain' is any more...I really can't tell you...AND I DON'T DO, IN ANY WAY OR FORM those durned HAPPY FACES!!! GOT IT!!! Surprisingly, in that presentation, The DOCS get it! Go figger... Easier than swinging a 2"x4"x6' at them!

Thanks for the reminder that I have had good times! I'm actually on an "up-swing" myself, but didn't want to brag yet. Want to be sure it's here to stay for a while.

I know we all come here for support, and sometimes it feels as if we just come here with complaints. It's nice to come here with good news sometimes and brighten everyones day!

We are a pretty supportive group here, and everyone loves to hear when someone is doing well. So keep the good news coming! I know when I'm having good days, I love to share them here! It helps balance out the days when I have to come and cry on shoulders.

Good for you! Keep up the vitamins! They do make a difference. Keep up the good eating habits. It is what worked for me! I let my stress get to me and stopped my vitamins for a while and boy did it make a difference! Spent four days in bed feeling sorry for myself. Fight your way through it.

We are here for you in good times and in bad. This is a Journey, and we don't know where the final destination is, so let's enjoy the journey together!

Thank you for sharing your good news with us!