I was at the neurologist office today and mentioned a relatively new problem on my lower legs. They are hypersensitive in the sense that if I simply run my finger up my leg it hurts like it's bruised or something. It's front/back of both legs from the knee down. He had a name for it and I was curious if anyone knows what it's called. It's a part of PN, but had a separate name. I even asked him to repeat it later on in the visit, but quick forgot again...short term memory is pitiful. I think it started with an "A"...not much help, I know I'd like to research more about it, but can't without the name. Anyone have any ideas?

I believe it's called Alodynia. I get that every once in awhile. Mostly on the trunk of my body. It's yet another annoying thing to add to the list.

I too have very very short term memory. I like to blame it on the meds.

Hope you feel better soon.

I know how this feels!

My left foot, the one with the huge scar on the instep, has
been bothering me now for a couple of years. The damaged
nerves have grown back, and don't work well. Sometimes the scar throbs, etc.

On the sural nerve side of my left leg, I have this new low tolerance for pain. I've had a couple of cat scratches there, by accident from our kitten, and they hurt far more than they should have!

I am now putting the magnesium lotion, there as well on the scar each night, and that seems to help. But you know Houdini leaped off the bed one night and my foot was out, and his back foot snagged my ankle. It felt like a KNIFE for 2 days and was just a little scratch. I've never had this before. That whole nerve seems over-reactive since the feeling finally came back on that instep! So far the lotion has been very helpful.

I am very hypersensitive where not even a doctor is allowed to touch my legs anymore. I thought it was from the RSD but I also have PN so not sure. A finger causes extreme pain,a wind blowing,and textures like socks. Some is cause the pain is so high but some is from that I have become so protective of the area. I guess one is supposed to slowly desensitize the area by taking different textures like a cotton ball etc. This is hard though when the pain is so high.

Oh, my pain is not nearly that bad. But the scratch did throb all night that day.

I get weird feelings on my ankles sometimes, like a bug is crawling there. But I can wear socks (but I don't often), and long pants with no problem, so far. That ankle also had a spider bite several years ago that was quite awful. It hurt for 3 months after even!
So I tend to accept that area as somehow damaged.

I don't have nearly the burning anymore or pain walking, and consider myself very lucky now. I cannot have a tight shoe or tight lace on that foot however, over that scar...because it WILL start to throb.

That's it...Alodyna. Thanks so much.

Mine is 24/7 on both legs now. However, not to the point of being unable to touch. Just really annoying and somewhat uncomfortable when i touch my leg, like to put lotion on, etc.

It has even started in small areas above the knee (on the back side), so I'm wondering if it's slowly progressing.

I'll get some magnesium lotion to see if it helps. Is this the lotion I've seen posts for that you get from CVS?

Allodynia.

This is one reason it's good to have someone with you at a doctor's visit, or to always take P&P to take notes - we all need memory aids, especially when working in a foreign language (medicalese).

What puzzles me is that I get this sort of thing on occasion - maybe even a few days at a time, like a flare - but it comes & goes (which I'll take as a good thing), so I'm not sure if it's really allodynia or not. Sometimes it seems to be in my joints & soft tissue rather than skin, so again I'm not sure if it qualifies as the same thing.

Doc

Lyrica, Gabepentin, and Cymbalta has done very little do treat my allodynia.

Next on the list is Namenda and Nuebexta.

I have tried all 3 of those and the Namenda for the PN in general...with no success. I am now going to try lidoderm patches on the bottom of my feet (which might not work since he feels the pain is coming from ganglioneuropathy in the dorsal root ganglia in the spine). I may try one of the patches (or half) on my leg to see if it settles down the allodynia. I did read on the Wiki site Dr. Smith attached that lidocaine (topical) is helpful for this. We'll see.

Just a suggestion....

I don't think Lidoderms work on the bottoms of the feet.

I'd put them on the insteps instead. That is where both major nerves enter the foot.

A 1/2 patch is enough for each foot.

Also to try:
1) 1/2 patch around the top of the ankle before the foot starts.
2) if you think your issues are ganglion centered, then putting over the affected ganglions over the spine is best. This numbs them at the source.

This link shows yellow nerves...
http://www.northcoastfootcare.com/pa...e-Anatomy.html

hit Ctrl + scroll wheel to enlarge. The 3rd photo (anterior) in the first array shows the main nerve coming down in the instep.

This link shows the nerves in the foot more clearly:
http://www.northcoastfootcare.com/pa...-the-Foot.html

This website is excellent for viewing the feet, anatomy and where the nerves are and go.

Most people see no effects from placement on the bottoms of the foot.

Some experimentation is necessary. For example I find some foot relief when I place a 1/2 Lidoderm behind my knee, on the thigh side of the bend. This hits the peroneal nerve that passes there to go down to the foot.