I hope someone can help me. This is about me now, not my Alan.

I was diagnosed with the beginnings of Diabetic Neuropathy last year at Cornell. They were examining my feet, they put the tuning fork on the tips of my toes, I didn't feel some of it and they declared "Okay, you have neuropathy". Of couse, having taken care of Alan for 18 years (he is not diabetic), I know about neuropathy. But I had absolutely no symtoms and I have good control over my blood sugar and health matters.

So over the past few months, ONCE IN A WHILE when the weather changes dramatically, I would get a slight buzzing. I said to myself "oh oh, my neuropathy is acting up". It would go away. I exercise every day,eat my fish, take my B vitamins and go to my doctors religiously. I have read up on diabetic neuropathy but since I never actually felt what Alan felt, I had no idea exactly what neuropathy felt like.

So fast forward to yesterday. We both go and see our podiatrist Dr. Baird. I was being measured for a pair of diabetic shoes (my insurance covers it). So I'm sitting in the chair and he's doing my nails and stuff. I had an ingrown toenail so for three seconds he took to get it out, I jumped, but he was good and it was over. So far so good. I was talking to him about the fact that one in a while I get the buzzing. He said to me "that's vibratory". I had never heard of that. But yesterday (before the appointment), I was just fine.

Well, after he finishes my nails, he takes vibrating took that smooths off the nails and I almost jumped out of the chair. I DIDN'T LIKE IT AT ALL!!! I think I scared Alan because everytime he put that tool over my nail tips to file them down, it tickled and affected my toes. Can't explain it any other way. He did my calluses and the bottoms of my feet and made everything smooth.

When I got home, there was an extreme dip in the weather. We have been having 70 degree days and it dipped to 50. Well, last night, my feet were on fire. I have never had this in my whole life. They were buzzing and on fire. I was beside myself. I said "Holy *****, is this what diabetic neuropathy is about". My poor Alan!!!! He's had this for 18 years???????".

I asked him and he shook his head and said "Melody, I had to go on the fentanyl patch, the buzzing is nothing, I had stabbing besides the burning.".

I just looked at him. I took a hot bath because it was cold in my house. The hot water did not help. Didn't make it worse, but while it helped my arthritic joints, the burning in my feet stayed. I took my sleeping pill and went to sleep at 10 p.m. I was really afraid to wake up because I didn't know if they would burn again. I got up and there was no burning, but there was slight buzzing. I had an idea. Maybe, when the doctor did that vibrating tool thing, could he have woken up some nerves in my feet that started to do the burning thing. This never happened before. And it's the only clue I have.

Today, there is no burning, but my feet are cold. It's nice outside but in my home, it's very cold. I had to go on the front porch and look at the sun to warm up. The weather is changing extremely as of late.

So here's my question. Because I know I have Diabetic Neuropathy, could the vibrating tool have affected my neuropathy and made it worse for that one evening.

While it's much better today, I am hesitant to be hopeful because I know that you can't regenerate nerves (well, as far as doctors are concerned). I'm going to start taking Alpha Lipoic Acid because as we all know, DOCTOR'S DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING, RIGHT??

I've looked up Diabetic Neuropathy on the internet and there are different kinds and the one that stood out for me was the one that says "it can present as numbness or it can present as heightened sensations". I never heard of that and I said to myself "jeez, that must be what I have".

The doctor kept saying "good good, when I said "I'm feeling everything you are doing". I know that they don't want your feet to be numb because you can't feel stuff, you might get an infection and this can lead to amputation. I now this. But this heightened feeling. Well, what does one do about this (except to control one's blood sugar, which I have done).

My doctors at Cornell once told me "melody, you are a diabetic, you can control your blood sugar to the best of your ability, but never forget YOU ARE A DIABETIC, you will get high readings sometimes.

This has happened twice in two years (the high readings). For no reason at all. I do not eat what I am not supposed to eat. But I do have diabetes, I know the facts.

And I know that the gold standard is the emg and nerve conduction tests. I've had two of those and don't care to have another, I almost punched out the nurse the last time. And the emg wasn't on my feet either of these times. First emg was my wrist (carpal tunnel), second emg was my arm (that's when I jumped off the table and almost punched the nurse). I don't care to have this repeated. I know I have diabetic neuropathy. What on earth would having an emg tell me? The kind of neuropathy, axon, focal, small fiber, large fiber??? I mean, if I know these things, does it make any difference??? It's neuopathy. Alan has had it for 18 years. I know all about lyrica, neurontin, super blue stuff, capsacin, I KNOW THE INFO!!! If having an emg would be a way for them to say to me "oh, now we know, we can give you this, we can fix it", well, that's different. But it's diabetic neuropathy, and the only way to TRY and do something is to keep a tight control on my blood sugar. This I do every day, believe me.

As I type this, my feet are not giving me any problems. Let's hope they stay that way.

So if anybody out there has an opinion if the vibrating tool thing jump started the buzzing and the burning feet, I'd sure like your opionion.

Thanks,
Melody

((((((Melody)))))),

I don't have diabetic neuropathy so I can't really "sound like an expert" on that. What I do have is neuropathy caused by a blood condition -->> MGUS. My hands and feet, fingers and toes, and forearms and lower legs are all affected to varying degrees.

In my case, I think the neuropathy is sort of like a bad connection. Some days, the sensation is "off" -- everything just feels weird -- touching things feels different -- sometimes cold things feel slimy. Other days, the pain is horrendous. I've been taking Effexor XR and for me that pretty much keeps the 'horrendous" at bay.

I think you're on to something with thinking that the vibrating tool set something off. The sensation was probably so intense that it *demanded* that your nerves wake and pay attention. To my way of thinking, that probably means that any *STRONG* sensation is going to get through and be felt much more intensely. It's probably the nuances that aren't getting through. That's one reason why I started using a cane, 'cause I was having trouble telling where my feet "really where" although I could walk OK.

I'm like you relative to the testing. If you already know, why bother?? I sort of suspect that testing on you would set everything off just like the vibrating tool did. They wanted to do a sural nerve biopsy on me -- I figured why kill a nerve just to tell me something I already know.

I imagine that as long as you work with your doctor and you stay on top of everything by keeping yourself educated about what to watch out for, you're probably fine. But, that's the nerve-test-chicken in me talking

Hugs.

Barb

in that AS LONG AS I CAN FEEL anything! ANYTHING! That has to be one heck of a good thing.
The first and second times I'd had nerve conduction tests, well, I was set up, almost feel asleep on the table [tho I was COLD] and found out it was all over? Not felt a thing then. Now when my podiatrist takes out the dremel tool and I FEEL it...well...to me HECK it's a good sign! Yes you mite 'over-react' you now have what I call 'fussy' nerves, but Chill. YOU CAN FEEL! It's when you can't feel that things have happened that you can get into trouble...sometimes BIG-TIME? I used to have THE most tickleish feed in the universe...IF I giggle at all while at the pod's at all, that's one really GOOD THING for the month! At least, in my book.

Alan is right, the 'stabbing' well that's like someone is taking hot nails and inserting them willy-nilly... It has to be an ultimate definition of HURTS...When I had my 'onset' or whatever it was...I really was wishing for amputation of my legs and hands...it HURT so bad- just so it would STOP. As for now, I get something akin to amputee's 'phantom pains' even tho I've got the limbs...Sometimes I'm able to 'feel' others not...tho none of it is NORMAL. I don't think I could define normal now...
As for diagnosing and 'fixing' it. You should know by now ...it's not that simple! I surely wish it was. In the meantime, your brain is humming, and your stress factor is peaking...well, who wouldnt? IT is a scary thing to have happen! David often advocates the 'mental approach' it can help. YOu have to turn off your stressors! Me? I shut down and sleep. Not a bad option given lots of alternatives...ya know?
We are given what we have, we have to deal with it as creatively as possible and BE our own advocates as best we can. Melody, at least you have good, contiencious docs who care for you, and do it well... Face it, you are better off than 80% of the other posters here. Dont look your gift horses in the mouth...USE THEM! and plain old CHILL in the interim.

Untill - whatever... - j

Mel,
I'm not diabetic either- but as far as I'm concerned - PN, is.... PN !
(At least in the fact that symptoms and treatments are similar)
The vibrations probably intensified your sensitivity in some nerve endings.
My feet are hyper-sensitive. I know if I've stepped on a thin dime....big time! I can't stand anyone touching my feet orr ankles - but sometimes they feel numb, or so swollen (they aren't) they feel like over-filled water balloons and the ache deep down to the bone. The there's there's the little Leprecaun with the ice-pick that runs out from hiding and jabs me one or two times and then runs back so quickly I can't see him. Sometimes I have a hive of angry stinging bees under my skin and they want to get out.
PN will be different for each of us, but we learn to recognize it as our own individual symptoms.
(I call it thePrincess & the Pea syndrome)

thru my own mind! Thank you! - j

Hi All:

I really did get scared last night because I have never had this happen. Remember back to when all of you had your first 'BUZZ, PINS AND NEEDLES THINGS"??? Well, last night all I could say to myself was "This is what the guys and gals on the board and my Alan have been going through??, ALL THE TIME??? wow, never knew it. And mine was just a taste. I do not want the whole recipe,believe me. That's why I'm doing all I can do to keep my sugar nice and even. But I have been diabetic for a long long time and only the past two years got it under control. I was stupid. I was told about the seriousness of diabetes but did I listen??? noooooo!!!! Kind of like telling people not to smoke when they are at a funeral for a friend who just died of lung cancer (I've been to so many of these I can't count) and when I go outside and see the people smoke I look at them incredously and they go "i know, I know, she died of lung cancer and I'm smoking, I know I know, BUT I CAN'T QUIT!!!

See, I knew about neuropathy just from living with Alan. But I was overweight and never took my diabetes seriously until I got into the protocol at Cornell. I and I figured that because my eye doctor said I had no evidence of diabetes in my eyes, and my dentist told me last year that I did not have diabetic gums (whatever the hell that is), I thought I had a pass.

Well, obviously no more passes.

I do however question the fact that some of you think that feeling ANYTHING!!! is better than being numb. Last night I had just a taste of what the buzzing, burning, etc. and I told myself. "Why the hell can't I just be numb?" It was not pleasant.

I did some reading on vitamins and that's where I'm deficient. That much I know. I have only been taking my B vitamins. Well I just came back from CVS and they some special diabetic vitamins on sale and it has all the vitamins plus Alpha Lipoic Acid and Chromium. Thirty to a bottle. So I bought a bottle. Got to start somewhere. If I see any improvement, then we shall see. I also bought some Super Blue emu (that used to help Alan tremendously).

See, I'm like a girl scout. "BE PREPARED". That's my motto!!!!

Alan's at the gym making like Rocky Balboa. Yesterday Dr. Baird says his feet are doing nicely. So that's good.

Alan thinks he has psoriatic arthritis. Why he thinks this, I have no idea.
His podiatrist said to him: "Alan, you have psoriatic toes, I don't know if you have psoriatic arthritis". How does a person know if they have psoriatic arthritis? Alan has arthritis, (like most of us 60 and over do) but is psoriatic arthritis something special (because he has psoriasis)???

thanks guys.

Melody

--is soemwhat differnt form traumatic or other kinds of arthritis that comes from wear and tear on tissue. Psoriatic arthritis is closer to rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosising spondylitis (and like the latter, is often associated with the HLA-B27 genetic marker) in that the breakdown in tissue is autoimmune in nature:

http://www.medicinenet.com/psoriatic...is/article.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pso...hritis/DS00476

It's entirely possible that Alan's recent IVIg treatments are "reordering" his immune system to some degree and contributing to these flares--although people with psoriasis are quite prone to flares from stress, viruses, environmental triggers, and the like, anyway.

Now, back to you Mel--I suspect that what happened to you at the podiatrist had to do with the stimulation of damaged nerves, that, when stimulated, could not shut off their signalling properly and took time to "calm down". When nerves are damaged incompletely (complete nerve degredation tends to cause numbness or inability to discern vibration or mechanical touch), stimulation to them may set off all sorts of weird signals that the brain interprets in varying ways. In some cases, the nerves may be unable, as they are damaged and not responding to appropriate feedback mechanisms, to stop sending signals even when the stimulation is removed. This is referred to as hyperesthesia--"overage of feeling". Within that category, one can have parasthesia--"weird feelings"--and "allodynia"--pain from normally non-painful stimuli. While many people associate diabetic neuropathy with numbness, and that certainly does occur, it's actually more likely for diabetic neuropathy sufferers to experience pain and other weird sensations that are not consonant with the stimuli felt.

The typical diabetic neuropathy presentation is small-fiber damage--these are the fibers that subsume the sensations of pain and temperature, and problems with them can produce all sorts of pain and hot/cold feelings. The distinction is worth discussing with doctors, as many people with small-fiber problems (I'm one of them, though not diabetic) can have perfectly normal EMG/nerve conduction studies (those tests can only measure problems with larger, myelinated nerves). Damage to smaller fibers can be revealed by quantitative sensory testing or skin biopsy, but most "normal" neuros are unfamiliar with these tests (although the people at Cornell certainly should be--my skin biopsies are examined through Cornell-Weill by Columbia Presbyterian's pathology department).

Another thing--the sensations one feels are not necessarily directly correlated with the degree of nerve damage present--plenty of people have been diagnosed with "mild" neuropathy--partial damage--and have pain off the charts, or stabs, lightning bolts, tingles, and a whole gamut of other weird sensations. In fact, I bet a survey on this site would reveal that people with partial damage have odder symptoms, and more of them, than most whose nerves have been completely destroyed. I suspect in partial damage situations the nerves still signal in response to stimuli, but incompletely, intermittently, and in ways the brain has trouble intepreting. AND, damaged nerves have a tendency to signal on their own, without any stimuli, and you get all sorts of bizarre feelings from that--candle wax burning, a feeling of water running down an arm when nothing is there; feelings of small flies landing on body parts; the list is endless . . .

There are some papers that talk about this in the Useful sites:

http://www.neurocentre.com/home.php

http://www.charcot-marie-tooth.org/about_cmt/pain.php

http://www.thecni.org/reviews/13-2-p07-treihaft.htm

http://www.diabetesforum.net/cgi-bin...content_id=341


In the end, what I think this all means is that your foot nerves are not DEAD, and that's a good thing, but living damaged nerves can certainly react in unpredictable ways. It's still best in the long run to control sugar levels and to work out a supplement plan that is nerve supportive. It is NOT true that peripheral nerves cannot re-generate; it is a slow process and can produce odd sensatins of its own, but it can happen under the proper conditions.

I now know why I love you. You can take a horrible condition like PN and make it sound fixable!!! You're amazing. Today is much better than yesterday. I'm thinking to not ever, ever, ever let that foot guy near my feet with that vibrating planing tool!!!

I really should have known better because I was diagnosed years and years ago with carpal tunnel and ever since then I can't handle anything in my hands that vibrate. I can't even hold a vacuum cleaner, and forget about a vibrator. (No, I'm NOT talking sexy kinky sex toys), lol, I'm referring to the vibrators that people hold in their hands and put on their sore muscles. Can't touch them either.

So I shall continue to monitor my blood sugar, low carb diet, etc. and do my exercises (as long as I can). One never knows.

And I do thank you for making me feel hopeful.

Melody

I think when we get the current admin out of the Big White House, we're going to see huge advances in things like stem cell treatments that will help all sorts of problems.

I'm a Discovery Health Channel addict. I remember years and years ago, they showed a man who had phantom limb pain in his arm -- felt like his hand was closed extra tightly, even though he no longer had a hand. They put a mirror at an angle to his opposite hand so that his brain would get a mental image of two hands in front of his body. They worked with him on opening and closing the existing hand while watching in the mirror. Over time, the phantom hand released its grip. I believe those studies were done around here somewhere -- Boston. Boston's got amazing research going on now.

I think we ALL have a lot to look forward to. With lots of and good researchers, the future's getting much-much brighter

Barb

Hi Barb: I watch the Discovery Channel, Discovery Health and the Learning Channel all the time.

Last night one of these channels had a show titled "The Shrinking Woman". Never in all my life did I see such a thing. This lady, only 40 years old (she could be my daughter), weighed over 640 lbs and she lost 400 or so lbs. So she had to have the excess skin taken off. They showed the WHOLE OPERATION!! I nearly choked!! They showed everything!!!!!

I can't even type what I saw in that show!!! Oh my goodness (that's the best I can say about what I saw). They put a disclaimer before you watch but honestly, I had no idea what they would show!!!THEY SHOWED EVERYTHING they do in this type of surgery.

Makes you never want to eat a cookie again, believe me!!!! lol

Melody