I found this about a month ago. It confirms what I've been suspecting. My mouth constantly burns and is so painful. It seems to me that if I'm interpreting this right, burning mouth can be a symtom of small fiber neuropathy in the mouth.

http://www.icms.com.au/iaop2006/abstract/147.htm

Billye

I don't know if I have burning mouth syndrome,but as a result of my SFPN I also have had my mouth,lips, & tongue affected at various times. It comes and goes, it's very migratory in my case but it could involve any part of the body, but not for very long.

A few times I had to eat frozen ice pops to numb my lips.

Hi Silverlady,
I too suffered burning mouth and my dentist and neuro just shrugged it off, since I started Lyrica two months ago I noticed that it has gone away. I take 75mg 3x a day and am titrating up. I don't like the short term memory loss but I love that my gums aren't on fire all the time, not to mention my feet feel somewhat better and my arms and hands are pain free. Might not last but I am happy for now.
P.S. I am so thrilled I found you all, thank goodness for Google!

Jannaw,
Welcome to you. This is a great bunch of people and a lot of hard won and researched knowledge. Glad you found us.
Billye

Hi Billye!

It's been awhile, since I had read some of your previous messages over at OBT (old/original BrainTalk), so forgive me if I've forgotten some things you wrote.

Did you check on possible gluten sensitivity, Vitamin B-12 deficiency, adverse reactions to toxic mold? (including how mold can release toxins &/or heavy metals, into the air, etc., from surfaces that mold is growing on)

I did a quick google check on burning mouth syndrome (BMS), and saw an interesting article, at this link:

http://www.agd.org/consumer/topics/b...mouth/main.asp

Here's a copy & paste of one section from this article, as food for thought:

"What causes BMS [burning mouth syndrome]?

The exact cause of BMS is difficult to determine. In 30 percent of cases it is caused by a variety of existing conditions that affect the oral and systemic health. Some conditions include the onset of menopause, diabetes, and deficiencies in such nutrients as iron, zinc, folate, thiamin, riboflavin, pyridoxine and cobalamin [Vitamin B-12], and complications to cancer therapy (radiation and chemotherapy) .

In 70 percent of cases, no specific diagnosis for the symptoms can be made. BMS symptoms may occur from xerostomia (dry mouth), tongue thrusting, bruxism (teeth grinding), irritating or ill-fitting dentures, and thrush (a common fungal infection characterized by a white discharge). Some research points to nerve disorders and damage; psychological factors, particularly depression and anxiety; allergies; acid reflux; and medications that cause dry mouth. It’s not unusual for a patient suffering from BMS to have more than one cause attributed to the ailment or to have health care providers fail to find any cause at all.

According to research from the American Academy of Family Physicians, about one-third of patients say BMS symptoms appeared shortly after a dental procedure, recent illness or medication course."

If you haven't ruled out all the causes mentioned above, it might be helpful to check on these. What do you think of the above info?

Carol
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com

Carole,
Thanks for your effort and it is good information. Unfortunately, we have ruled out everything in the article. I'm gluten free and take the B12 religiously, regular dentist checkups and he doesn't know why. That's why I posted the article about Burning mouth syndrome. I think mine is caused by the neuropathy I have. I have small fiber sensory neuropathy caused by Sjogren's Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis. I see a good neuro and am going to Mayo in Dec. The Lyrica and Salagen seem to settle it down for a few hours each day. I'm hoping Mayo can find a way to stop or slow the Sjogrens (and burning mouth) when I go.

Thanks for posting.
Billye

and mouthwashes contain triclosan, sodium lauryl sulfate and glycols...and these are irritating to some people.
whether it is the triclosan or the additives... checking out the products you use in your mouth may be a solution.

i have suffered from BMS since 1984. i too went to different doctors and they all shragged it of, but because of diabetes 2, the podiatrist subscribed METANX. i have not started taking it, but ohhh i am so hopefull. Reading you all makes me feel better, because anyone i talk to think i am going crazy.
I am very happy i have found you.Also Lyrica was prescribed by the same doctor, but i tried it once and it made me feel strange so i quit.
These medicines are quite expensive, any idea where i could find a better price pharmacy?
i love you all, thank for happening into my life

Regarding dry mouth: I do not have antibodies for Sjogrens but I do have dry mouth and dry mucous membranes in general. Last time i was at my Rheumatologist, he prescribed a drug called Evoxac. It does help me tremendously and I have not noticed any side effects. I believe it is prescribed solely for the treatment of dryness associated with Sjogrens.

Mouth burning: I have never had burning, but after particularly bad flares of neuropathy (with severe autonomic dysfunction), I have had mouth numbness. It is horribly uncomfortable. It feels like I have been to the dentist and have had lidocaine. At that time, it took about two months to resolve. I still have some degree of numbness in my mouth (feels kind of like a wad of hair is in my mouth at times). I know that sounds kind of gross but that is what it feels like.

Mere

I get this too, but for me it doesn't seem to be part of my PN, it is just that I need some extra B vitamins. My daughter gets this sometimes too, and she doesn't have PN. We just take some Vit B complex for a few days or weeks and it gets better.

Supplementing just one type of B Vit can be problematic, as they are synergistic. If you increase the dose of one vit B, you really need to increase the intake of all the rest otherwise you will cause deficiencies.

hth

raglet