I just feel like giving up at this point. I realize that this tingling is all my fault due to my cocaine binge in August. I wanted to be a truck driver, but now it seems impossible with this tingling. It started in my left toes (now its gone, but has moved to my left. My MRI from the hospital was fine (I think I had a transient ischemic attack). My doctor recently took an x-ray of my left leg which was fine and I have an appointment to get a Nerve Conduction Study on Oct,19. The neurologist I went to see doesn't want to treat me because I told him about my cocaine binge thinking that would have helped him diagnose me and treat me (he thinks I'm on drugs, but I don't smoke, drink, and I have been clean of cocaine for four yrs before this incident). The dr at the hospital reffered me to see their neurologist, but he has one bad review online from a patient.

I don't want to wait to long and not get treated and tested. I'm only 28yrs old and i have to face the fact that I might be like this forever. I started taking 5,000 mcgs of b12, but the tingling is still there (it's not in my toes anymore, but in my legs). My mom keeps saying to give it time and maybe it will go away and have faith and to continue to pursue my dreams (easier said than done).

Did you read about the other supplements and diet changes that can help the nerves to heal? There is always hope! Lots of information in the threads.

I have read some of them and will try to be strong. I will read more and try again.

That wouldn't necessarily stop me from meeting the doctor and making my own decision/evaluation. Much depends on exactly what the "bad" review consisted of, the source, and other factors. No-one can please everyone all the time.

Doc

Yep, I agree, READ, READ, READ!

Most all of the help I have gotten has been from my own research, spending hours upon hours reading, following links, etc. I have found help for myself when doctors have not.

I can not imagine life without internet, it's a miracle at your fingertips.

I answered your other similar thread, with supplement suggestions to start with.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...275#post917275

I received your advice from the other forum and I just want to say thank you. I have been looking all over the Internet for stroke forums and there are none that I can find that are responsive. I just wonder do people heal from ischemic attacks???? Since it was ischemic, I now realize that I may have this tingling for the rest of my life ( sadly, dead brain cells don't heal). I know my life isn't over, but it just feels like the beginning of the end. Anyways, this is one of the best forums I ever seen for help and response. This forum should be featured in a health magazine. The only regret I have now is that I went to the hospital four days later because I had no knowledge of TIA and I was just to out of it to call for help. If I would have got help sooner then maybe I could have had early intervention and thus, no tingling. My life feels like its over, just that quick.

Gabapentin is the only thing I've seen or heard of that actually addresses the stinging. It does for me anyway. It's also called Neurontin. You'll still be able to drive a truck. It won't make driving easier, but it won't knock you out like an opiate would. I would definitely ask about getting some of that as soon as you can. It's processed through the kidneys, so it works fast (if it indeed works for you), and it doesn't mess with your liver like most of the other stuff does over time.

Trucks drivers must drug test, and I am not sure if neurontin would be an acceptable substance. It can cause some blurring of vision. It has with me, but not enough to affect my driving, which is infrequent and only for short distances.

Opiates would be out of the question for a driver, but if pain is a major issue and neurontin doesn't work, they are effective.
Neurontin can be effective for the shocks and tingling, I notice if I miss a dose, so it must be doing something.

I have read several different articles that say pain is usually severely under treated if a doctor has any idea that a patient has used drugs in the past. The puritannical idea persists that the patient deserves to suffer. Since this information (your cocaine binge) is so fundamental to your case that you must reveal it, I hope you find a doctor willing to overcome his prejudices.

I don't know the specific laws/regulations regarding legitimate patients under a doctors care who are taking medication as prescribed, and pass required driving tests.

Truck drivers on opioids

Also Google: chronic opioid therapy driving

The "official" gov't report dismisses all studies out of hand, and does not bode well, yet the concluding paragraph, On the Limitations of this Evidence Report admits:
AFAIK, Lyrica is a contolled substance, but gabapentin is not.

I think the matter would be something for a patient to check out with the appropriate authorities and consultation with their doctors.

Doc