I have been diagnosed with mall fiber neuropathy....the burning has involved feet at times up to thighs, fingers, and face...and autonomic findings

I tend to have what I call 'flares' that can last weeks or longer where symptoms worsen and then calm down again.

Has anyone ever taken prednisone for flares, and has it helped.

Also...with flares my legs will feel 'clumsy' and weak and slow....and I almost get a foot drop on L side (can't dorsiflex foot well)...but when calms down...everything improves (though always a new baseline with slight decrease in function and sensation)

thanks

I take inhaled steroids for COPD and they may have GIVEN me neuropathy, if not they definitely make it worse. On occasion I have used the inhaler and felt a sensation travel down my leg and end in burning foot pain.

judi

Steroids are sometimes used for certain types of PN...like cases caused by autoimmune disease. IF the PN is from inflammation, then steroids can help to reduce the inflammation and the associated symptoms. It all depends on what is causing your PN, as for the best treatment.

That said, even PN from AI disease may not respond to steroids or other immune suppression. There is only a small window of opportunity to treat inflammation to the ganglia from AI disease, before it becomes scar tissue and thus permanently damaged.

I don't believe steroids is a first line treatment for most PN cases.