Hi guys, I've been browsing along the forums for a couple of days and I figured I should get involved. As it stands right now I have (potentially) neuropathy with (at this point) unknown cause in my feet and possibly my hands. I'm just going to throw a lot of information down in hopes you guys can help me make of it what you will...

I am a 19 year old male. I have been tested and have normal results in/with:

-B12
-Thyroid
-Diabetes
-Lyme Diasease

MRI:
-C-Spine
-Brain
-Lower Back

I've also had a normal EMG.

Currently I'm awaiting the results of this test from Athena Diagnostics. My Neuro says it should help, but I can only hope.

Inititally, my feet felt like they were tingling a bit and I felt the same in my pinky and index finger in each hand. This started in mid January and was on and off. I saw a neuro at home the 2nd week of March who told me I was fine and not to worry.

In the third week of March, my foot pain turned into a burning sensation. It was then while back at school that I saw a second neurologist. She put me on Gabapentin. I started on 100mg 3 times a day and quickly moved up to 300 3 times a day. Although, to be honest I'm not sure if I notice any changes.

This all brings us to present day. While awaiting the Athena test, no one quite knows what's wrong with me although I feel like I'm starting to feel something in my calves. Would this be too soon for the spread? I'm going to assume no. (I must note that to this point all my sensations have been symetrical...is that odd?)

I also feel like I have something interesting to ask as well as note. Is neuropathy ever caused by stress? I looked online and didn't find much, but I ask only because I had what I thought was a high risk HIV exposure (it wasn't) and I started doing a lot of reading online about HIV before I got any of my symptoms. I didn't understand that PN was a symptom of late stage HIV/AIDS and I thought that my foot feelings were that. I obsessed over having HIV for 2 straight months.

Now I've since been tested (and I'm fine!) but it my feeling that maybe I caused these problems by thinking about them too much. I mean it's just too strange to me that I never had these problems at all and then I thought I had something that caused them and all of a sudden I got them for real. Strange thing is, I haven't been scared of HIV for weeks yet my problems persist.

I just don't know what to do. It's awful having these symptoms period, but having them so young is the worst. I look forward to any advice.

Sorry if this was confusing.

Oh, I have been considering purchasing some B-12 online through GNC to take. Which do you guys recommend and how much should I take?

but one thing you should explore is Gluten intolerance/Celiac.

This causes neuropathy in some people. My son gets it in his hands (he plays guitar/bass) at times. But not his feet. So he tries to follow GF diet as much as possible and it helps. (he is young and he does fall off the wagon sometimes).

We have a gluten board here with helpful people and posts (in the stickies) on how to have it tested.

Do your symptoms come and go?

Low blood sugar will also cause this.. it follows consumption of high sugared drinks and food.

A reputable brand of B12, in at least 1000 mcg dose. Methylcobalamin is even better than the usual. Jarrow is one many use, but several other reputable brands exist.

Many order online, and iherb.com is one popular source.

rose

Thanks Guys,

First off, MrsD- Thanks for your swift reply. As for my symptoms coming and going, they don't really come and go that much, but they seem to work almost the opposite of a lot of Neuropathy. Like right now, they are worse in the morning and get better as the day goes on.

And Rose, thanks for the b12 rec.

I'm still having trouble coming to terms with my symptoms. I just find it so odd that I was worried about getting Peripheral Neuropathy, something I'd never heard of before in my life, and then--Boom! I got it. I'm hoping it's some deep rooted anxiety. But at the same time, it seems to be creeping up my legs. Is there any timeframe for how long that should take?

Also, is it safe to just start taking B12?

Yeah, take the B-12. Can't hurt you and might help. I just started taking it last week. Gives me lots of energy and I see a teeny bit of improvement. Tomorrow I start taking Fish oil also. I got all the information off of this boards. Mrs. D., Rose and others know QUITE A BIT!!!

I don't believe stress causes symptoms, but stress can make them worse.

I bought my B-12 from iherb and it's the methyl B. Very cheap!!!

Take care, keep us posted.

Melody

Okay, great! I just bought 1000mcg bottle..I figure that should be enough.

Hi! I hope you get some answers soon. But with respect to your questions about stress: Stress can make anything feel worse -- that doesn't mean it caused it. Be careful not to fall into the "blame the patient" pattern.

That said, my whatever-it-is gives me Raynaud's symptoms in my hands and feet, but not from cold. It is usually provoked by too much exercise -- or getting upset. Like, if I cry, my fingers turn blue. How's that for weird? Meds help, but so does self-hypnosis and other relaxation techniques, particularly if it was set off by upset rather than exercise.

I hope this helps. In any event, keep talking to people, and try any mode of treatment that seems plausible and isn't dangerous. Just do it one at a time, so you can tell what works. And keep a journal to document symptoms; that's very helpful in diagnosing