Just wondering if anyone on here has a situation where when you have "flares" of burning/hurting feet from small fiber neuropathy that you ALSO consistently have bladder issues that coincide with it? What I mean is whenever my feet start their burning/discomfort I virtually always have my bladder or urinary tract go haywire -- urgency but yet difficulty going, etc. The thing of it is, is the two are tied at the hip it seems and they might go days or weeks if I'm lucky with not bothering me much and then bam, they BOTH just crank up.

Another thing I think I've noticed that often joins them is a bloating feeling. My sfn has been diagnosed as idiopathic, but I'm just still searching for an answer.

So I guess ultimately I'm wondering if anyone might have any insight why things seem to be fine or pretty good for a while and then the feet start up and are always joined by the bladder and often the bloating issues. Could this possibly point to some sort of cause that has been overlooked?

Thanks for any thoughts on this. Been tested for celiac twice and it was negative. Doctors are suspicious of an autoimmune issue, but they are sticking with idiopathic currently.

Sounds like you may have an autonomic neuropathy issue...which is a component of PN.

Autonomic neuropathy can include BP and heart rate issues as well as difficulty initiating urination, urine retention, and GI problems like gastropareis (delayed emptying--which caused bloating, discomfort, nausea, etc). It can even cause vasospasms, sexual dysfunction, respiratory problems (central apnea), and sweating dysfunction.

You might want to consider autonomic testing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysautonomia

Thanks, and I think you are right about some autonomic involvement. I guess I was just wondering if the pattern related to the symptoms might point towards something like a particular underlying cause, i.e. more towards an autoimmune disease.

Any autoimmune disease that affects autonomic function or PN can present with your symptoms. But there are also other causes of autonomic dysfunction & PN, like diabetes. Actually, diabetes is more common to cause PN and dysautonomia then autoimmune disease.

Have you had your blood glucose checked? What about a glucose tolerance test (the long one)?

Do you have any other odd symptoms that might point in a direction of a particular autoimmune disease...like malar rash, joint pain, profound fatigue, dry mouth or eyes, joint redness or swelling, etc?

Celiac is just one test but being sensitive to gluten is very common, can't test that. I do not eat gluten. Autonomic neuropathy can include digestive problems for sure. I use diet ( LOW carbs/sugar) with high nutrients and the best supplements and my Infrared dome and FIR pad to help microcirculation for the nerves.

over the last few years. A1Cs typically run about 5.2-5.4; fastings tend to be from 90s to as high as one hundred and teens, but usually a little over 100. So I know I have had off and on pre-diabetic readings over the years for those, but also some in the higher normal area too. Glucose tolerance tests have shown that I'm actually a little on the low side of things at the end of the test (the third hour). Have also had a moderate positive ANA on more than one occasion.

Wish I could piece all this together...if it's possible.

I also get very bad bloating. Its a constant complaint of mine. Interesting that you mentioned that.

what_testing_have_you_had_for_celiac-----the_testing_has_a_hi_false_neg_rate.---even_when_all_tests_are_run.___keep_a_food_diary._ __good_luck.

I ran across this rare genetic condition today online.

I am not saying you have this, but your symptoms are
similar to some of the list presented on this site:

http://ulf.org/adrenomyeloneuropathy-amn

Since it only occurs in males, and may appear in adulthood,
I think you should read it and see if it warrants a visit to the
doctor for the blood testing explained on the site.

Like many genetic conditions, it may not include all the symptoms listed, but being male is one criterion that is not changeable.
Men with the peripheral spinal cord involvement only, would have the peripheral symptoms mostly. And because this is not common most doctors are unaware of it. (In my case I have an uncommon problem(angioedema) too, and have lived with it all my life with no diagnosis until now).

I wonder if you have had an MRI of the brain, to rule out MS or to see if you have any lesions there?

When you say "bloating" do you mean GI only? Or do you have swelling elsewhere in the body? Do you take an ACE inhibitor for blood pressure? Lisinopril esp can cause a burning bladder because it is excreted whole in the urine. ACE inhibitors raise bradykinin and that causes tissue swelling which will put pressure on nerves. There is an acquired angioedema (ACE inhibitors) and an hereditary form, you can have that is genetic. People who have the hereditary form, have low levels of the enzyme that removes bradykinin from the body. When bradykinin rises swelling and pain results.

--being a bit on the low side at the three hour point of a glucose tolerance test may point to reactive hypoglycemia, which is a fairly common situation in those who are pre-diabetic/insulin resistant--the body is still able to produce a surge of insulin to drive glucose past this resistance into the tissues and keep blood sugar levels from rising too high, but the surge often results in there being too much insulin a few hours on and blood sugar may drop into the 60's/70's before the surge subsides and glucose levels normalize in hours 4-5.

This is why I have often recommended that people get a 5-hour glucose tolerance test with starting glucose AND insulin levels drawn and then similar levels drawn every half-hour after the drink out to 5 hours. Yes, one feels like a pincushion, and it is boring (bring a book or ipod), but the pattern of glucose and insulin readings together over time is often far more illuminating than the glucose readings alone.

It has also become more evident that neuropathy, particularly small-fiber types, can occur in people with impaired glucose tolerance well before frank diabetes has been diagnosed. I've posted a number of times with lists of references from medical journals detailing this--searching here for "impaired glucose tolerance neuropathy" with my name can lead you to these if you are interested.