I was on holidays for almost 2 months in southern Europe. I just came back to winter in Sydney. Everyday we'd sightsee for hours and I would walk all day in the sun. Then on the days we didn't do that we would go to the beach. For 2 months I had what seemed a complete remission of my PN, and I am wondering if the sunshine was the reason.

The last 10 days I have been in Sydney and the PN has come back the way it was before I left. If the sun is responsible than maybe the Vit D tablets I've been on are not helping me in the same way.

I just find this very odd.

Aussie

Sunshine gives you Vit D. Perhaps you are low in vit D and this is helping you. Vit D helps with pain. Maybe your vit D isn't a good one? Are you taking D3?

Plus, who is not emotionally happier with the sun shining compared to rain?

Also, were you perhaps moving around more than you normally do??? I have found the more I sit around and "baby" my feet, the more they actually hurt. The more I do and exercise the less they hurt.

Stacy makes some excellent points. Check your vitamin D and make sure it's D3 and not D2.

Neuropathy and Vitamin D

Happiness/joy, excitement, anticipation, exercise... can all stimulate endorphin production.

Laughter/joy (laughter also stimulates endorphins) have been part of my pain regimen for years now. I try to laugh for 20 minutes/day (twice whenever possible).

Doc

Bahhahaha! Dr you just made me laugh when I picture you tickling yourself twice a day!!

It is true. Attitude is everything. I mean EVERYTHING in life. I tend to be more down in the winter. I am NOT someone who likes to go out when its cold, dark, dreary. I NEED sunshine. I use to live in a house where everything was WHITE. White walls, white cabinets, white trim..everyone would say why dont you pain, add color to your life. But I miss that white. It was bright, happy, cheery. The house I live in now is by the forest, with trees blocking the sunshine from lighting the house up. I have to have a light on at ALL times of the day. It's depressing. I LOVE the house but the sun doesnt shine in the windows.

Those endorphines really do help, and while I HATE to exercise, I LOVE how I feel after I am done, and NOTHING beats a bright sunshiny day.

I had the same experience as you...winter I go to florida for a month and stay with my mom. I told hubby when we got back..didnt it seem like I had less pain the whole time we were in Florida? He said ya you difinately felt better there.

The sun, the people, the more exercise walking to see those sunsets on the beach, everything just made life better...in florida.

Maybe you just put it (pain/pn) out of your mind during your trip. Distraction is the best pain medicine.

Toons, kiddo... TOONS! (and screwball comedies)

Yeah, but... Florida‽ Too muggy—too buggy. I'll take the SW...

Doc

The trip from Oz toEurope is a massive journey. It was just about 36 hours in total flying time including a layover, taxi ride, and so forth. That's exhausting, and then I had bad jet lag for about a week. Whilst I enjoyed my trip immensely the last 3 weeks went by so slow and I was very homesick. So distraction/enjoyment and so forth only lasted so long. I just can't even explain it, there was a complete abating of my PN. Everyday i was wondering what was going on?? It had to be linked to all the sunshine.

As far as endorphins, I exercise daily on my treadmill including Pilates at home so the exercise that I was getting is not much different to my exercise at home.

I am vitamin D deficient (like so many people) and have been on D3 for a long time. I am just hypothesising that the direct sunshine might be more beneficial to autoimmune PN rather than the tablets.

That's cool. We were just hypothesizing what else might explain it. As always, YMMV.

Doc

I believe sunshine helps PN. I live in Florida, and try to get outside everyday. I also have some auto immune diseases, and moved here for just that reason.
I took a form of therapy called Photo chemotherapy, which is just masses of ultra violet light. This helped to put my auto immune disease into remission, for long periods of time. I was in a trial study that used this as part of the therapy.
I lived up north in the cold regions and since my move south to a warmer climate I do better. It has more than Vit.D to aid you. In my case the sunshine is a help. Ask your doctor about it, he may have some ideas for you involving artificial light in the home. ginnie

Dr. Smith, I am from Florida, and a lot of retirees are coming here for the weather.