The bike may make problems worse for you. I found that bikes, both recumbant and vertical and the calf machines at the gym
made my PN much worse or invoked a flare.

So you may find the same....please start at short intervals, like 5-10 minutes only with little resistance. If you have any compression anywhere, movement of the ankle may increase it.

Also I forgot ....did you have heavy metal screening? Accidental ingestion of heavy metals can cause a rapid PN. Arsenic is the most common, but mercury and/or cadmium are also potential culprits.

I've been doing 20 minutes at a time on the bike. The shoes and socks are a little bothersome but the actual cycling hasn't caused problems. I get a noticeable flare afterwards from the activity, but I feel generally better the rest of the day. The increased blood flow and oxygen seem to be helping.

I still haven't been tested for heavy metals, but after my nerve conduction study I'll be pushing for further testing based on the results. Me and the neurologist are still working things out and building trust. He's been very responsive to my emails but obviously isnt as interested in my case as I am. I'm my own advocate at this point.

The best thing we can all do for ourselves is to be our own advocates. Your right our doctors have to divide themselves between many patients. We only have to research info for ourselves.
I've taken info from people on this site to my doctor and think I've given him some new info.

Thank goodness, he is receptive!
Hopeful

Thought of the day.

I can't think of any other injury, illness, or disease in which you can have the best day and worst day of the month all in the same day. This disease is truly a mind trip. I'll use this bit of insight to get me through the rough patches. I'm sure everybody who's been through this already knows that sometimes you just have to get through the bad days (flares) and tomorrow will be brighter.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, we can't be discouraged when tomorrow is worse than today. Just one of the many lessons PN has taught me. I hope one day I can get through this and use what I have learned to improve myself as a person.

I am in total agreement with your thoughts for the day IH8PN. Very well said!

2 weeks since my last update and there is quite a bit of information to add. So much so that I hope I'm not leaving anything out.

First and foremost the most important information to report is the results from my nerve conduction study. Drum roll please..... The results showed the observable nerves in my legs were normal, which I pretty much expected with small fiber symptoms. It was nice to rule out large fiber involvement and maybe something more ominous. But, wait it gets better..... The study also showed that I have Ulnar Neuropathy! (elbow) That's right, I have nerve damage where I least expected it and have very little discomfort. I've noticed positional numbness in my left hand, but I always thought it was a circulation problem due to my arm being in weird positions. Go figure, I have no pain where I have obvious nerve damage and excruciating pain where the are no signs of nerve damage (yet).

So my doctor emailed me the results and at the end of the email he mentioned that if I was interested in a skin biopsy he would talk to a colleague about having one done. I was very impressed that he offered a skin biopsy without me having to ask. Not only that, but the fact he had to ask a colleague about it showed he was willing to go out of his way to have one done! This is the first time since I developed this awful pain that a doctor has impressed me with their interest in helping me. Maybe I'm just used to doctors shrugging me off so far and I'm easily inpressed.

As far as my physical condition there are also changes to report. I'll start with the good. The burning, freezing, and skin sensitivity are noticeable less. Far from gone but I'll take any relief I can get. Not sure if it's the medication, vitamins, healing, or a combination of all 3. I've also noticed I'm getting some normal feel in my feet back on occasion. The past few months the sensations in my feet were so altered that even carpet felt like walking on steel wool. I've noticed the softness of the carpet coming back in short bursts. I was also able to do a doctors appointment, shopping, and a few errands around the house which required me to be on my feet for extended periods of time. Although uncomfortable and requiring the use of sandals, it was something I couldn't have accomplished a few weeks back. I definitely payed for it at the end of the day with sore feet, but it was mentally rewarding to accomplish physical tasks. I also can't remember the last time I felt an electric shock in my body!

Unfortunately I still get altered sensations, aching feet, and the feeling of walking of rocks which vary in intensity day to day and with different foot wear. I can't say for sure any of those symptoms have lessened, if so it's not by much. Definitely not worse, but maybe I'm adapting better? I've even felt a little better at work which is the one time I don't have control over how much I exert myself, which is physically and mentally difficult at times.

I'm no longer convinced alcohol is the cause of my neuropathy symptoms. Maybe it played a part, and I'm just happy I have been able to seriously cut back on my drinking. I've learned that health is important and fragile. Life is also short. With that being said I've decided I'm going to allow myself to drink socially and in serious moderation. I had a few beers last weekend and don't feel guilty because I haven't touched it since. I proved to myself that I can show restraint with alcohol and have learned just how toxic it can be to bodily systems. (plus even in small amounts it really helps with the pain). I'm still trying to eat healthier, get more exercise, and give my body a chance to heal and thrive. Obviously I will no longer be counting sober days.

-146 days since Left foot symptoms
-99 days since right foot symptoms
-74 days on Nortiptyline (30mg)
-68 days on Supplements
-28 days on gabapentin (600mg x 3)

Positive news to report!

First of all I have learned so much about myself and PN in such a short period of time thanks to the members of this board. Less than 3 months ago I was seriously considering suicide. I was in so much pain in such a short period of time with constantly changing and unexplained pain. Truthfully if things stayed on that path I wouldn't have wanted to live. If you kept up with this thread you'd have an idea of what I've been going through.

I wish I could pinpoint what has helped the most but it's been such a shotgun approach to improvement and once again it's all been stated before. But what I haven't discussed much is my improvement. The past 3 weeks have been somewhat of a revelation and it's only after stringing together multiple "good days" that I've truly been able to evaluate my improvement.

I went from not even being able to be on my feet enough to go grocery shopping, too several occasions in which I have left my house to run errands and spend quality time with my family. Not without some discomfort, but the pain was in the back of my mind rather than at the fore front.

The burning/cold sensations which caused severe psychological distress is now felt maybe 1-2 times per week and relatively mild compared to before. The achiness in my feet has subsided enough that I can do chores around the house and make it through work without shedding tears.

The feeling of on sandpaper and steel wool has subsided enough that I'm starting to feel the carpet beneath my feet and I can feel the cotton in my socks.

The feeling of my "rawness" on the soles of my feet is felt much less and comes less often and less severe with the occasional exertional flare up.

The hypersensitivity in my feet and lower legs is still present but to a much lesser extent that sometimes if I'm preoccupied I can go hours without giving it much notice.

I've had maybe 2-3 instances of "electric shocks" in the past month which is once again much less than before.

I'm still bothered by the sensation of walking on rocks or glass in my toes on the right foot and ball of the left foot, but it is less intense if I had to give it an honest assessment.

By no means am I cured, nor has any symptom completely been relieved. What I can say is that I have a significant and noticeable decrease in all symptoms. I'll get a brief flare for a few hours here and there, usually with exertion and it'll cause some anxiety. I just remind myself to stay calm and weather the storm until it subsides. And once the flare passes I start feeling like I'm healing.

In my estimation I still have a long way to go in this journey with PN. And maybe I'll never be completely healed, but I feel like I'm on the right track towards getting my life back. The people on this board who have followed my journey and responded with advice and encouragement deserve some of the credit for me not ending my life when things were at their worst. And this board deserves 100% of the credit for giving me the tools to make educated and informed choices about treating my body right, mentally coping with the burden of chronic neuropathy pain, and providing me with inspiration that under the right circumstances I can get better. I can't say enough about how much of a mental boost this place has provided when things seemed so bleak.

I will continue to track my journey and progress in this thread. I hope it stays positive but am aware that it can go south again at any time. I am thankful with each step I can take without being in excruciating pain and reminded of the fragile nature of the human body with each flare up.

-160 days since Left foot symptoms
-113 days since right foot symptoms
-88 days on Nortiptyline (30mg)
-82 days on Supplements
-42 days on gabapentin (600mg x 3)

Hi,
I'm so happy that you are feeling better! I love to hear good reports. They can be so uplifting for everyone here. I'm glad your getting to spend time with your family, it is so important to our well being!

I wish you many more days like this. If it flares up again, now you know you can make it through and there will be more good days to come!

I agree, it is good to hear you have improved, especially from possible suicide, which i understand, to now sounding so positive!! Congratualtions!! I am hopeful one day I will share a report like this..

excellant news! keep doing what you are doing to provide the optimal conditions necessary to heal.