This is a great group!

Sue - yes, I've been trying to read everything I can get my hands on, not only for information but it sorta helps with the fear part. Somehow knowing about this adds just that smidgen of control that the pain isn't this monster and I'm still myself.

Cyclelops - I am humbled by so much time that you spent answering me, and so much information. I read it all and will keep it all in mind as I receive more info (maybe...) from my doctor.

glenntaj - I read all the articles you posted, and then some on the same site as the first few, and am really wondering about this glucose tolerance relative to myself. I think the dr. didn't think I was diabetic just by looking! I am not overweight and present no symptoms of classic diabetes so "nah, she's not diabetic". Then my blood test reading came back 89, so that's that. I will ask him about the test next time I see him.

daniella - thank you, the support from this group is amazing. The wondering about "where next?" can really get to a person. I'm trying to do as you say and live for today but one thing that's really on my mind is that I'm trying to work on my PhD dissertation right now and boy, this PN really messes with the concentration!

Anyway, thanks to all and to those who answered before you guys.

Hladna

Just one point to add, Hladna, when so much has already been said. We can help you best if you can write a brief outline of your health and your symptoms--when they began and how they developed, as well as your results from tests. Please make sure every time you leave a doctor's office, or a radiology or other diagnostics place, that you ask for copies of ALL results or films. Then the best thing for you to do is keep them in a spreadsheet. That way YOU own them, and anytime you decide to see a new doctor, you can bring them wtih you.

And if you post your history to us, in a short format, with the tests (The labs can be uploaded to lizajane.org and then we can see them through a link.--for instance, here's a link to my thyroid test results, just so you can see:
http://www.lizajane.org/PN/Users/LizaJane/lizajane's thyroids.xls

Good luck in finding answers!

I can only add a good diet & supplements may help the healing process, in the stickies " Wings 42 " has excellent info' in his threads called " A program to heal nerve damage and reduce PN symptoms " its on this page.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...p?t=177&page=2
Also all about B12;
Rose's website http://roseannster.googlepages.com/home

Brian

Hladna. Since the PN is only in your hands, why hasn't the doctor hypothesized that it might be caused by carpal tunnel syndrome? I am a physical therapist, not a doctor, but that seems so obvious to me, since it didn't start in your feet! What you are now feeling in one foot could be totally unrelated. Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause your hand symptoms, and the best thing about it (if this is the cause) is that it is somewhat treatable. I am wondering about your neuro, but perhaps that is unfair since I don't know the whole thing. But I would ask him that. A nerve conduction study would diagnose this. And you should have more that a few seconds with him. You have a very significant problem! And he should have done a nerve conduction test immediately! And he shouldn't be making you feel like a hypochondriac or that you shouldn't ask questions. I feel so bad for you. Get assertive! You deserve it! Or get another opinion. And you should be getting significant help with your pain, too. I don't remember if you said you were getting pain meds in an earlier post. There are a lot of different ones, and some work best for one person while others work best for someone else.

Well, the way it was presented to me, it's probably not carpal tunnel because it involves my pinkie in addition to the other fingers and has crawled up to my elbow and on two occasions it was hurting into my bicep. Something about that's a different nerve route than the one that gives carpal tunnel.

Dunno. I'm waiting for my EMG on Friday the 1st. And yes, I'm on Neurontin which has stopped the major attacks and made the daily pain liveable. Initial bloodwork looks okay except for slight anemia. I just took a second round of bloodwork that included thyroid, B12, and some other stuff, so we'll see about that.

When I get assertive, not nasty or aggressive, they still act like I'm the stupid layperson and they're the (drumroll please...) Doctor. Ah well. I'm trying to remember that it's the answers that matter, not the personality of the doctor. He seems confident that we'll find the answer, and I'm able to be patient at least through these initial tests and stuff to see what the results say. Then I can get mean (maniacal laughter... )

I really appreciate you and everyone else answering. People here (at home) are trying to understand but are offering their own "medical" opinions

Hladna

By my last statement in my last post I didn't mean I minded the opinions of the posters here on this board!!!! I was trying to say it was family and friends who don't really know anything about this who were driving me crazy!! Sorry!!

Hladna