** an article I found that would likely be of interest to this community ** The title is self explanatory. ** "medpage vegan neuropathy" by Kristina Fiore. Thoughts appreciated.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AADE/47120

I started eating vegan in late November of last year. I was in NYC for a family event and a relative who saw I was in pain due to the endless walking suggested I give it a shot. I was finally committed to trying anything reasonable, even if it was difficult.

So I set off on a one month experiment that is still on the move.

Do I feel better? Yes and no.

Overall health- I have not been this healthy in decades, two, but still, decades.

Symptoms- expanding in frequency, location and duration.

It was not what I expected. Yet, at the same time it is possible that it could have been much worse without the change. My glucose readings have been better. I did a few days of 10-12 tests to monitor fluctuations.

I am glad that I chose to try it. I'm not even sure when/if I will go back to a "regular" diet. I have yet to experience the results mentioned from the link, but I feel better overall for trying this.

Jon

Welcome rvp7777.

I have been a vegan for 15 years. When I was dx'd with PN two years ago, I first thought the cause could have been B12 deficiency (I did not take any vitamins). Then, I thought alcohol could be the culprit but that was quickly ruled out. We have since landed on idiopathic aka "unknown". Just to be on the safe side, I now take vitamins and do not consume alcohol. I still do not consume animal products. Does it help the PN? That too is unknown.

The article:

*edited out copyright quote*


Note that pain scores are separated from "neuropathy symptom scores."

I don't understand this part:

"Those on the vegan diet also had significant improvements in neuropathy symptom scores (NTSS-6) not seen in the control group, along with similar changes for quality-of-life scores, but the differences weren't significant at the end of the trial, possibly because of the small number of patients or because of the effect of participating in a study on the control group, Bunner said."

significant improvements...but the differences weren't significant

I hope more studies like this are done. Not a surprise to me that the vegan diet was helpful for neuropathic pain, as research has shown it is across the board for human health, but difficult for most people to buy into this idea, for many reasons I suppose. We have been taught by our government (seriously influenced by dairy and beef industries) from a young age that milk builds strong bones and that meat contains protein that we need. Never mind how sick our population has become on this advice. And animal products taste and smell so good, at least until you have avoided them for a while.

Ron

Sorry! Slipped my mind.

I was raised on animal products like most people so I do not judge others who consume them but I can attest to the absolute lack of appeal after avoiding them.

I don't judge other people, but I judge behavior as wrong, or just not making sense, when people continue eating animal products as a significant part of their diet, when some major studies have shown that it increases the rate of many chronic diseases. (And it's bad for our ailing planet as well.) Then people are surprised when they come down with cancer, heart disease, etc. I'm not immune to this, I know it's tough. I just can't get over shrimp and salmon on occasion. You have salmon with its beneficial Omega 3 fatty acids--does that over-weigh the negative animal protein?
Ron

There is new information out there this week or so
about certain types of tick bites leading
To meat allergies.

Google that for more details. I suspect
some people will be reactive in many ways
now as a result.