Hello,

Does any doctor EVER say that the neuropathy could be surgically induced?

Or saying idiopathic is just easier for everyone but the patient?

TIA

Not sure about that. There are people here who believe it is from surgery but I don't know if a doctor told them that or would admit it. Hope you get your answers!

It really all depends on whether you mean a surgery directly related to the spine or nerves...or if you just mean surgery in general.

Of course surgery on the spine can cause neuropathy if they damage the ganglia in any way.

There is a way surgery in general can also cause neuropathy. That is if the neuropathy is autoimmune based. Surgery can trigger a dormant autoimmune disease and set it into motion...thus setting the neuropathy into motion.

There are many things that can trigger an autoimmune disease to become active...surgery, trauma, viral or bacterial infections, stress, vaccine, or anything else that causes an immune mediated reaction.

I for sure know my PN came from ankle surgery. No question in my mind. ginnie

Does anyone ever get immunotherapy then?

We have a member who developed severe pain in his upper back after several endoscopic upper GI tests etc.

Here is his member ID...
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/member.php?u=38456

To the best of my current knowledge he only gets relief from RX drug therapy for symptom relief. He hasn't posted in while.

Sometimes if the dorsal roots have been damaged (as I mentioned before) and if you do not have the inherent genetic capability to repair it, the symptoms are permanent.

In the 80's after my DX with auto immune problems from mayo clinic. I did engage in an experimental drug program with autoimmuno therapy called DNCB.( auto immunosupressive agent) It more or less is chemo therapy in a different form. Since my issues have a genetic component, I did this in case my children would ever present with the same problems. I was in this program for 10 years, even taught and talked to second and third years medical students. This was at Columbia university medical center, only one of three in the US that tried this therapy.
While involved with the therapy, my body did stop attacking itself and I did stay healthier. The trouble was, my folks needed me too during their decline, so I left the program with regrets. I had intended to do this for a life time, just for the sake of research.
Anyway these new approaches are being tried for auto immune conditions. It is just a question on finding out where and who are doing the trials.
The treatment I had, was difficult to put it mildly, and I wonder now if it was worth doing it, as the intended results for remission didn't happen. I just developed more auto immune problems.

I do think the more people that try these therapies, the better it is for people who follow after us. I do not have regrets regarding this, as those years are on file, with the results for future generations. Maybe it will help.

Ginnie