I've had the tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, twitches, and buzzing sensations for the past 3 months. But I don't really have pain, it's just uncomfortable, but not enough to prevent a good sleep. How long until the real pain comes?

You may not ever have pain, not everyone with neuropathy does. I have had neuropathy for almost 6 years and have tingling, numbness and weakness but no pain.

I'm crossing my fingers. How bad has your muscle weakness gotten? My legs feel a bit like jello, locked knee sensation.

There is true muscle weakness and percieved weakness. One you just feel and the other is a measurable weakness. Totally different.

I have full strength in all muscles but do feel the percieved weakness issue in the legs and hands once and a while.

My neuropathy is hereditary and I had symptoms of poor coordination, odd gait, and clumsiness since childhood. Numbness started in my toes in my early 30's. Real muscle weakness was becoming a problem in my late 40's, but I had been unusually strong for a woman, I am 6'2", and large boned. Now at 53 I cannot move my toes, can barely move my ankles, have lost a lot of strength in my hands and arms, all this corroborated by physical therapy.

It has been a slow process, for me the axons have died off, which eventually affects the muscles and circulation. My skin biopsy shows NO small nerve fibers in the feet and lower legs and a deteriorating process even at hip level. This is in addition to large fiber neuropathy which weakens the muscles. If PN causes muscle atrophy it is normally a slow process. Tendonitis can do it overnight as I found out in the past since I also have a history of pinched nerves which flare up sometimes. My hands and arms are useless then.

I have no feeling below my knees, no temperature, needles, nothing.

As to pain, I had mild pain for years which I attributed to varicose veins. It started to get worse in my mid 40's, with standing and going up steps becoming a problem. Then sharp shooting pains in my legs together with the burning, electrical zap, and feelings of furry things running around on me. Now the pain is quite severe and controlled by medication enough for me to be somewhat active and able to sleep.

I would think sudden muscle weakness was an indicator of a different problem.

I agree with Suzanne that "sudden muscle weakness was an indicator of different problem".

Legs that feel like jello? I think that could be a lumbar disc problem. Should get that spinal area checked out completely.

I agree with Mrs D - get it checked out asap. My friend had Corda Equina and was nearly paralysed from the waist down - the neurosurgeon got to her just in time.

Mine started out as a cold wet tingle in my feet and legs although I do have Rheumatoid Arthritis so it was confusing. It graduated to an intense burning pain in both legs and arms. I often wonder if mine relates to my ongoing lumbar problems but as it affects my hands and arms as well as my legs my rheumatologist says it's too diffuse. Over the past few weeks most of the pain has gone out of my hands and feet apart from a nasty ache on the inside of each ankle. I don't take any medication for it now having tried three. The pain was awful but I think I'd swap it for the pain in my jaw and mouth just now as this feels much closer to my brain. Mine is thought to be immune mediated. If yours is mechanical then it's important to get it checked out as soon as possible to find and tackle the cause. Mat

Cauda Equina would show muscle weakness and/or numbness in the saddle area. There would probably be trouble emptying your bladder and/or loss of **** sphincter tone which is a test that, while unpleasant, takes only a few seconds from any doctor.

If your legs "feel" like jello you can do some simple strength and provoctaive tests at home while waiting to see your doctors.

- Can you stand on your toes?
- Can you stand on your heels?
- 10 second step test
- Babinski sign

I'm like northerngal (though not a gal): numbness and tingling that started in my right thumb and eventually progressed to fingers and hands of both arms, then the forearms and sometimes all the way to the middle of my back. I also have it in my feet but less noticeably. No pain.