[melon]

I had PT tell me I didn't have PN today just because I could tell the difference between a blunt and sharp pencil with my eyes closed .. would someone like to humourme and explain to me why that is or isn't possible ?

melon

[canagirl]

I can tell the diff and I have sfn

[glenntaj]

--that's any sort of objective criteria at all.

It's certainly possible to have types of neuropathy that would enable you to tell them apart--you may have neuropathy involving other nerves than the ones that distinguish between mechanical touch stimuli (which is only one type of sensory nerve).

I've never had anything problematic with my mechanical touch receptors, but I certainly had a documented small-fiber neuropathy. It was my pain and temperature receptors that were damaged.

I wouldn't think a PT would be much of an expert on neuropathy anyway.

[mrsD]

There are 4 types of afferent fibers in the periphery... any one or several, may be affected, and all people differ.

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/cv.html

Each has a different function.

[melon]

Originally Posted by mrsD

There are 4 types of afferent fibers in the periphery... any one or several, may be affected, and all people differ.

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/cv.html

Each has a different function.

Thanks everyone.

I haven't even had that or a nerve conduction test , and my muscles do not respond at all to rehab i.e. the joints just get worse because of the added strain caused by lack of response . It seems now also after a recent PT exam I have Hyper mobility Syndrome too .

My feet too are swollen constantly and purplish which I am trying to argue is possible PN , while my shrink / doc say otherwise because I'm not weight bearing ( I am disabled ) and because of the fact they think I have delusional disorder / belief of Ehlers Danlos( look up DSM 5 - long stry ) .

With this new PT evidence however that can no longer be the case as HSM/JSM is an underlying feature of EDS and by some considered the same. In meantime I'm tying to find any excuse I can to show I have pn so I can prove that they rehab they 're trying to force me to do as inpatient would not only having no effect ,because of unresponsive muscle , but also be dangerous due to the added strain.

[Healthgirl]

I don't see how a physical therapist is qualified to determine if someone has neuropathy or not.
I have neuropathy all over my body, even my face. I can feel everything that is touching me and even things that aren't touching me
Seriously, my biopsy shows significant damage, but I can feel every object being poked at me every time. The only thing I have an issue with is that sometimes cold feels like hot and vice versa.

When the doctors first thought that my neuropathy was due to cervical herniated disks and sent me for PT, it made me much worse. My muscles were in spasm and the exercises were not helpful at all. In fact, they exacerbated my issues every time I went. It was later figured out as the neuropathy spread down my legs that it wasn't due to herniated disks so I stopped even thinking about therapy and I do what I can do at home.

When I was in the hospital at Columbia Pres, the physical therapist and occupational therapists evaluated me and didn't recommend pt because they could clearly see that I could not move in certain ways with out causing terrible flares of pain.

[Healthgirl]

Do you think your symptoms are consistent with this?

Do yo have erythromelalgia? I came across some info on swelling/ pain in the extremities that comes along with neuropathy just yesterday.

http://www.livingwitherythromelalgia...context=latest

http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org...198-1/abstract

http://archderm.jamanetwork.com/arti...ticleid=479530

[melon]

Originally Posted by Healthgirl

Do you think your symptoms are consistent with this?

Do yo have erythromelalgia? I came across some info on swelling/ pain in the extremities that comes along with neuropathy just yesterday.

http://www.livingwitherythromelalgia...context=latest

http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org...198-1/abstract

http://archderm.jamanetwork.com/arti...ticleid=479530

I have never been tested but the pics , description all match.

[melon]

Originally Posted by Healthgirl

Do you think your symptoms are consistent with this?

Do yo have erythromelalgia? I came across some info on swelling/ pain in the extremities that comes along with neuropathy just yesterday.

http://www.livingwitherythromelalgia...context=latest

http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org...198-1/abstract

http://archderm.jamanetwork.com/arti...ticleid=479530

Do you get any response from your muscle stimulation at all ?

My muscles just do not fatigue / respond to stimuli at all unless I use my tens / NM simulator at 1-2 mhz or under ( lowest setting )
Same thing with ultrasound and Rebuilder when it was helping me briefly too.

How are you meant to stop wastage if you can't exercise any way ?

[mrsD]

You can do isometric type excercises in bed or sitting in a chair.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isometric_exercise

When I am in bed at night and cannot sleep I do these isometrics that my PT taught me years ago. They seem to keep my legs strong enough during the day.