There are so so few mad cow issues. Maybe neither one of these 2 will help you. When one has a fear and resistance about taking something and I have those with pharma meds, the mind can make us crazy. I've been eating meat all my life and I'm 77. Never sick from any foods I've ever eaten. So much fear out there.

I'll not get to know IF Kratom will help me as one member here talked about the side effects, one being constipation...I don't need to go there. My bowels are in good condition so I have to pass on this herb. But I'll add some to my topicals I make.

Wish you the best whatever you do. C

The incubation period for vCJD could be as long as several decades (30 years). The UK has put in stringent Laws and regulations to exclude bovine neural tissue and contaminated meat from the food supply. More has been done to ensure the safety of medical products, like bloods and derivatives for transfusions.

I can see an epidemic of vCJD, or another equally horrific disease, caused by the lack of testing and regulations on products which open a 'back door' to infection.

To clarify the severity of vCJD:

http://www.prion.ucl.ac.uk/clinic-se...prion-disease/

Dave.

In Australia we can't donate blood if we lived in the UK for 6 months or more between 1st January 1980 and 31st December 1996 or if we had a blood transfusion in the UK any time since 1st January 1980.

There is no screening test yet developed so they have to do this.

http://www.donateblood.com.au/faq/el...-blood#mad-cow
Mad Cow - Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)
Red Cross Blood Service Au

I am affected by the blood donation rule that Lara has explained.

My risk is small but I think that it is a prudent rule.

An analogy which may help is that before effective methods for assessing HIV infection were developed, many people (including the late great Isaac Asimov) died because they got a blood transfusion from an HIV-infected donor.

In my view "better safe than sorry" is a sound plan.

Hello everyone, just a brief update from me. I saw my neurologist yesterday and he gave me his opinion on my PN. Overall he was hopeful that my symptoms could be managed or resolve in the future. He suggested upping my Lyrica and doing physical therapy. He had a look at my recent MRI and said that although there were some bulges in my lumbar, they were not large enough to be concerned. He was wary of steroid shots as we haven't exhausted all options for managing symptoms. I also had my blood work done and should get my results next week.

His opinion was my nervous system was over reactive due to all the trauma from previous surgeries. He said he was curious about the hardware in my spine affecting the nerves.

Hope you are all doing well and living happy lives.

That is good to read itburns :).

It sounds to me that your neurologist is on the ball.

I hope that the blood work results give you and him ways to work out how best to move forward.

Thank you kiwi. I hope the blood work gives us a point to go on. If not, that is ok too. I have been reading more about how the brain processes pain and it has made me realize that the less stress I put myself under, the more likely I am able to manage my PN. I'm trying to remain hopeful/positive. All of you help as well.

Take care.

Hey all, I just received my sphingolin and inosine supplements. I'm considering returning them through amazon. I've read mixed things about the two, prion infections with sphingolin and increased uric acid levels with inosine.

I think I am returning the sphingolin for sure but am considering taking the inosine. What do you suggest?

Well, I took both for 3 months and no problems except the burning issue is still gone from my thigh where surgery incision is. If the burning returns and it has not, I'd take them again for a while. I wouldn't take them for years, only thing I take for years is thyroid support and BP meds and ibuprofen and many other supps like magnesium for sure. Grape seed extract 20 yrs. This antioxidant is doing me good and no side effects and I continue into my 21st year.

Obviously we think differently as I fear the pharma drugs and every ones comes with a list of possible side effects and from reading so many posts from so many people who have so many side effects with drugs.....I don't know what to say to you. I know how I feel.

What I have done over the years of taking my supplements, I call the producers and ask if they have a resident product specialist and ask them questions that concern you. I just don't believe companies would take chances to harm people and they do their research on all they offer patients. As I said a naturopath gave me 4 supps to consider and I chose the 2 you are talking about. And I know many here won't consider these but everyone makes their choices. I would not consider the drugs. This is me.

You talked about the hardware in your spine, my downfall has been the hardware in my hip from hip surgery. I would not have all the nerve damage and dead nerves if it were not for the surgery.

Obviously the choice is yours, but you could not pay me enough to take sphingolin for any reason. Personally, I would return it.

Dave.