Autonomic Neuropathy is a disease. Autonomic Dysfunction is a symptom, (which may or may not be caused by Autonomic Neuropathy.)

Like me, you are at the first step of the process as far as the doctors go. First you have to identify the symptom (Autonomic Dysfunction), then you have to identify the disease process causing the symptom (possible Autonomic Neuropathy), then you have to identify what's causing the disease (autoimmune process? vitimin deficiency? heavy metal poisoning? drug toxicity? genetic issue?, etc, etc), then you have to find an effective way to treat that underlying root cause.

Unfortunately, it seems like only a very small percentage get all the way to a truly effective treatment. many doctors don't have the time, or are unwilling to spend the time to truly track it all the way down. It's much easier to say "here's a prescription for something that might help - come back in 6 months for a follow up appointment".

"here's a prescription for something that might help - come back in 6 months for a follow up appointment".

That's all I have been getting for 17 years. Keep getting worse, never better. Have just about given up.

Even if they find the underlying cause in most cases it does not matter much because the damage to the nerves unless caught very early on is already done, Yes? The only few reversals I have read about so far are the lucky few that were caused by B12 and were treated in a timely manner or perhaps they were on statin's and got off the drug before too much damage was done. That said, there maybe other reversals I'm not aware of but the point is too much time is most often lost before the cause is discovered.

Cliffman

I have a major clue- a raised IgM level and low serum complements c3 and c4 and anticardiolipin antibodies - and as of late antithyroid antibodies - and not ONE dr - even at the best teaching hospitals locally in Philly - are able to identify whats wrong or see it to a conclusion. They only do their limited speciality shrug their heads and move along. The rheumatologist apparently does not like to call seronegative Lupus. All this while I feel like Im deteriorating neurologically. Im also having major anxiety issues from this - mental and physical - like my panic - and I don't know if its a) from the underlying disease process b) the actual autonomic dysfunction (they said it was of the adrenergic type) or c) some immune mediated neuropsychiatric thing.

I did go to an immunologist this week. He was nice and ran a few tests. I am PRAYING SOMETHING comes back.

Im not one to live with the idiopathic nature of this thing and unfortunately the quest to find it is proving fruitless and jeopardizing my family b/c of my single purpose.

SOrry, I think I just hyjacked the thread!

It seems that full reversals of long standing neuropathy are very rare. But partial reversal - or even just stopping or slowing the progress is still much better than letting it continue to progress. I think that's why so many here continue to look for the cause.