I had mine sent to bako labs...here are the results.

right calf 4.10 fibers/mm ---- evolving sfn
left calf - 3.56 fibers/mm --mild sfn

scared..dont know the next steps.

Hi Panther,

Sorry to hear you're developing SFN. That said, at least you know what you're dealing with, which is not always the case for everyone. Also, your skin biopsy numbers are not that bad and suggest it's mild at this juncture.

Is it safe to assume a Neuromuscular Neurologist ordered the small skin biopsy? The next step is they should be advising treatment and looking for a cause. Has the doctor discussed the results with you yet?

All the best,

Cliffman

What were your numbers. I think anything below 7 in distal leg biopsy is reduced numbers

Mine was done through Therapath I don't think the numbers correlate. They have a different rating standard. It's a little confusing how they do it. Seems like where yours was done is a little more clear and easier for the layman to understand.

Thanks for the reply Panther. I am hoping for the best at this point. Let me see how the next few months pan out. Uncertainty is the thing that makes me scared.

It is scary to have uncertainty. Just make sure you see a neuro who now starts looking into ALL the possible causes. There can literally be more than 20 causes.

With your numbers it sounds like you will be able to survive but you must be willing to fight through some serious pain spells. Its gonna happen and you just have to fight through it. You will have days where you feel pretty decent as well. it will likely be most painful at night when COrtisol levels are low.

Most importantly, pay attention to triggers. For most people stress, sugar, wheat, certain foods and extreme temperatures will set things off.

I would make sure to go with 3 supplements to start. Acetyl L-Carnitine, Benfotiamine and R-Lipoic Acid. They have helped me the most. If you find yourself tired a lot get some sublingual Methyl b12. Take it every morning on an empty stomach.

For those that do heal, it takes years. For me, am I healing? I am not sure. I don't think I am worsening though. Mine really flared up like crazy summer of 2014. I got off all meds and went for supplements and dietary change. I am not active as much as I wish i could be becuase of the SFN which is the hard part for me. My SFN is worst at the bottoms of my feet, so that makes excessive walking or running difficult.

I did some research on Bako Labs after I started reading poster's comments on Therapath because they seemed so different than how mine read. They do use a different rating. I agree they are easier to understand as I am not the smartest person and I totally understood my page and a half of info from them.

SFN is just a horrible monster and I feel for anyone having to deal with this dx. This journey, as I call it, is a very long and winding road and will last my lifetime. Unless the medical community figures out how to 'fix' it. Since I'm just 53 that seems forever.

Debi

They don't know if it is evolving or progressive. SFN is something they either can or can't find a cause for. If they find a cause, it can be treatable or stopped. If they can't, the only treatment is pain meds and watching and waiting. The biopsy tells that their is damage. I don't see how they would be able to tell there is ongoing damage unless under the microscope they saw the "thing" causing the damage in which case they would have a cause.
I am reliving the desperation and sadness I felt when my first neuromuscular dr gave me my diagnosis in a miserable hopeless way. Don't give up hope.

hi cliffman

No. What were ur numbers. How do you say it is mild? Will it get worse over time?




Sorry to hear you're developing SFN. That said, at least you know what you're dealing with, which is not always the case for everyone. Also, your skin biopsy numbers are not that bad and suggest it's mild at this juncture.

Is it safe to assume a Neuromuscular Neurologist ordered the small skin biopsy? The next step is they should be advising treatment and looking for a cause. Has the doctor discussed the results with you yet?

All the best,

Cliffman [/QUOTE]

You are the first person I've seen that your doctor used Bako Labs......my Foot/Ankle dr used the same company. Most on here are Therapath Labs if I have that correct.

I like the Bako reports as they explain everything in detail. And add suggestions for treatment.

Not much detail on mine as my #'s were 0.....yep....zero.....nada....nothing there.

I had 2 punches on the left leg above the ankle and one result was 0.00 and the other 0.06.

My doctor explained that with Bako results it's 0 to 15.....15 being the best and that they are able to work to regenerate #'s 4 and higher which is GREAT news for you.

I was pre-diabetic when I receive a cancer dx and had 6 rounds of chemo (taxol-carbo).

The wording on my biopsy was Severe Small Fiber Neuropathy -- escentially (sp?) devoid of Fibers A and C. It did not mention any suggestions for treatment as I believe the report spoke for itself.

I cried when the dr explained my dx but not because I was upset but I cried because I was so relieved to finally have a dx and a name for what was causing all my pain.

I'm so sorry you are going through this but I have high hopes that with treatment you will begin to regenerate the fibers. I'm sure your doctor will work with you through this.

As for me.....I had 3 different doctors telling me that I needed a good pain mgmt. dr......I was scared to death of winding up at a pill mill so I put off going to pain mgmt. for a year.

Finally breaking down and going was the best possible decision for me as the 3 dr's were correct and I've been in treatment with my pain dr for over a year now.

Please keep us posted. We care

Debi from Georgia