Originally Posted by Apex Clipper

Hi Janie, ahh yes, if only our bodies could be debugged as logically as I used to debug communication systems. Not quite the same I'm finding :~)

I was wondering which supplements or processes you listed were the most effective for you?

When I started getting significant numbness in my right foot I brought out a TENS unit that I purchased years ago for a lower back issue. On first application to the numb area on my foot I couldn't even feel the current on the highest setting. Did a 30 minute session anyways. 24 hours later on repeat I now had sensitivity on a 1/3 intensity setting. It's a temporary affect as I'm sure you know.

Originally Posted by mrsD

Lots to think about therefore.

Originally Posted by janieg

Yes, my engineering degree didn't quite prepare me for debugging the human body.

Please take this with a grain of salt and understand that every one of us is genetically unique with our own set pf problems, but here are the supplements that I think have helped me:

- High quality fish oil - 1400 mg/day (Google "ER stress fish oil")
- R-Lipoic Acid - I tested low (Read MrsD's posts on it, though. I don't think she's a fan)

I mention these two because when my SFN first hit, acutely, I was a mess. When I started the RLA, I feel it dialed back a notch. And then increasing my fish oil intake seemed to help even more.

I've also recently started taking a high quality biotin supplement which seems to be straightening out hypoglycemia and metabolic issues I was having. I have a rare genetic mutation that causes this. I don't think the biotin is helping the neuropathy, though. I had been hoping it would because extremely low levels can cause profound neurological problems.

My TENS unit seems to help me quite a bit at night. It cycles on any off at a one hour interval. I only need to use it when I'm really flaring. I crank it up, and it seems like that sensation produced by the current is all my brain processes. And because I know that current is SUPPOSED to be there, it doesn't register as a problem like all the other neuropathic weirdness and discomfort does. I don't pretend to understand it well, but I'm thrilled to have that tool in my arsenal.

Oh, and the magnesium cream or spray I use on my feet seems to help when they're bad as well. I also think oral magnesium helps the crazy "internal twitching" I feel in my legs.

Originally Posted by Apex Clipper

Will have to find a consumable alternative to fish oil pills, tried them before but they are typically huge and hard to swallow for me!

Originally Posted by janieg

If you could stand swigging it....

Originally Posted by Apex Clipper

I could handle a teaspoon I think, good reviews overall and many say no fishy taste. Looks pricey but 40 doses per bottle translates to 90 cents a day. I just ordered a bottle, thanks for the link

Originally Posted by Apex Clipper

I've had PN symptoms for over a year now but just recently obtained an "official" diagnoses from a neurologist, so I have joined this forum to see what I can learn from others who also suffer from this.

It's been discouraging to read on various medical sites how many forms of this disease remain idiopathic. Nonetheless, coming from a technical background I'm used to troubleshooting problems and take that approach to any problem in life which is do some research, don't assume but actually test where possible and with all due respect never rely 100% on any one persons opinion of the problem even if they are a doctor.

At this point I've had an EMG which revealed normal large fiber activity so I've been told this is small nerve neuropathy in feet and hands. I've had multiple blood tests which my neurologist said were unremarkable. I just obtained a copy of these tests and noticed the B6 level was over twice the upper range which my doctor did not mention. But then I read a post here that suggests a false B6 reading may not be that unusual so it's hard to know what's real on that.

The question I wanted to ask is about the appearance of the hands and if anyone else experienced this. At the height of the PN symptoms I had a sudden change in the fiingerpads at first. They developed a pruney appearance as if I had been in a pool for a long time. Loose skin as if there were air pockets under the skin as opposed to a normal fleshy fingerpad. Pressing against an object left an impression on the pads for an abnormal amount of time, as opposed to springing back normally. Within a month striations appeared on the skin further down the fingers. All of this was in conjunction with pins & needles in the fingertips and an abnormal sensitivity to cooler temperatures.

I have asked three doctors about this change of appearance in the hands and I'm getting something of a deer in the headlights response. One said he's never seen anything like that, another basically ignored my question and another tried to tell me it was normal.

My apologies for making this long, I'll try to be more succint in the future :~).

Originally Posted by Apex Clipper

I've had PN symptoms for over a year now but just recently obtained an "official" diagnoses from a neurologist, so I have joined this forum to see what I can learn from others who also suffer from this.

It's been discouraging to read on various medical sites how many forms of this disease remain idiopathic. Nonetheless, coming from a technical background I'm used to troubleshooting problems and take that approach to any problem in life which is do some research, don't assume but actually test where possible and with all due respect never rely 100% on any one persons opinion of the problem even if they are a doctor.

At this point I've had an EMG which revealed normal large fiber activity so I've been told this is small nerve neuropathy in feet and hands. I've had multiple blood tests which my neurologist said were unremarkable. I just obtained a copy of these tests and noticed the B6 level was over twice the upper range which my doctor did not mention. But then I read a post here that suggests a false B6 reading may not be that unusual so it's hard to know what's real on that.

The question I wanted to ask is about the appearance of the hands and if anyone else experienced this. At the height of the PN symptoms I had a sudden change in the fiingerpads at first. They developed a pruney appearance as if I had been in a pool for a long time. Loose skin as if there were air pockets under the skin as opposed to a normal fleshy fingerpad. Pressing against an object left an impression on the pads for an abnormal amount of time, as opposed to springing back normally. Within a month striations appeared on the skin further down the fingers. All of this was in conjunction with pins & needles in the fingertips and an abnormal sensitivity to cooler temperatures.

I have asked three doctors about this change of appearance in the hands and I'm getting something of a deer in the headlights response. One said he's never seen anything like that, another basically ignored my question and another tried to tell me it was normal.

My apologies for making this long, I'll try to be more succint in the future :~).