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09-24-2023, 10:58 AM | #1 | |||
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Welcome, Ken3!
Much depends on just how much these symptoms are a problem for you, or at least that's how I see it. Do the symptoms come and go, or are they constant? Are they limiting you in ways that you find difficult? I like to avoid going to doctors, and if there's a neurological symptom, I try to ask myself if it varies in intensity, and if so, is there something that triggers it? Maybe I'm especially tired when it comes on, maybe I've been doing something with that body part, maybe the symptom comes on only when it's too hot or too cold, etc. The first question to ask yourself is whether something you're taking (prescription drug, nonprescription drug, supplement) might be causing the symptoms. If you've looked up all of the things you're taking and none of them could possibly be causing them, then you move on to other possible causes. But drugs and even supplements are so often responsible for bringing on strange symptoms that that is where I'd start. If the problems are plaguing you, depriving you of sleep or otherwise making life difficult, by all means go for the neurological consult. Did you ask the PCP's opinion--the one who prescribed the nerve conduction study? It sounds as if you were told you could have a neurological consult "if you wanted one" but did the PCP seem strongly in favor of that?
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Repeal the law of gravity! MS diagnosed 1980. Type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, osteopenia. Avonex 2002-2005. Copaxone 6/4/07-5/15/10. Currently: Glatopa (generic Copaxone), 40mg 3 times/week, 12/16/20 - 3/16/24 |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Ken3 (09-28-2023) |
09-24-2023, 01:42 PM | #2 | |||
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Co-Administrator
Community Support Team
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Explore the useful sticky threads above and try our site search for related posts and info.
You may find something that can help. |
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09-25-2023, 04:56 PM | #3 | ||||
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I don't recall making any dietary or supplement changes prior to the initial onset of my symptoms, other than one thing. Which, as far as I've been able to tell, has not been cited as a cause for PN. My entire life, I never drank coffee (well, maybe half a dozen cups throughout my first 60 years). But I did begin to roast and brew coffee about 1.5 years before the first symptoms. But I'd guess that wouldn't be long enough time to create such symptoms, but who knows? But if one 10-ounce cup of coffee daily was enough to cause PN, my gosh this would be a very common disease! |
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09-26-2023, 01:59 PM | #4 | ||
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Magnate
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. . .it IS a very common disease. Approximately one in fifteen people will experience some degree of peripheral neuropathy in their lifetimes.
There are at least 300 possible causes, including the many hereditary ones--though coffee is not usually listed among them (not that caffeine can't make you jittery, but the EMG results do suggest there is something going on). I concur with the advice to check out the Useful Websites section here, and one good place to get an idea of the possibilities for cause--and it might be a good idea to get a consult, as some of those causes are harbingers of worse stuff, but, conversely, some are treatable--is the Algorithm for the Evaluation of Peripheral Neuropathy, AKA the Poncelet Protocols: An Algorithm for the Evaluation of Peripheral Neuropathy | AAFP And, if you want to get some feedback from online support groups which have people with similar stories, check out the Western Neuropathy Association website at HOME :: Western Neuropathy Association. Full disclosure--I am on the Board of Directors there. |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | echoes long ago (09-27-2023), Ken3 (09-28-2023) |
09-26-2023, 03:53 PM | #5 | ||
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Thank you for those links. The diagnostic one was especially interesting, until the flowchart led me to a place where the table was not available (table 2). Nevertheless, that was convincing enough to me that it likely is a good idea to have at least an initial consultation, and see what happens from there. Thank you for both links, definitely plenty to read there (as well as here). If I learn anything, or if my symptoms progress, I will update this thread in the future, in case it ever helps anyone else. |
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