Originally Posted by fogger

Hi, I'm new to the board. I have two questions which are somewhat interelated.

Question 1 - I've been diagnosed with idopathic small fiber sensory neuropathy, but I'm looking to get a second opinion. I live in Southern California, Orange County. One thought is to go to either UCLA or Cedars Sinai, does anyone know any specific doctor at those two places, or are there any other good neuro's that you recommend?

Question 2- Background first - I am 46 6-0 175 lbs and in very good health. About 3.5 - 4 months ago I started to get tingling fingers while sleeping, didn't think much of it. Then on Sept 20, I woke up in the night with tingling/numbness up the arms, and a little in the feet/legs. This concerned me greatly. I became very anxious after this. Went to the Nuero Doctor and after having all kinds of test (i.e typical blood work for this issue, Autoinmue blood work, Cat Scan of brain, MRI of head/spine with and without contrast, MRI of lumbar, Nerve studies) all negative.

Based on this, and based on my symptoms, Neuro Doctor diagnosed me with SFSN. For the last two month I've been taking 2- 75mg lyrica pills at night, and 1- 25 mg Amitriptyline, also before bed.

However, I don't believe my symptoms are all that similar to SFSN and my Neuro Doctor didn't think that I should have skin biopsy to confirm this diagnoisis, he didn't think they were all that accurate.

Here are my symptoms - Whenever I try and sleep, whether it is day or night, just as I am starting to fall asleep, I start to get tingling/numbness starting in my hands and then arms, and to a lessor extent in my legs. Many times this will wake me up but when I move, those tingling/numb feelings go right away, and I start the proceess all over. On good nights I can get back to sleep and stay asleep, the sedation of the medicine has help with this.

On bad nights, I will be awaken by this, and for some reason when I'm awaken, I am startled and my heart is racing, and then I will start to get a burning feeling up my arms. As I calm down and start to go back to sleep, I will start to get this tingling burning feeling up my arms and into my scalp and one side of my face, it will also creep up my legs and into my back. If I sit there for a while the burning will dimish some, and I will be able to sleep for a while, but will be awaken again a 1/2 to hour later, and start the process over.

Anyhow, I feel like there may be a anxiety and/or sleep issue component to this. During the day I don't have any symptoms, except for the exhaustion and emotional instabilty caused by the bad night, along with a little tingling at times. So my 2nd question is, does this sound like SFSN or something else.

Sorry to be so long winded, but any comments on these two questions would be appreciated.

thanks, Fogger