I have had PN for almost 15 years, slowly worsening, as I had one doctor after another give up and tell me to just get used to it. The part that bothered me most, other than the painful symptoms, was trying to understand why this happened to me. I tried all kinds of diets, supplements, treatments, etc., to no avail. The problem was not finding the reason in the first place.
Finally, after all these wasted years, a doctor asked the gluten question. I have gone fanatically gluten free for almost 5 months. I understand that gluten burns out the B vitamin receptors in the gut, causing the deficiency at the root of the problem, and that it takes usually about 6 months to grow them back. I also understand that it can be a couple of years then to grow back the nerves.

So far, I am very encouraged. I have lost over 35 pounds of unwanted weight, and I am able to move much better than before. I still have the painful tingling in my feet at night, but I can go longer without problems, and I no longer have to pop ibuprofen to get through a day of work. Skin problems, like psoriasis, are gone, and I no longer have the pre-diabetic food cravings I had. I'm almost 66 years old, and feel like I've taken 10 years off how I look and feel; in only 5 months.

I know there are many causes of neuropathy, but I have learned that gluten is a major cause; it's also a major cause of diabetes, which is itself, a cause of neuropathy. It's hard for me not to be angry at the doctors who made thousands of dollars shooting electricity through me, and didn't care enough to walk across the hall to their own medical library, to read about celiac and neuropathy.

For anyone interested, there are several good references on this. The one I recommend is "Wheat Belly," by William Davis; about $15 from Amazon. I believe this can change lives.

I wish the best for all who are suffering from this; I'm convinced it can improve.

Steven

Congratulations to you Steven!

You might want to get tested for B12 levels. B12 is often severely impacted by gluten issues.

You should be at 400 or above in US units. Don't accept "normal" as many lab ranges are still outdated.

Steven, congratulations on your progres! Great news indeed.

I want to ask you a question about gluten, but I do not want to take this thread off topic. Please PM me with your contact info.

Thanks.

Nervous

Steven, GREAT news that you are improving. Without gluten, sugar and bad carbs and the right supplements I have been improving steadily. It is such a wonderful thing.

I have been off gluten for 1 1/2 years. The gluten can actually cause weight gain since so many foods without gluten have bad carbs, but I am so happy for you! I stopped those things, but ADDED foods that are very high in nutrients. I always ate healthful food, but now it is even more important. Easy to stay on target when I see the improvement.

I lost 17 pounds after stopping sugar and bad carbs. Since they cause inflammation with nerves etc, taking that away was my answer along with gluten. Now the supplements are able to heal. Sometimes the right things have to be done in order.

Congratulations! Nerves heal so slowly but it is wonderful! I agree, you do need B12 levels checked, Vit D also.

--to give a shout out to JCC and the Gluten File, who and which, I think, have been instrumental in spreading the word about celiac/gluten issues and their links to many non-gastrointestinal symptoms, including neurological ones:

https://sites.google.com/site/jccglutenfree/

Thanks! I've been revving up B1 and B12-especially the B12. It is a good idea to be tested, though.

I'd be happy to answer anything I can; I don't know how to use this for PM, though.

There are different ways. One is to click on the name of the poster you want to send a PM to. A drop-down menu will appear that will include that option. Click on it.

If you have any PMs waiting, you'll be advised when you log on (and also via email). Once you've logged on, click on Unread Private Messages in the upper righthand corner of any NeuroTalk page.

Doc

Thanks, but I still don't see the right link in the dropdown menu; are my preferences set wrong somehow?

I do not see private messages active in your drop down.

Go to User CP which is in the upper left under the NeuroTalk logo,
click on that , and go to options. In there is "enable private messages".. It is the 4th white box down. You have to click on it.
Make sure you hit save, at the bottom of the page.

Then you should be able to send PMs.