Hi Paul I have all the symptoms of neuropathy. Numbness/altered sensations on face/back arms and legs. I also have tingling in hands and feet. I have had various tests/brain scan/emg etc and they all came out showing no problem except the emg which showed borderline axonopathy 6 months ago but that has cleared up when I had the last test on 11th April 08. I will post the vitamin levels when I get them this afternoon.
I live in london,UK and I don't get enough sun exporsure I think as when the neuropathy is bad I don't really like going out...

Vitamin D levels
 

Just to let you know that my vitamin D levels are <18 nmol/l the doctor has raised my tablets to 800iu a day...

Hi there I have just been reading up about fibromyalgia and I do get sore spots/sensitive spots on my arms/torso and also leg twitching...

Hi MrsD I have got my results and my levels are extremely low... 18 nmol/l I have read on a few sites that low vitamin D level can give PN like symptoms but not many sites state this. Do you think there is any chance of PN being caused by low levels? What other chemical processes are affected by low vitamin D? I heard dopamine can be affected...?

some sites to look at:
 

The Vitamin Council is one. Just Google that phrase and it will come up easily.

Also Dr. Mercola.
(I don't like the cod liver oil he recommends, however.) But his data
is pretty good and he explains the testing in detail.

I really can't comment on the PN connection. It might just reflect poor calcium use in
the body.

Mark, I can identify in many ways.
 

about 15 months ago I was diagnosed with Hashimotos' thyroid after being hypothryroid for well over a decade. BUT, in my case I knew that my almost ZIP VitD #'s were due to some medications I was on. Anti-seizure and also estrogen blockers - which all deplete a lot of what seems just about everything. [I'd had neuropathy for over 4 years]
Mrs D's advice has been enormously helpful in guiding me to find and tailor my own calcium/Vitamin D/magnesium trio in a way that is working and balanced.
As for a 'D' deficiency being the cause of PN? I do not recall reading anything research-wise in that area. Being low on it certainly doesn't make things any better as it's needed to keep your body on overall balance in terms of processing foods, minerals, vitamins etc. Getting those specific #'s up to somewhere 'right' [not necessarily what is minimal or maximum] for you is your key. It's one of lots of trial and error tho.
That your EMG's showed little? I have to ask - was the testing room COLD? The temperature of your skin and body during such tests can affect the results - not to mention the quality of the testing equipment and the test administrator.
Here is an article that explains this issue: http://www.onecallmedical.com/PDFs/E...0ISSUE%205.pdf So, being WARM during a nerve conduction test and not the usual icy cold our extremities tend to get is a very important thing in the testing. I am promising myself that the next time I get a Nerve Test, I'm bringing a snug wrap and a hair dryer to thaw out the key appendages!
Most important of all, is not the 'cause' of a neuropathy - it's what's happened to your body in response to whatever cause[s]. Then further what CAN be DONE about it. Any doc that says 'neurontin' or nothing? Is NOT a PROFESSIONAL. PERIOD! There are many other options that address the hundred different sorts of neuropathies - some [maybe many{?}] can/might heal/ease pain to some degree. Each of us is so different in what's happened to us that to find out what all has happened and find common aspects would be beyond mind-boggling.
Keep searching and don't give up. We all won't admit it, but I bet I'm not the ONLY one who's stayed up nights and churned all days thinking about the WHAT's CAUSED THIS!? While I have a good idea about myself? I'm not gonna admit it out loud to docs or anyone my thoughts because there is nothing of substance [medically] other than instinct to prove the cause/effects of it all. It WAS however, my self-instinct that made me persue what was going on and get eventually treatment that I should have had from the get-go. Hindsight tho, doesn't change the 'What-Is-Now' and that aspect is what you must work on NOW. So do not give up as long as you can.
I Wish I could help even more? But there are limits in this world. So here! :hug: - j

I know it is frustrating to not have a cause because I am there with you. Consider asking your doc about fibro. I heard from mine that the treatment would be different. Also I agree my magnesium is my favorite supplement. I take glycinate form. I also feel the role of calcium and d as a person with osteo is key. I am assuming you are a guy but did you have a bone density?Can't one just get pn without it being from something or is this not true? I thought a lot of people with age have it. Obviously in my case that is not it. Lastly my first emg/nc showed nothing then I went back and had another plus an ssep and it showed the pn. Not sure if it was too early to show or if the person doing the test was off. Who knows.Hang in there.

The other thing I don't think anybody's mentioned yet--
 

--have your been tested for cleiac disease/gluten sensitivity?

Often one of the first signs of this is malabsorption of vitamins/nutrients resulting in low serum levels--B12, D, B6, folate.

Moreover, celiac/gluten can cause neuropathy through autoimmune cross-reactivity all by itself.

Have you at least been titred up for anti-gliadin IgA/IgG (latter is lest specific but most sensitive), anti-transglutaminase IgA (more specific), and total IgA (as low levels can skew the other IgA tests)?

This got my attention:
http://www.miamiherald.com/tropical_...ry/503619.html


Article says that at least half of all Americans have insufficients levels of Vitamin D.

This article (or perhaps it was one that was along side it in the printed version) stated that US doctors are actually seeing children with Rickets.

I can tell you this much...
 

I was experiencing pain in the joint of my big toe, both left and right foot....in the ball of the foot - *that* joint. I started taking Vit - D because of other considerations but a side effect for me was that that pain went away. If I stop the D it comes back. :)