Well, I would have to say, that since there are over 100 causes of neuropathy... some of them are indeed bilateral.

I had bilateral PN in both feet equally and my hands, when I was in my early 30's.... this was due to hypothyroidism.

People who get GBS... a fast progressive peripheral neuropathy have it bilateral too.
It starts in the legs and moves up. It may even paralyze the diaphram, putting the patient on artificial respiration equipment.

Some further information on bilateral neuropathy:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-bila...neuropathy.htm

I have never seen a paper or comment on bilateral PN that said it had to be identical in each foot or hand/arm. All bilateral means is that symptoms occur on each side of the body.

When I had my EMG on my hands/arms when pregnant, the doctor did it on the worst side...the right hand, because I am right handed.
When the test showed 70-80% loss of function, I was offered steroid injections in both wrists. I opted for only the right, since I was afraid for my baby etc...so I had only one injection so I could at least use my hand.

I only saw good resolution of my feet and hands finally when my hypothyroid issues were medicated with hormone. I still have some residual issues in my feet which are more severe on the left than the right, but they are minor now compared to the past. I consider this residual neuropathy bilateral still.

MrsD - need advice please. Don't know your email address so apologize for using this method of contacting you. I belong to another PN site that is being clobbered with dozens and dozens of posts totally unrelated to the site. Our Owner doesn't seem to know what to do about it. Do you have any advice? Thanks.
Dan Pearce

My neuro at Hopkins calls it polyneuropathy as opposed to mononeuropathy. The poly.. form meets the bilateral interpretation and the mono form means only one side. I have polyneuropathy in my feet and legs that is approximately equal, but the CTS in my right wrist is much worse than the left.

I thought poly- meant involving more than one kind of nerves (e.g. sensory, motor) but purusing definitions, polyneuropathy occurs when many nerves throughout the body malfunction simultaneously, or a generalized disorder of peripheral nerves, both of which seem pretty broad definitions.

Doc

I believe that one can become very confused with some of the diagnostic
terms used to describe neuropathy! Once some people get a term for their problem, they often never let go of it. This can close doors for future improvements, rather than open them.

Some of them are quite old terms in fact going way back in time.

Then doctors say things to patients sometimes, that are very misleading. We see posters come on NT with some of the comments at times.

I used to hear patients turn in their RX and say: " Dr. told me I have to take this for the rest of my life--why only 3 refills?"
The accurate communication would be, "you may have to have medical management of this condition for life".

So if someone is told by their doctor, that their nerves are "dying" well imagine how slanted that can be taken! Suppose a person has TWO causes for their PN. A spinal injury AND impaired glucose tolerance or a vaccine injury, or toxic exposure?

This board exists primarily to open doors, and not close them.
The peripheral nervous system can heal itself. Even SEVERED nerves can heal up. This is not new information. It exists in textbooks over 30 yrs old. And recently the Brain has been found to also heal itself (which was previously thought to be irreversible to injury).

There are nutrients (some are vitamins/minerals) that enable nerves to heal. Some of us here are dedicated to finding information from medical studies to show benefits in HEALING.
(the exception to this is hereditary neuropathies which have some genetic error as yet not discovered, which prevents normal functions and/or repair of damaged tissue).
Relief of pain is important, but pain relief does not translate into healing for anyone. IVIG and some chemo treatments exist for the dramatic rapidly progressing neuropathies. Some immune suppressing drugs can reduce the inflammatory response that is attacking axons , and then healing can take place.
But the life style changes--control of impaired glucose, and fixing of mitochondria, and enabling myelin repair, can be done by the patient themselves.

Some of our new posters have come here and stated that their neurologist recommended, acetyl carnitine and lipoic acid. This is a start in the right direction, a small start, since there are not many, but it does show that some doctors ARE reading the research and offering this kind of help now.

Doctors remain however out there with the notion that a B12 level of 250 is "normal". And that is a shame. Also Vit D may be tested for but then treated with an RX version D2 which does NOT work. So we see with just these two common nutrients, that medical management fails still today.

I think I was told, at one time, that poly was both sides, and mono was single sided. My memory could be off (affected by over 12 years of neurontin & lyrica) but that's what I think I was told. That doesn't mean that the person who told me wasn't mis-informed on the subject.

I have the same exact situation as you. I am currently taking 3600 of Neurontin but did not get actual relief until I added Lyrica in high doses.
Good Luck

I have Peripheral Neuropathy. Tried Lyrica, Cymbalta, Gabapentin, ALL OF THE SERATONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS.

They all make me deathly sick. I'm bad with pills or they're bad with me!

Pain in arms and legs. Ride my recumbent bike every day. Do Yoga stretches that's I'm still able to do. Have to use a walker so I go outside and take a "walker" walk when the weather is okay.

Lots of Vitamin B and Alpha Lipoic Acid.

It's a real bummer!

Siddhi