I have a question that I need you guys to answer if you can...

I know that illnesses are different for each person but sometimes there does seem to be a common pattern that most illnesses take. I have asked my doctors if they can tell me what to expect with regard to how my PN will develop and they really don't give much of an answer.

Will you please let me know, if you can, what to expect of this illness as I want to be as prepared as I can for things to come.

My PN started with a bang in late May and even though I have some pain and burning it seems to be mind compared to many of you. I am on gabapentin 2400 mg daily), tramadol (100 mg as needed every 8 hrs), and amitriptyline, 50 mg at bedtime. I am transitioning from gabapentin to Lyrica and do seem to see a bit less burning and pain in my hands and legs. I am also trying to use the lidoderm patches but not having much luck yet.

My PN actually started in my hands and forearms first...during the early part of 2008, I would periodically have some burning in my right forearm and a sharp pain in the palm of my right hand. I use the mouse with my right hand so, having been diagnosed with carpel tunnel back in 2007, I assumed it had come back. During that same time, I would have these same symptoms in my left forearm, including numbness and tingling my left hand. I attributed the symptoms on my left side as possible heart trouble, blockage, etc. Since these symptoms were not terribly painful and didn't happen very often I decided to "check on it next week" and went on about my business.

The last of May 2008 the burning in the shinbone area of my right leg started like a fire. The burning in my left shin started about 3 days later. That progressed for 2 weeks until the burning in my right forearm and then my left formarm started. It seemed like once all the nerves had been burned out in my shins and forearms, the backs of my hands and tops of my feet started to burn. After about 3 miserable weeks of this I finally got to see the doc who started me on gabapentin and eventually some limited relief began to be seen.


Right now, although my shinbones still burn some, the majority of my burning is in forearms and palms of my hands. I do have a bit of pain in my feet but it is much less that that arms and hands. I seem to have the PN backwards...

Will this burning and pain progress until the point where I can't walk, can't work? So far, I have a dx of small fiber neuropathy...

Sorry for the long post, I'm just trying to find answers....