If anyone ever accused me of faking or malingering, they better do it over the phone. Doc or no Doc, he is getting laid out. And I have not had a "fight" since the 8th grade or so, but this condition is obviously very real.

I don't have the burning in my trunk. But the arms, legs, and head do sizzle. "sensitivity" on the face and other areas where I scratch, I feel it more intensely. I think the amygdala becomes more overreactive in this state, adding to the misery. Skin Biopsy tomorrow....Anyway, DShue....you should definitely listen to glenntaj...he is better versed than most neurolgist. Mrs. D on the vits etc is extremely well versed as well. Like Glenntaj, I am using Dr. Latov now, since the parade of Doctor's was getting to me. The only thing they have not told me is that I am pregnant. Maybe because I am a man.

Wishing you the best,

Mark

. The only thing they have not told me is that I am pregnant. Maybe because I am a man.

And I was told by one of the doc. here that it might be a prostate cancer... and I' a female....

LMAO....not at your expense....ok it was.....but you would think that at least one of the courses in medical school would involve how to distinguish between male and female. Funny stuff!

but I also have a strange story...

I had a patient not too long ago who was on chronic pain
opiate therapy. He suffered a hyponatremic episode (low blood sodium levels) and was sent to the ER.

They proceeded to put him in stirrups to do a GYN exam!

You can imagine how angry he became! (I heard this story
from his wife, when he was finally sent home).

Mark,

It seems you read the article referenced http://jnnp.bmj.com/cgi/content/abst...128801v1?rss=1 (here's the abstract of the study on those with full body SFN not including the hands or feet;sorry for not supplying this in my original post).

I'm with you brother; I've no hesitation in issuing an appropriate beat down when necessary on benighted medical professionals. While I actually look forward to issuing one physically, verbal bruising feels just as good.

I'm familiar with Dr. Latov. Read his book. I was able to eliminate the big causes pretty quickly. So my hope lies in the endless rapacity of big pharma. But as to sheer numbers with respect to our specific SFN, our group isn't massive with respect to their big coin bonanza expectation. I fear we will be waiting...

If I remember right, you had a blood clot? My downfall started with gall bladder surgery. The burning spread from my abdomen, to my arms and legs, my back, and then finally my face joined in within months (all the while I was told it would stop, not spread, etc.). It would be great to talk to everyone who had a trauma as their inciting incident to this hellish situation. Compare notes and the like.

Oh, I think you also mentioned ketamine in a post. Because of a surgical beginning, this lead me to an RSD angle. Like you, I don't have any other signs - disoloration, temperature changes, etc. (very thanfully - I spent the summer reading on the utter awfulness of RSD) But I was agressive in pursuing ketamine as it seemed the closest thing to dealing with the burning problem, a way to 'reboot' the CNS and stop the madness.

Let me know if you go that route. I can fill you in further on what to expect.

-- Dennis

Here is something Doc Oaklender wrote...not exactly uplifting....but at least she is aware of this stuff....

http://sageke.sciencemag.org/cgi/con...act/2006/6/pe7

Yeah blood clot....I do get the occasional freezing limb....but that is part of SFN...cold bothers me....I am not sure ketamine is the answer...but u should speak with Oaklender....another big brain....but I would say to her, is the advice and treatment about the same as, oh say, 1955?

Be well, hang in there,

mark

Ezekiel Fink is the guy who did the skin biopsy on me. Besides having one of the coolest names I've come across (I'm a writer; names are big), he looks exactly like Seth Rogan, which wasn't exactly reassuring when he walked in...

But he's a good guy/doctor.

-- Dennis

Fear Factor or Mixed Martial Arts...either seems to go well with the disorder....you should ask him about the article when you meet with him. I like to know if I should order my colostomy bag and Depends now....these Docs are great at shooting out problems...not too good with the solutions.

one thing they did say boss, is that exercise is imperative in that article. Burning body and all, you need to move...I am 300 pounds and burn, and I do it.

I looked up Ezekiel. I got suits older than that guy.

Until they figure out a drug cocktail or something that works, I think you want to look at an attitude of submission, resignation if you will. Even with the pain going on, otherwise you get into the fear-adrenaline-fear cycle, and you will be shooting out cortisol, compounding the problem.

A writer huh? I was a lit grad student at the University of Chicago, way back when. Studied with Saul Bellow...another guy whose brain is too big....anyway, I realize my talent was not in that realm....was going to be a prof...ended up in computers...go figure.

Alka Seltzer? That is awesome...I gotta give that a shot....

Be well,

Mark