HAha, I know, my Dr. is an oddball.
She said that the Gabapentin is mostly used for neuropathic pain, and that there was very little chance that it could do anything to bring sensation back to my feet so she didn't want to get my hopes up.
However, She did say that there was a long shot, and that it could be worth a try.

I oddly haven't had any "dead" feet since going on it. But it makes me want to eat like all the grocery stores in the world will be closed and I need to stock up.

i hope it works for you. do you have any inflammation? if so some antiinflammatories might help with numbness if it is being caused by the pressure of inflammation.

It does sound worth it to check out any neck problems with your arm weakness.

Basically i have never found anything that helps with weakness. I use a variety of orthotic devices, plus I walk with a walker and use a wheel chair at times. I go to the gym three times a week, so i know that i am as strong as i can possibly be, but I have never regained any strength that i have lost. I have recently lost most of the strength in my left quad muscles which is really difficult as it makes picking up my leg difficult. I can only lift it about one inch off the floor despite doing exercises to try and improve the strength.

oh well, nothing much i can do about it - i have motor involvement along with my neuropathy (sensorimotor axonal neuropathy).

cheers

raglet

Is it standard procedure for neurologists to dismiss/ignore complaints of weakness if it can't be clinically presented? My symptoms are primarily sensory and located in my feet. Evidently, vitamin deficiencies are implicated (both b12 and e). But I am also experiencing intermittent weakness in my left leg. It is relatively minor, but definitely noticeable for me. The neurologist I was seeing did not seem to concerned about it (the EMG and nerve conduction test showed nothing out of the ordinary in both arms and legs). I have plans to follow up with a neuro-muscular disorder specialist in a few weeks, I am hoping he might take the weakness more seriously.

Hanshan...
 

My answer would be yes, I've found it common for neurologists to downplay weakness if the EMG/NCS is normal. There is clinical weakness that is obvious, i.e foot drop or inability to raise an arm, and there is subclinical weakness, where you feel the difference but it isn't readily apparent to the doc.

EMG's are subjective to begin with and can change with time. I first had sensory long-fiber changes in my legs back in '05, now I have some muscle denervation from motor nerves in my left foot. With those changes I can still walk on my toes, balance on that leg have good big toe strength etc. Walking on the heels is harder.

With that, I am in a "wait and see" mode, which is also common with idiopathic PN. You just live each day to the best of your ability. A good neuro will keep an eye on the clinical changes.

Thank you! May I ask if your neuropathy issues are related to your lumbar problems? I have early stages of DDD at L5-S1. Woohoo!

Ready for a frustrating answer?
 

I don't know. My last neuro said probably not, the neurosurgeon said quite possibly yes. I am 8 mo. post fusion. I have had a decrease in my burning/squeezing pain in my left foot, but I have more numbness. I still have weakness in my last 2 toes. Symptoms on my left leg are much more than my right, leading me to think it is related to my back, but I may have PN and the back issue. A "double-crush" diagnosis, as it's been referred to here. I am left to wait it out, to see if things improve or decline.