Thinking I was all on my own, I’m so thankfully I found this forum.
I was diagnosed about 18 months ago with...
DISTAL SYMMETRICAL MOTOR-SENSORY PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY.
After reading through most of the posts I’ve had some of my questions answered but now have many more questions about my neuropathy. I understand there are many causes of neuropathy and also many symptoms.
I guess the biggest difference I see between my situation and many of the posts is I don’t suffer from any pain, discomfort yes, but pain no. My main concern is my balance and losing my ability to walk and drive a vehicle. I’m 70 years old and been lucky to enjoy good health apart from melanomas from too much sun years ago. I’m also not a diabetic. Being 6’3” tall I have had some lower back problems and in fact my doctor said my lack of feeling in my feet was a pinched nerve in my back. The lack of feeling in my feet goes back many years, maybe 20 or so.
I have been most disturbed by the scams that exist out there. *edit*
Although I’m sure the following isn’t a scam, I’d be interested if anyone else has tried WSN Nerve Support Formula. This is basically a very high dosage of B complex vitamins and although I have been on the maximum dosage for 6 months now I don’t think I have had much improvement.

Hi TallGuy

I moved your post off that sticky thread as it is a different discussion, and so more members could respond to you here.

hope you find the answers you are seeking

i would certainly get my low back checked out, if i were you.....and f/u on the diabetes angle.....fasting blood work is NOT the gold standard...you want either fasting insulin or at minimum POST prandial blood glucose levels...there is at least one poster here, that never made it to being dx a diabetic, but that indeed was his problem.....also, you may never see much improvement, but only a cessation of progession or slowing of progression... good luck

The product you mention in your post...has benfotiamine and methylB12 in it. The benfotiamine is a low dose at 100mg.

That product is quite expensive, and today you could get both ingredients much less expensively. (the other Bs in that product are not high dose)

I'd get tested for Vitamin D levels and B12 and see what that shows.

There are many causes of neuropathy. Autoimmune, toxins, drugs (statins and fluroquinolone antibiotics among some less common drugs), hereditary, etc.

If you have a hereditary form, not much in the way of supplements will help.
If from drug toxicities, acetyl-l-carnitine may help.
Autoimmune is treated with RX IVIG infusions, and some immune suppressing drugs.
Poor circulation to the feet...peripheral artery disease should be evaluated.
Did you have chemo for the melanoma? Chemo can cause PN.

Are you gluten sensitive? Ever try the gluten free diet? This may help when other venues are closed.

These are just some ideas that come up on this board from the various posters.

PN is very complex and different from person to person.
Your back issues may be the main cause for you or you may have some mixed issues as well.

Hi and welcome though I am sorry. Have you had emg/nc? I too would get an mri of the spine. I know my gramps has PN and has balance issues and numb feet but not pain. He has special shoes that are not diabetitic but were made to help. He also sees a holistic doc who has him on an extreme amount of supp and he see's benefits. I have not seen benefit for me but my PN and RSD is more pain then your symptoms. On a side note I understand about the scams. I just try to get info here and then make my choice. Certain items though I have seen on the net if it sounds too good it probably is in my eyes. Sending thoughts

THANK YOU so much for the replies. I no longer feel alone on this issue.
Firstly Chemar for moving my post and the helpful comments.
Papp for the suggestions regarding my back and diabeties.
MrsD for so much help which I have already started to seek further information on. I didn't have chemo for my melanomas they where cut out.
Daniella for also suggesting spine check and her comments regards scams.
So many avenues to go down but at least I now have a much better map to follow.

Welcome!

I have no pain associated with my neuropathy either.
I have a "sensory greater than motor demyelinating polyneuropathy with secondary axonal loss"

They are testing me for CIDP... which, I will probably have.

I've already had many things ruled out.

If you go to the important links thing up top you can check what tests and things need to be done.
And there is another nice site from Seattle that if you click demyelinating neuropathy or whatever you have it will list off a possibility of what you could have.

So if you have had tests and been ruled out.. it makes it easier on you to know what you can have.

Not everyone gets pain though, and I am glad I don't have it.
I get really bad numbness, and I am also losing the ability to walk.

What ???
Where?

What is the site?

Sorry for not replying earlier. I was quite sick over the holiday.


http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/neuromuscular/naltbrain.html

This is the diagnostics entry point for the huge neuromuscular conditions database at Washington University of St. Louis' medical website. It is written primarily in outline form, and mostly for medical professionals, but it is extraordinarily comprehensive; going through the links and sub links reveals a wealth of info on neuropathy (and other neuromuscular conditions).