Are they basically talking about fish oil, MrsD? I'm trying to peel back the scientific jargon, and that's where I seem to have landed.

I never knew what EPA and DHA stood for!

Still trying to understand what they're saying, but it's difficult because when I read the scientific research reports I only understand about every fourth word.

If I try to get this is in plain English, this is what I'm gathering...

- ER Stress plays a significant role in neuropathic pain.

- ER Stress is mitigated by EPA and DHA which have an analgesic effect in the body.

- EPA and DHA are broken down by soluble epoxide hydrolas (sEH) into diols taking away their analgesic effects.

- The idea is to block sEH from breaking down EPA and DHA so they can in turn block ER Stress.


This is the UC Davis patent for "Treating Neuropathic Pain with sEH Inhibitors." Let the games begin.

http://www.google.com/patents/US20150065540



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It also seems to me that providing MORE fish oil would eventually override or use up the enzyme, so perhaps until there is an inhibitor of the break down enzyme, maybe just a bit higher dose would help?

That's what I was wondering. It would be an expensive experiment, but I might try it.

Interesting to my situation, I've seen estrogen referred to as an "sEH suppressor" in one report (can't drum it up at the moment), but this report seems to indicate the same:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3972065/

Estrogen, soluble epoxide hydrolase & cardiovascular injury

"17β-estradiol may regulate an emerging novel therapeutic target against CVD – soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) . Arachidonic acid is converted to endogenous lipid epoxides epoxy-eicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which sEH (the cytochrome P450 [CYP] eicosanoids-metabolizing enzyme) degrades to 1,2-diols (dihydroxy-eicosatrienoic acids [DHETs]). High sEH levels decrease EETs and increase DHETs, whereas inhibitors of sEH increase the EETs to DHETs ratio in animal models."


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What can I do to control
PN pain

I also have serious pain in my feet. I have been through all the tests and have had Steriod injections in my toes, Nortons Neurona. No effect, only more pain.
My life has been a complete misery for the last 18 months and I don't think that doctors are very much concerned about the condition. Although I am in my 80s I have been very active, outside every day in all weathers until affected by this. Treatment, Lyrica,two a day and the cream with the very hot chilli. The tablets help but I don't think the cream is helping. I follow these very helpful pages and some of my information I have taken note of and will present it to my consultant. AI hope Susan that you will get some helpful advice as I hope the same! In anticipation, thanks.

My previous post said that I was hoping to present some useful info obtain fron this very useful Forum! After a long wait for the appointment with the consultant at my NH hospital, the biggest waste of my time ever experienced! Full of hope for some sort of info from him to ease my very severe pain in my feet, I struggled to his department only to have less than 4 minutes of his time. After he had been told by his assistant in another room he came in to see me, hand outstretched with the words" I was right then about your condition " He couldn't be anything other than Right the idiot. I had already been sent by him to check for Nortons Neuroma, had the Steriod lnjections. He knew about the results so one doesn't need to be a brain surgeon to sort that one out. I came out of that hospital more that greatly dejected and no further forward in getting any relief. I tried to tell him about a little info from this Forum, B12 , Epsom salts etc, he just did not want to know. Mention the Internet to doctors and they are just not intrested. Sorry to go on so long. Edmund.