Small Fiber Neuropathy and Osteoarthritis
 

Please have patience to read on..... I really need information from those with similar conditions like mine.

Prior to my symptoms of this painful and horrible neuropathy, I was on Plaquenil because of painful osteoarthritis in my hand, fingers and elbows. I was told by my rheumatologist that Plaquenil is not the first line of treatment of osteoarthritis but since I could not take any medicine with aspirin or ibuprofen, Plaquenil was prescribed. I dont have RA, but my fingers are slightly disfigured. After 7 weeks on Plaquenil, I started to experience this terrible itching all over my body. Initially, I applied the OTC hydrocortisone (1%) but it did not help. After 5 days of continuous itching, I called my rheumatologist who advised me to stop Plaquenil and prescribed Benadryl (this was last October 2011). Even with Benadryl, the itching did not stop and it progressed to stabbing pins and needles. I went to my primary care physician who gave me a medicine (I forgot the name now) which was supposed to be stronger than Benadryl.

Anyway, it took a long while before I was referred to a neurologist. Right now, my treatment is focused on finding the cause of my neuropathy. So far, all my tests are normal, except for the thyroid function. But my neurologist/s think that the numbers are not that "way-off" to cause neuropathy. One of my neurologists even commented that abnormal thyroid function when treated (or being treated), the symptoms should improve (mine does not). I am now scheduled for a skin biopsy.

My questions are:

1. If I resume my Plaquenil, upon of course the go signal of my rheumatologist, will it aggravate my symptoms? I am sooooo scared to take anything that will cause more harm to my nerves. I am sure my rheumatologist will not oppose if I ask to resume Plaquenil. That is one of my frustrations with seeing several specialists. Some doctors dont even exert a little effort to study (or to even really look) about the interactions of their prescription to the current medications of the patient. They treat patients singularly and not on wholistic basis.

2. Can the inflammation of osteoarthritis (not RA), possibly cause a PN?
Meantime, my arthritis is becoming so painful while my neuropathic symptoms are becomimg even more painful.

I would appreciate any ideas from anybody who have the same or similar condition like mine, or from anybody who have some knowledge about Plaquenil and Neuropathy. Please share with me your experiences and your thoughts..........

Thank you so much.

from rxlist.com:

http://www.rxlist.com/plaquenil-drug...teractions.htm

This drug is pretty complicated. I couldn't get DrugCite to connect now, but I'll try later.

I would not try Plaquenil again, since you had itching, and skin reactions. Those can progress to serious things, and you have had a warning of sorts.

Thank you sooooo much Mrs.D. I really really appreciate your time and efforts in providing me with valuable information.

I dont know what to take for my osteoarthritis. When i was seeing my rheumatologist, she told me that its going to be Prednisone the next line of treatment for me if Plaquenil fails to help. I dont want to take Prednisone, at least for now that I am suffering from this horrible pain. I dont know what to do...

DrugCite is back

http://www.drugcite.com/?q=Plaquenil

This is the Plaquenil page. If you click on "neurological" in the first graph sequence it will open with details. Not a large showing, but keep in mind this drug is not used much, so numbers will be lower.

Dear Mrs.D,
thank you for your help. I wont consider plaquenil for osteoarthritis. But I am not also keen on taking Prednisone because of its effects on the nerves. Well, I don't know what to take for my arthritis.

I feel very frustrated and helpless.

I wonder what other medicine that I can take for my arthritis..

By the way, I will try tonight the Biofreeze for my burning feet. I hope it helps...

Mrs D, is it the nature of neuropathy that when you wake up in the morning, while still lying in bed, you don't feel any of the symptoms? Not that I am complaining, I love the feeling of my old self but I am curious if this is a common manifestation of neuropathy.
Once I get up and walk to the bathroom and do my regular morning ritual, the pain will start.

I get too about not being in pain in the morning. I usually get a one hour break from pain. I am on 2700 mg gabapen tin so perhaps this helps.

Thank you for your sharing.
How long have you been on gabapentin? I am on 1200mg a day and it makes me so sleepy and drowsy.....as in really sleepy and drowsy.

I hope the supplements work so I can take away gabapentin.:)

Thank you Mrs D!
I am truly thankful of this site.

Thank you for always giving me feedback. You are very generous with your time and selflessly sharing valuable information.

My feet don't hurt much anymore in the morning. Back when I had my hypothyroid so badly, it hurt to walk --agony in fact each morning. Like all the bones in my feet were broken.

Sleeping changes perception in the brain. So when you wake up it may take some time to activate that pain center.

My feet hurt the most when I go to bed. If I wake up in the night they are okay. When I get burning, it is when I first lie down.

That is when I put the magnesium lotion on them or Biofreeze (mostly when it is hot). My left foot get the most attention, as my old surgical scar is now throbbing some days. I have no idea why this is either!

I don't use gabapentin or Lyrica.

I have been on GABA for two years. I like the side effect of drowsiness as I sleep so much better at night. My PA said I am at my top dose of GABA. I asked for some tramodol aka ultram. I am trying to see how it will work out.

mistyangel
 

Wow sounds like were twins i have the same symptons as you ! and know once i get up out of bed the pain and numbness in my feet will start in an hour or so, i've tried gabapentin with no results and have been on lyrica for the past 3 months with still no relieve, do to the wieght gain and unpleasent feeling i get from lyrica i have stopped using it as of 03/15/12 dont know what to do with my burning feet, but as for my osteoarthritis which i have in my left shoulder i recently started taking 500mg of Glucosamine capsules twice a day and it really seems to help ! the one i am using is shellfish free and you can buy it over the counter no prescription required. Best of luck to you..

Hello Mistyangel,
I am taking also Glucosamine (Move Free) for years now, and I am not sure if there is any benefits, but am still taking..... I am taking Gabapentin. It helps a little mask the stabbing, prickling but does not help the pain in my feet and legs. I still continue to take it (I am on it for almost 4 months now) together with the supplements listed in the supplements thread.

Best of luck to all of us....