PN or something else?
 

Hello

I've yet to be diagnosed proper but I've come to the conclusion I have PN my symptoms are

aching/burning feet, stabbing pains at night
hair loss on shins
ache from the knee down
cramp
muscle wastage in legs
tingling in fingers with occasional pins and needles and stabbing pain in tips of fingers too

I've recently spent two weeks in hospital for alcohol withdrawal (had PN symptoms for about eight month before going in and I'm no longer drinking after over 15 years of drinking)

While there I had two MRI'S,nerve conduction tests and CT scan .

I was discharged a month ago without really knowing much untill I get to see the Neurologist (whenever that will be. NHS don't exactly rush, but still.)

They gave me Thiamine, Folic Acid and strong Vitamin B Compound to take.

So what do you all think PN or not?

Thanks for reading.

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

We cannot diagnose you exactly but it seems like a PN of some sort.

Here is a thread recently by another person, who improved greatly with some lifestyle changes:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread104096.html

In addition to what is mentioned on that thread, magnesium supplements (no OXIDE type however) and Omega-3's are also helpful.

But with muscle wasting, you may have a hereditary type of
PN also called CMT...
Here is information on that:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread121564.html

I was also thinking it might be CMT. Do you have numbness or loss of sensation or balance?
Shoud he be taking a multi B complex? Isn't too much B-6 a problem? Might it not be better to stick with B-12?

Thanks for the reply MrsD.

I have been doing a lot of reading through this very usefull forum and hope to learn a lot about this condition, If only to just ease the constant ache a bit or walk without it feeling like I'm walking on gravel barefooted and without the use of sticks.

Yes to all three and dizzyness too.

My eldest son (27) has inherited CMT, and while they say alcohol isn't a big factor with inherited neuropathies, he is a very heavy drinker and I think it has accelerated his symptoms.

I was also a heavy drinker I packed it in suddenly because I had an inkling thats what was causing the symptoms I decribed. It's also what got me put in hospital on various drips and whatnot. I've no intention of drinking again thats for sure.

I dont know of anyone in the family suffering from CMT but I suppose it could skip generations, could it?

The only hereditary thing in my family is cataracts.

Please read Icehouse's recovery from alcohol induced PN on that first link I gave you. It gives a time frame which worked for him.

MrsD stumbled across that thread the other day found it very informative.

CMT does not skip generations. Someone can have symptoms that aren't that evident but they are still able to pass it on. It also could be chocked up to something else. There are rare occasions where there is a mutation.

Well it's been confirmed (sort of) I have Idiopathic Peripheral Neuropathy.

I was recently in hospital to have an infected cyst removed from above the left eye and the district nurse has to come and change the dressing daily, she left me with my notes and there it was in black and white.

Symptoms had been waning a bit (cramps had gone at least) but since taking co-amoxiclav they seem to be back more especially in feet and fingers.

I'm on day three of a seven day coarse.

Do antibiotics affect PN?

"hair loss on shins"

I just checked my own shins just to see if there was hair there, never crossed my mind untill now.

I have had 3 full blown alcohol withdrawal seizures during 30 years of very heavy drinking and though they were terrifying I always decided to give alcohol another chance :rolleyes:

its supposedly reversible but the progress at least can be stopped when abstaining for good.

Yes, it is, I am living and walking proof. Here is the thread that I have kinda hijacked... :p

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread104096.html

Picking a good neurologist
 

I just wanted to share my situation with my neuorologist with you. My doctor(recently switched) set me up an appointment with a neurologist and I went and every test came back negative. I was reading another site about PN and they suggested that you need to seek out a Neuromuscular Neurologist. I then went back and researched whtat my neurologist was and she is a sleep specialist or something like that. In that same source they suggested that people with PN are best to have a neurologist that have dealt with alot of MS patients.