Peripheral Neuropathy - Scared
 

Hi: 45/year old male here. I went to my primary care doctor with numbness, burning and severe stiffness feeling in both feet. They tested my blood and everything was normal. That doctor referred me to a podiatrist - the podiatrist told me that he thought I had peripheral neuropathy and now wants me to see a neurologist. I am afraid that it is going to spread throughout my body. I acquired severe tinnitus about 8 months ago and only with the help of Jesus am I starting to cope with my tinnitus. I am not a diabetic. However, I need to lose some weight in-which I am achieving now to try and lessen the load on my feet. Any help advise would be so helpful and greatly appreciated. God Bless - douglas

Hi Douglas,

I'm sure if you've found this website you must know by now there are over 100 causes of peripheral neuropathy. It requires quite a few tests to try and find a cause, and many, including myself remain idiopathic after years of tests.

But one thing I have discovered is the mind/body is amazing in it's ability to adapt to change. While my symptoms have not improved at all in the last 2 years, I feel much better than I did when first diagnosed. Even if you knew me fairly well, you would have no clue I have a medical issue.

I think the suggestion to see a neurologist makes sense, and begin the process of ruling out the many potential causes (if you even have it).
It will take time, so try to be patient. Getting stressed out often exacerbates the symptoms so try to have a positive mental attitude. It's not easy, but it's the best advice I could have received when this journey began.

Best of luck.

Thank you so much for responding to me. What do the neurologist do to get a definitive diagnosis of neuropothy?

Good Morning Douglas
 

I totally agree with the excellent advice Protector gave you. I've had idiopathic neuropathy for well over 20 years, and I've learned to live with it. I thank the Lord every day that the cause of it is not diabetes.

The neurologist will probably want to do an EMG test. It may help you to find the cause, and yet it may not. There is no known cure, and because it's idiopathic there is no way of knowing what is causing it. One doctor told me it was called idiopathic because the idiot doctors don't know what is causing it. He said that to put a smile on my face.

You have come to the right place. Keep coming here and you will learn so much from how vitamins, minerals, and nutrition may help to alleviate symptoms. It's a great comfort to have the support of others who are willing to share and support their own experiences with this mysterious #%&#*%# affliction. Stay well and God Bless :grouphug:

There are many visual and mechanical standard neurological tests they will perform during an initial checkup. After that they usually start with a battery of blood tests looking for any abnormalities that can damage the nerves.

They also, depending on your symptoms, may recommend some MRI's searching for possible compression issues. There are countless other tests if the easy ones come back negative, but the doctor will decide, depending on your symptoms, if they are worth pursuing.

If all your results over time are normal, the definitive test for small fiber neuropathy is the skin biopsy. A small plug of skin, usually from the thigh and ankle, is sent to a lab to count nerve fiber density.

Keep in mind, this process usually takes many months or more. Believe it or not, the symptoms your experiencing sometimes go away by themselves. I did not have a skin biopsy until more than a year after symptoms started. And sometimes people with symptoms show normal nerve density.

So Rosie33 also gave you excellent advice. This forum is an wealth of valuable information. The search feature rarely fails to provide answers to many questions you will encounter. So search away, if you don't find your answer, just ask.

Grape Seed Extract: How Healthful Is It? - Medical News Today

Grape seed extract let a friend throw away gabapentin a few yrs ago. She dealt with what the doctors told her was ideopathic neuropathy, but later her daughter found it was from statin drugs, years of the drugs. That's a whole other topic.

I've been taking grape seed extract for 23 yrs soon and if I had anything to do with it, everyone would take it. Improved health overall. Could get many off drugs or not have them go on them. I take virtually no drugs, but thyroid and BP and ibuprofen...and many supps and this OPC which is the class of antioxidants which grape seed extract falls into.

I'm no doctor but love to help others. Do your research.

And may prevent cancers, we were told this back in 1995 when this OPC came to our attention. I'm going on 79 and all in all very healthy...have a lot of OA and last place for it to go was my right foot ankle....but I also believe a lot of damage to my body from hip replacement in 2010. Lots of stories, but my health is pretty darn good.

Thank-you Rossie33. I have been on a mission to lose weight and start supplementing with various vitamins and minerals. What is an EMG? - douglas

Thank you for helping me. I am just afraid - besides my tinnitus, thank the Lord I am healthy. I dont want to be sick. The plug extraction sounds painful.- douglas

caroline2: Thank-you for this information. How much do you take? I would most definitely try it - douglas

Welcome gdg111 :)
 

I take 200mg daily for sure of the grape seed extract, NOT grapeFruit, don't get confused. For chronic issues one can do a loading dose to saturate the body tissues and start attacking the issue. Loading dose meaning instead of 200mg, take 400mg. Either divided or at one time. Or even 600mg loading dose.

Disclaimer here: I'm certainly not a health professional but someone who has worked with and taken this class of OPC antioxidants since 1995. Do your research.

If one takes a pharma blood thinner, then can't take both.

Dear Douglas,

I was diagnosed with Profound PN in 2010. Like you I feared the it would spread upwards through my entire body. It is 7 years later, and it has not.

I have, however, developed Small Fiber Neuropathy (damage of the small fibers in my skin). I did not have PN of my arms and hands when I was tested in 2012.

I do have severe osteoarthritis of my hands, so I cannot pick and hold heavy things easily, BUT I don't have the numbness of PN, which is a blessing.

Fear is natural, but can be as crippling as any physical disorder.

A brief course of an antidepressant or anti anxiety medication might help you rise beyond your fear at the physiological level.

As you enter into the world of Immune Disorders you will be challenged in many ways. Ask us your questions and we will try to help you.

Regards, ElaineD

Welcome Douglas
 

It sounds like you've already received some great information so I won't repeat what's been said. While you are waiting to have some of these tests I would try to avoid some general things that have been know to assault nerves such as sugar, alcohol, many posters can't tolerate caffeine and spicy food. Now would be a good time to start keeping a journal if you haven't already. You can write down questions you want to ask the doctor and also take notes when you go. If you can have someone go with you so you have support and an extra pair of ears. They can take the notes so you can just concentrate on the appointment. When you have your tests you can always post resulted if you have questions. There is a wealth of knowledgeable people here. Hope this helps.
Carol

PN
 

Hi there,
I was diagnosed with neuropathy in my feet a few years ago. I started to notice a slight limp several years ago. I passed it off to an broken leg in my 20's from a car accident that was finally catching up to me. I just turned 59. I just went through colon cancer and surgery in 2015 and every turned out just fine. I have been taking medicine for epilepsy since I was 16. My neurologist set me up to have some tests done. I had a nerve conduction test done where they hook probes up to your feet and legs and run electric impulses to a machine to get readings. Well, they could not find out the cause of my problem. So, my feet started to get worse. I would have to pick up my feet or my toes would hit the floor. But, I didn't have the burning that a lot of people complain about. Mine tingled. I did some research and found that B12 may help and that took away the tingling. I ended up getting fitted with plastic braces that I step into and that wrap around my ankles. My balance is not that great, but it is a hell of a lot better than it was before. The braces support the foot and slip inside the shoe and are never seen! Wishing you the best of luck!