Need Some Encouragement
 

Here is the breakdown of what I am experiencing:

I've had Mortons Neuroma in just one foot for over a year, at times it went away and other times it got worse. No other pain besides that. I got a cortisone shot in the 3rd toe area about 3 weeks and the pain started to go away.

About 4 weeks ago, I all of a sudden experienced intense nerve shooting pain in BOTH FEET, right at the top of the entire food pad area whenever I would step off or walk on a hard surface barefooted. It felt like pins and needles or stepping on rocks. The foot pad pain came on quickly and hit both feet around the same time. It only hurt when I would step off or stand on my feet. Wearing house slippers and orthopedic inserts has helped A LOT.

My podiatrist told me that it's bad foot mechanics (flat feet). So I thought the problem was merely my flat feet and nothing more.

Here is where things got weird/bad: About 10 days ago, all of a sudden, I started to experience these nerve tingling, itching and nerve shooting pains throughout my entire body. It was random and was a 1-2 second nerve zap. It affected all areas of my body; my back, arms, even areas of my face. I also started to experience occasional muscle spasms/muscle twitches in my arms and calves.

There were hours were I would not feel any of those symptoms and other times I would feel quite a bit.

Of course now I am worried and anxious but from what I researched online it does NOT seem like MS symptoms but more like peripheral neuropathy. I have a blood test scheduled to check for diabetes, thyroid, B12, mercury, and a host of other blood tests.

Just trying to find some encouraging advice or words because I am really scared what is going on with me. :(

It is scary to have new symptoms and problems. I am so sorry. There are so many things you can do no matter what it turns out to be. With MS, a doctor has written a book called "Minding my Mitochondria." She was very ill. She learned all she could and and with her diet she is SO much better, no more w.chair, she gardens and rides her bike. I love that book, it deals with mitochondria and nerves so we all benifit from that information. It is all about food.

Also, no matter what the glucose test says (I hope you do get an A1C test) you need to stop sugar and simple carbs. They are bad for every part of the body and mostly for the nerves. Diet is number one.

The supplements are the next thing. SO important. I hope you have a good integrative MD that can help with all of that. Good brands and the right doses.

Exercise, even a small amount it important. I have autonomic neuropathy, Dysautonomia/ POTS so standing up and exercising is only for small amounts of time. I sit for most of it.

Circulation is important. I am ordering the Infrared Dome to help and heal more. I am doing very well with the PN now. Autonomic Neuropathy is also doing so well. Different each day.

I hope you get answers soon.

We can do many things to help healing so try to stay calm and I am glad you are here.

15 years ago I had a mortons nueromo on my right foot below 3rd and 4th toe area. I tried accupuncture and it worked, it shrunk it and took away pain but when I would stop accupuncture it would grow back. I could not afford or foresee doing it forever so I quit.

The pain was debilitating. I would be driving down the road and suddenly a shooting stabbing horrid nerve pain would shoot all the way up to my hip and I almost drove off the road. I almost had an accident. On the side of the road that day I made my decision to have surgery.

The surgerly left a small area numb but the pain went away. That small circle diameter is still numb, always will be.

I don't believe your other symptoms have anything to do with the mortons neuroma.

It's been 15 years for me and I now have pn in my feet.

Take Sally's advice. Diet is IMPORTANT. B12 and Benfotiamine help me the most with my burning. I ran out of benfotiamine for 2 weeks and thought no big deal. WRONG. Burning began to happen during the day all day. I am happily back on it and only flare ups now and again and mostly at night.

Thyroid caused mine, I think. High blood sugar numbers make it worse. I am off all simple carbs, flour, sugar, etc.

good luck

Thanks for the info and encouragement!:hug:

I did have a blood test last year, I wasn't tested for B12 or mercury but my thyroid was fine, glucose was fine, but my Vitamin D was REALLY LOW:

12.6L Range was 30.1 - 100.0 ng/mL

So it was very low. I started taking Vitamin D pills (5,000 units) one per day. That was about 7 months ago since that test. I will get my blood test results hopefully by mid next week.

I would love to see a Vitamin B12 deficiency or even high mercury levels, as this would tell me my neuropathy is most likely being caused by those factors, instead of something like MS or similar.

I have started taking supplements also.

Many times, it is a combination of things. I am so glad you found your Vit D problem and I hope it is normal now. Finding these problems help so much. Not just the nerves, but the whole body.

Even with good glucose testing, stop sugar and simple carbs. You can still eat wonderful foods. Dark choc. for one. I make my own with dark choc, Cocomanna (Whole Coconut) and a small amount of coconut palm sugar. I put it in molds over nuts and also in other molds with peppermint oil. SOOOO healthful and delicious.

Sugar tastes so good, but it is so bad in every way, that includes the carbs that are just like sugar. Breads, processed stuff, rice...

If you don't mind me asking. Were you diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy (unknown cause) or actual MS?

We have a lot of the same symptoms. My vit D level was also low when they checked it last year. My b12 wasn't the best it was a 444.

All the Tests
 

I must agree with SallysGarden. No matter which diagnosis you eventually receive (an it might not even be the right one!), proactive diet and exercise are the first line of defense and offense in stopping the condition from worsening and starting the healing process. I would just add that there is a cognitive (thought) component to our health, and it is important to learn to monitor one's thoughts for negativity and change that to a more pragmatic (realistic) and positive attitude!

Best Wishes,
StormE1

I read that coffee is actually good for MS. I was surprised but numerous medical articles claimed that coffee, tea and even small amount of wine actually help prevent MS from advancing to further stages.

Of course moderation is key and avoiding adding sugar in tea or coffee is also key.

There are some studies that show low Vit D levels can cause PN type of symptoms. For sure low Vit D will cause muscle pain, bone problems, and other problems but it can also affect the nerve system. Not as much as B12 but everything is connected in our bodies and low D is not good.

My levels were atrocious at 12.6 mL. Who knows how long they were at that point? I should have my results next week to see where my levels are at now.

One thing with Vit D is that you can have TOO much of it, supposedly over 100 mL can become toxic. Your body gets the best Vit D source from the sun and one CANNOT become Vit D toxic from the sun as your body regulates that but pill forms can build up in your system.