What were the first symptoms of your (Idiopathic) Peripheral Neuropathy?
 

Hi everyone.

I have a question for those who have (Idiopathic) Peripheral Neuropathy: What were the first symptoms of your PN?

I am 41, female. About 6 months ago, I started to have tingling in both my hands, and pain in both arms and shoulders. A couple weeks later, my wrists started to hurt badly. I thought it was just carpal tunnel syndrome. But a few weeks later, I started to have pain in the back of my legs, and tingling/pain in my feet/toes when I was sitting down, even on the softest seat. When I was standing up, my ankles would be really painful. About a month ago, I started to have pain in my mid back, and then the back of my neck, and then my lower back. I feel like I have pinched nerve all over my body. My blood test on Vitamin B12 was normal (about 1600?) but I was already taking B12 so I will never know. My Vitamin D was insufficient (27.7). X-ray, cervical MRI and Lumbar MRI all came back normal. Though I still have my strength, and no numbness (yet..?). I don’t smoke or drink. I did carry a bunch of heavy stuff during our office’s moving, a couple weeks before my symptoms started to appear, but am not sure if it was just coincident. My husband already has fibromyalgia, and it is just not fair for my two young children. I am wondering if these were your first symptoms of you NP? Any input will be appreciated.

Shelley

my first symptoms were numb big toes on both feet, it progressed in area covered and degree of numbness, until now, 11 years late i am numb to above both knees and also my hands are numb to a lesser degree. I no longer can feel the pin test or vibration test in either leg from the knee down. my ankles have also been sore on standing for most of the last 11 years.

Thank you for your reply.
After reading many posts here, I know I shouldn't be complaining. I feel sorry to hear many people suffer much more serious symptoms than I am.
I am just frustrated, worried and depressed. I feel this is the darkest time of my life so far. I don't know where this is going.
I see that a lot of people with PN have numbness. So maybe what I have is not PN since I haven't experienced it (yet)? I was really healthy until 6 months ago. Now I have to drive with a neck support on. I can't relax in my couch without feeling pain in my hands/feet (pinched nerve pain). If I sleep on my side, I have nerve pain in my hand & leg/foot on the side I sleep on. I can't carry even the lightest bag on my shoulder as it gives me pain from shoulder to fingers. Besides all the nerve pain, my muscles, especially those in my neck and shoulders, fatigue very easily with pain. Just started yesterday, I started to feel pain in my right hip..
The only thing makes me feel better now is walking. But I can't walk all day long. When I am tired, I want to be able to sit down & relax.

Maybe it is my Vitamin D insufficiency that caused all these? I started taking D3 yesterday. Hopefully it will help.
I am not sure if I belong to this forum. Any comment is appreciated...Thank you.

many people with pN do not have numbness. small fiber peripheral neuropathy usually presents with pain, burning and zaps rather than numbness. you need to find a good neurologist and start the testing process to find out exactly what is going on with you. for an idea of testing that may be done for various types of pn. www.lizajane.org

Felt like cold water on my legs. Then I had lightning bolt pain in abdomen. I now have tingling in arms. My thighs feel like weights are sitting on them. I feel a tightening feeling in my arms.

I, too, have no loss of function that I can tell. Walking does feel better. My feet have thus far been spared.