cause of widespread PN
 

I have a bulging disc in the l4 l5 region. I have pain and hip pain also. In April I walked a lot on a vacation trip. That night my lower back went into extreme spasm. I could not walk or sit without extreme pain. I went to the Er and was given a pain shot and prednisone. By mid may, I started developing neuropathy symptoms. Do you think that episode would be trauma enough to cause Neuropathy? Danielle

By definition, peripheral neuropathy involves the root nerves that come from the spine. Compression certainly can cause problems with the roots nerves. Best bet is an mri to evaluate.

I have had multiple MRI's that show no compression. The symptoms started within 3 weeks after the muscle spasms and ER visit.

Can you meet with your neurologist or the doctor who dx the bulging disc? From my experience and others who have been to the ER they are not always familiar with nerve conditions etc.

Not to put too fine a point on it--
 

--but peripheral neuropathy can stem from hundreds of causes, and can start anywhere along the peripheral nerve tracts, not just at the spinal nerve roots.

Spinal nerve root compromise is only one type of neuropathy, generally termed radiculopathy ("radic" = "root" in Latin).

So true, should have said *one* of the definitions. Just thinking along the lines of the bulging disc.

All these definitions are helpful, but how could a bulging disc cause PN through out the body? I know there are 100 reasons. I am just thinking of what relates to me. Also there is a great neuropathy group on FB called Neuropathy Friends. Check it out!

I asked my neurologist how come I have symptoms appearing all over and she said my nerves and spine were irritated and any irritation just upsets the network. I do not have a clue what she means.

I guess it is possible for a severe muscle spasm to put pressure on nerves causing them to release hormones and other things. Possibly the cramp is a symptom from the PN and not the cause of the increased PN. Long walks impact on your body can be an aggravating factor making everything hurt. If the bulging disc presses on the nerve and you have inflamation, your system will respond to fix that inflamation. Everything is connected, the body responds as a whole to try to fix itself.

Prednisone is containdicated in some forms of PN, can't recall which ones off hand. Wow, just a big bunch of suppositions.

Thanks for the info on FB, will check it out.

duplicate message removed.

thats a closed group