Confused
 

I started the burning/tingling in my feet about 5 years ago...wasn't concerned and kept on running, literally. I was training for a marathon. Then the pain got so bad, I thought I pulled a muscle or tendon...

I've been to a lot of doctors over the years and in April of this year I went to see a Neurologist who did an EMG/Nerve Condusive Test and diagnosed me with Peripheral Neuropathy. He prescribed gabapentin at 300mg a day and then every six weeks he would up it another 300mg a day until I got up to 1200mg a day and still had pain...

fast forward. I got the flu and went to see a new primary care and he ordered an MRI & X-ray of the lumbar, MRI of the brain and X-ray of the neck..wow. the first neurologist only did the EMG/Nerve. My primary care sent to me to see another neurologost who diagnosed me with small fiber neuropathy, not peripheral. He said peripheral doesn't go into the hands and thought I had carpal tunnel. going in for another EMG/Nerve test on my hands next week. He prescribed gabapentin at 300 3x day and every 3 days go up 300 mg 3 x a day until I reach 1200mg 3x a day...Thats 3600mg a day..I think I'm going to be sick

Sorry for the lengthy letter. I'm confused? How is one doctor says one thing and another in the same field says another. Either way I'm in pain all the time and find myself screaming because the electric shocks are so severe.

Anyone else going through this?

Nueropathy
 

There is a sub-forum specific to neuropathy here. I have other health issue but wanted to post reply. Hope more informed answers to your questions in the other sub-forum. Personally I have found answers to some of my questions and a very freindly, supportive culture here.

Hi, Love62!
 

Nice to meet you! My name is Richie. :) I began suffering from neuropathies nearly ten years ago, and no, they certainly aren't much fun. :o I've seen five neurologists and two neurosurgeons, along with many other doctors, and I don't think that any two of them said the same things after seeing me. :rolleyes: Neuropathy is NOT nice at all, and I sympathize with you. Are there any more facts or descriptions you can share about yours? Like where it hurts most, and what effects the pain, such as temperature, humidity, exercise, etc.? I've studied this stuff a lot, and have been living with it, if you call it living. :p If there is anything I can do to help I would be happy to. Wishing you all the best, and hoping that your outlook will improve. Good luck, Love62! :)

Nice to meet you!!
 

Welcome to Neurotalk--
 

--but we've got to clear up some doctor misconceptions for you.

"Peripheral Neuropathy" is just the term for diseases/conditions of the peripheral (not central--brain and spinal cord) part of the nervous system. Small-fiber neuropathy is just one sub-type of peripheral neuropathy--the type that affects the thinly myelinated and non-myelinated ("free" nerve endings) that are very thin and subsume the sensations of pain and temperature, and also control many autonomic functions (such as sweating and blood pressure). This is in contrast to the "larger", myelinated nerves that control all motor functions and and the sensory modalities of position in space, vibration and mechanical touch.

And no doctor should be foolish enough to say that neuropathy cannot affect the hands--you'll find many people on our boards whose hands (and lots of other parts) are affected. Moreover, carpal tunnel is just a neuropathy that effects a particular place (the narrow passages of the wrist).

Hi
 

Glen is right about the doctors comment I have small fibre sensory neuronopathy and eight years ago this started as tingling in my FINGERS neuro thought it was carpel tunnel tests showed negative a while later tingling started in toes more tests was dx with PN............hope you get some positive answers soon and that your pain will lesson as well can relate to what you are going through.............tc.................Marie :grouphug:

My right foot had the electric shock in it first and then the tingling, burning in both my feet. Now I get all three, even in my hands. I live in Phx, AZ and the heat is intense right now which does complicate my symptoms also after I exercise..I used to exercise 1.5 hours 6 days a week and now I can hardly get 30 minutes in 3 times a week because it hurts so much. My balance is off, I have dizziness, trip over things that aren't there, my vision has changed.

My family doesn't understand because on the outside I look so healthy, but on the inside I'm screaming in pain, sometimes it gets so bad I scream out loud

My Sentiments exactly..
 

I am new to this forum,but to start i would like to echo the sentiments of Glenna. I was diagnosed with CIDP back in 2005 and this neuropathy definitely affects the hands. So I agree with her.:)

It might also be helpful to note that those "fine" nerves are often also controlling nerves, which mean that they control the actions of cells themselves, especially muscle cells. This can lead to a stoppage in metabolism and cause sharp pain like you get with cramps. It may cause you to stumble and fall, affect your digestive system, cause double-vision...the list of possible symptoms is long. And then comes the anxiety from dealing with everything else. It helps a lot to talk about it, and researching it on the internet (using reliable sources) can help you understand it more and make you feel more in control of things again. Good luck, Love 62, and I wish you the best!