Intermittent neuropathic symptoms - typical of PN?
 

Hi folks,

My PN symptoms started in mid-Febraury 2014 with tingling in my toes. Over the next two months, the tingling became the cold, burning numbness that we all know and love here. These symptoms were accompanied with diminished reflexes in my ankles, intermittent weakness in my left hand, and intermittent weakness in my left leg. The first neurologist I was working with found no abnormalities in my EMG and NCS. He didn't seem too concerned with my symptoms and merely directed me to correct my low b12 (in the 290's) and vitamin e (borderline deficient) levels. But I decided to take it a step further by seeking a second opinion with a neuro-muscular specialist. The specialist is in the process of ordering a MRI scan of my neck and brain, in addition to a few other blood tests and his own EMG. At present, most of my symptoms have resolved themselves. The burning pain for the most part is gone. It's still there somewhat, but it is just a nuisance in the background. More or less complete sensation has returned to my feet. The weakness in my left leg is still there somewhat; its degree of severity seems to fluctuate.

While I am doing my best to resist the temptation to self diagnose, I can't help but pose the question to our community here - is the intermittent character of my symptoms typical of some forms of PN? Or does this intermittent character strongly suggest that I might have relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis? I am hoping the MRI results will give me some definitive answers, but I figured there would be no harm in asking you folks.

Thanks for your time,
Hanshan 寒山

There are some peripheral neuropathies--
 

--that have a relapsing/remitting character to them, most notably certain variants of chronic immune demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), but this is not common.

On the other hand, many of us with varied neuropathic conditions have good and bad periods and experience "flares" that eventually dissipate back to baseline levels.

Also, consider the possibility that you are getting some healing/regeneration. If you have corrected those vitamin levels (that B12 level in particular was quite low), you may be experiencing that. Many people who have gotten better, though, say it is not a steady process; there are peaks and valleys, "flares" that then get better only in long-term retrospect, and often some rather odd sensory experiences as the nerves regrow and reconnect themselves.

Thank you for your response! I guess I am just going to have to be patient and continue working with my neurologist to get answers. I hope everyone out there can find some relief from their symptoms as I seem to have.

Hello there Hanshan :)