Small fiber neuropathy
 

My husband has come down with neuropathy. It has progressed at an alarming rate. Within 8 months it's gone from his feet to arms,legs,face,and lungs. He's been seen by 4 neurologists an d been on gabapentin,, lyrica and amitriplene. He's had 2 doctors tell him they won't be his doctor because they don't know how to treat him. Many tests and they can't find the cause. He was told by a doctor yesterday that he's in real trouble with his feet. His skin is changing to 'baby skin' and will lose the ability to walk if they can't find the cause. This is so very frightening. Has anyone ever heard of the term 'baby skin'? Can't find any information on the web.
Would be very grateful for any responses.

I have not heard--
 

--of the term "baby skin" in connection with any medical diagnosis.

There are, however, a number of conditions that involve skin changes that can secondarily result in neuropathy either through compression of other mechanisms. Chief among these are autoimmune conditions such as lupus and scleroderma. There are also conditions in which there are concomitant changes in both skin and small-fiber nerves simultaneously, such as complex regional pain syndrome/reflex sympathetic dystrophy (CRPS/RSD), and dermatitis hepatiformis, a manifestation of celiac which can produce neuropathy.

Can you give us a an idea what type of work-up he's had? Has he had most/all of the testing expressed in the Latov/Quest diagnostic protocol or in the Liza Jane spreadsheets?

www.lizajane.org

http://www.questdiagnostics.com/test...ripheralNeurop

Welcome Focusar. :Wave-Hello:

Hi Focusar, I am sure if your husbnd was diabetic, you would have said so. I have never heard of "baby skin". Diabetes+aging+blood thinners= fragile skin that bruises easily and damages easily. His urgency about his feet sounds diabetic in nature but the rest of the symptoms do not. You can reply to Glenneta and we will learn more. Best wishes Ken in Texas

I suggest you look at our RSD forum.... it is another type of neuropathy involving the sympathetic nervous system.

Our forum here for RSD has a photo area...when the swelling and discoloration happen the skin gets thin and shiney and sometimes red or darker, which could be interpreted as baby skin...

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread16167.html

you can also search Google for RSD or CRPS and hit images and see many other photos to see if you see that "baby skin".

Having problems in the LUNGS suggests RSD to me (also called CRPS) .. RSD can spread thru the body sometimes quickly affecting organs.

You also need to investigate autoimmune diseases like Sjogren's and scleroderma which affect organs too.