Small Fiber Nerve Damage Question
 

Neurologist said I have small fiber nerve damage. Question though, I feel burning in my knees sometimes and sometimes in my feet. However, it is positional meaning some positions (bending knee for example) cause burning and some positions don't. Is that normal or could my nerves actually just be very irritated and have abitliy to heal? New to this and my neurologist isn't the best, just quickest to see me.

Lot of info here, and I've had more burning/tingling and now not as much, mine is from nerve damage from hip replacement MESS.

I find using topical Topricin homeopathic lotion the BEST and use it throughout the day...fairly often...Homeopathy does do some healing.

I use other stuff but Topricin is great. I just read the Science page of the Topricin website and homeopathy is so missed by Americans. Do your research on Topricin.

Hi MeltADan

Welcome to NeuroTalk :).

I am sorry to read about your SFN.

It can be very variable in its clinical signs, like the positional effects you have described.

Has the neurologist you have seen carried out any detailed investigations?

All the best.

OP: I should have included two other products I've used not many months after hip replacement and they helped the nerve damage issues. They are Inosine and Sphinglin and you can do research on them and amazon sells them of course. I'm about to buy them again as I still get recurring nerve issues in my thigh and down leg. When I took them I took them both at the same time, but do what you may feel comfortable with. I've talked about these here but haven't heard if others have used them.

My neurologist checked large nerves and muscles and said all was good. She did a few other checks with filament, etc and said based on symptoms, it would be SFN. She prescribed Gabapentin. She didn't do a biopsy, but did bloodwork just to make sure not a B 12 issue, etc. I was just hoping since it seemed positional, there was hope the nerves could recover.

Funny with all the nerve damage and burning/tingling etc. I've never gone to a doctor about this stuff...there is so much info from Dr. Google and this forum has so much support. A friend took Gabapentin on doc's recommendation, took it for years and dealt with all the nasty side effects: dizzy issues and nausea and that went on for years....but once she started taking Grape Seed Extract, she's off the drug and doing pretty good considering how long she's had nerve damage mess.

Sorry but our medical doctors only know to push their drugs. I woke up years ago.

Any good over the counter pain meds. I'm not real interested in taking Gabapentin at 1200 mg a day for pain as my neuro prescribed. I just want something for the tough days?

Dan,

I am not aware of any OTC drugs that are effective for neuropathic pain. In fact, the prescription drugs are generally only good for providing "modest pain reduction." It is probably going to take some time to figure out which combination of these drugs will help the most. If you don't want to use Gabapentin or Lyrica, there are low dose anti-tricyclic antidepressants that have show some efficacy in treating neuropathic pain.

Good Luck

There are other alternatives to simply consuming anti-seizure meds (which is what Gabapentin is). You've fallen off the end of your neurologist's flow chart and that's all they've got left.

There are a number of supplements that have studies on pubmed demonstrating their ability to help with neuropathic pain and or repair. Try searching on alpha-lipoic acid or l-carnitine.

Also there is one company (Winsantor) in phase 2 trials with a drug that stops neurodegeneration and causes nerves to regrow. You can find their research on pubmed also.