Hi
 

I recently saw a neurologist - he told me I had peripheral neuropathy. Oh well... Feet really hurt now - all the time.

Can anyone point me in the right direction where to get pertinent information on PN? I really don't have much free time, especially right now (I'm involved with shuttle missions).

I was told I had MS in 1988, so neurological problems are not new to me.

Thanks,

Tom

Sorry about that, Tom.

Hope you get some good input, and soon: would hate to see NASA have to delay a flight! ;)

Read the 'stickies' at the top of the titles page and go to the
links suggested that are of interest to you.
Also, there's other sites for PN'ers -
www.npnc.org &
http://www.neuropathy.org
just to name two.

first off....
 

I would evaluate your Vitamin B12 status.

Some people with very low B12 present and are diagnosed with MS by mistake. They can appear similar. Japan has published papers using extremely high doses of B12 to treat MS over there. They used about 40 milligrams in those studies, and I would not suggest that to you without supervision. But these papers are examples of other work:


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ubmed_RVDocSum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ubmed_RVDocSum

http://www.ithyroid.com/multiple_sclerosis.htm

Secondly, I'd read up about gluten intolerance. There have been posters in the past here and elsewhere who were diagnosed MS who were really reacting to gliadin in the body.

Our gluten forum here has some very excellent references in the stickies.

Sorry to hear this Tom. I know you have felt that your MS has been kind to you and I hope this is just a minor setback.

Here's a site I found.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/per...opathy/DS00131

And, as regards testing--
 

--I highly recommend the Liza Jane spreadsheets:

www.lizajane.org

These were put together as comprehensive listing of tests that can be considered for neurological symptoms of various kinds. The spreadhseet format allows one to track results over time and look for patterns--and it also can suggest tests to physicians that they may not otherwise consider.

Can you tell us more about your situation? I'm assuming if they once told you that MS was a possibility they've found some evidence of demyelination on MRI, or abnormal protein in through lumbar puncture, but these can be present in other conditions. What has led to the current diagnosis?

Sorry to hear that, Big Tom.

But the Moose is still in your corner rooting for ya'!

Sorry I was so brief. Yeah, I have MS. Roughly 35 lesions on last MRI (2003). I was in the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trials in 1988. I went to a neuro last week trying to find out why the hey I'm in so much pain all the time (picture feet completely numb and hurt like the dickens). Some neuro told me in Feb I had PN when I went to the emergency room (nerve pain). I blew it off. The neuro last week confirmed it.

Not a whole bunch of people know I got MS. Family and a few close friends. I haven't even told my wife about the PN thing yet. I've told her about the pain but have been blaming MS the whole time. Obviously, work doesn't know. I'm one of the NASA shuttle flight mission managers (I'm the Johnson Space Center center operations directorate mission manager - you'll see me in the control room on occasion).

About being brief - shuttle lands Saturday morning. I'll have more time after that. We have shuttle un-docking in a few hours.

I still walk normal, unless ya look real close... It's somewhat of a challenge. The pain started a little over a year ago. I've had numerous tests - I'm not diabetic. And I'm aware of the potential for B12 deficiency. And I know a whole bunch of other stuff that I'd rather not know about...

Tom

Hi Tom....
 

I am sorry you must also deal with PN!:(

Many here are much more "in the know" than I am currently on PN.

Many have given excellent links!
Hope the links are helpful.

Glad you have introduced yourself.:)

Welcome to the PN forum.:)

Okay, then--what specifically led to the PN diagnosis?
 

I ask as burning neural pain is certainly common with MS--it is very common in those with lesions in the spinothalamic tracts, where it becomes one of the most common sources of so-called "central pain", and it can produce symptoms anywhere in the body.

There are a number of people, in fact (and I'm sure you can find some of them on our MS board here) who have this as a primary symptom, without many attendant motor or autonomic symptoms.