This was from a thread I started under the HRT topic as "Close call". I just got done with a visit to a neurologist my podiatrist recommended. He said the source of the pain cannot be located but probably where the sciatic nerve branches to the leg nerves. My regular doctor and the podiatrist has done all there is to be done here. The painkillers are not working here. No treatment or surgery for the problem except a nerve pacemaker placed at the base of the spine. The pacemaker has a 75% effectiveness of lessening pain in my case, but does not cure the problem. The latter is not going to happen due to my finances.
Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a condition causing severe pain in the extremities. Usually the feet are affected but the hands, legs, arms can be also. This usually comes about with people over 45. 30-40% of the cases is the result of diabetes, another 20% by gout, toxins, pinched nerves, HRT usage and other things. About 30% or so is of undetermined cause. Mine falls under the undetermined cause due to the longevity of my condition predates my HRT usage by 30 years plus the lead and mercury I was exposed to can no longer be detected. This problem ramped-up slowly over 35-40 years starting with minor pain to moderate pain with getting off of the feet ineffective to severe/excruciating with painkillers effective only for 2-12 weeks at first.
PN was not diagnosed by my earlier doctors due to a misdiagnoses of psoriasis and associated pain in the feet. There was topical medication resistant fungus that was cured in 30 days by taking Lamisil, an oral nail fungus medication last month. The pain is now more spread out and the feet don't have callouses nor any peeling of the skin. After 35 years! Finally! The fungus caused a large callous to form on the soles of the feet. The callous caused tightness on the soles and this tightness changes with humidity in the foot area. This causes pressure on the nerve endings which usually causes a dull burning or ache there. In PN cases, this pain is amplified as a severe sharp burning with stabbing pains when the condition of the callous changes such as temperature change, humidity, exfoliating said callous, bedding, shoes and any kind of touch or pressure changes on the feet. Orthotic inserts helps by equalizing pressure on the feet as you walk.
Check for PN when you have sharp burning with stabbing, jolting, needle pains in the feet or hands that happens in both feet or in both hands simultaneously or just in one limb. Numbness and lack of motor in the affected area during times of less pain. Any kind of touch, even a bed sheet causes severe pain there.
It is caused by:
Diabetes
Gout
HRT usage.
Toxins such as mercury, lead or other nerve agent.
Shingles, you may get this after age 60 if you had chicken pox as a kid.
Pinched or degenerating nerve sheaths by other causes, some inherited.
If the cause is found, it can be treated. Nerve damage cannot be reversed, but some treatments could stop the damage and allow for other pathways in the nerves be established to get some sensation and motor back to the affected areas. Treatments vary. You go through your regular doctor before the neurologist on this. Neurologists are on top of the food chain here, my cost today was $365 for the consultation with me providing the X-ray and exam results from my doctors.
Joelene