Peripheral Neuropathy

[Gertrude]

Has anyone had peripheral neuropathy that came on suddenly and progressed over time? A month ago I started getting tingling in the bottoms of my feet and now it's up to my knees and I have foot drop on my left foot. I had a acdf c4-6 in 2012 and had left arm issues which have flared up and I also have occipital neuralgia. I've had an X-ray of my neck and the is some progression of arthritis, Spurs, and a MRI of lumbar spine which found lots of problems. Just wondering why all this at once. I worry about MS, Guillain Barre or some other AIDP or worse, but docs think it's structural. Before this stuff I had gastritis and h pylori which was treated, but the symptoms never went away even though I tested negative after treatment with the blow bag. It was originally confirmed with biopsy during EGD. The nausea just compounds this. Anyway, I'm really concerned. I see a neurosurgeon today to evaluate me and the scans. You know, I've lost a crap ton of weight, down 160lbs now and should be doing great. It's depressing to reach a point where things are coming together in terms of authenticity and now this.


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[Jin]

I got mine from Agent Orange. Mostly not too bad, but some nights I can't sleep.

I saw a t-shirt once with: "Agent Orange killed me, I just haven't died yet."

There is something to explore in how many of us MTF are vets. Must be some kind of backlash effect.

[Virginia]

I am wondering if you are diabetic. Neuropathy and blurry/unstable vision are common symptoms.

[Gertrude]

A1C has been 5 for a year. Blood sugar 80ish


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[Shellie Hart]

Three months ago I woke up to extreme pain in my tendons (all over) and it took me five minutes to get out of bed. It seemed my tendons refused to stretch and the pain was unbelievable. This went on until recently. My doctor has made tests (blood, etc) and hope to have diagnosis soon. So far it seems to be a "stress causation" of some sort. Stress is part of life. Something to think about....

[Dani]

Most of the times, diabetic nephropathy comes on gradually, over years, not months like you did. Something else is going on. Seeing the neurologist is the proper thing to do.

I wish you the best and a speedy recovery.

[Gertrude]

I saw a neurosurgeon yesterday who reviewed my MRI. My lumbar back I'd F'D. Stenosis is real bad. Why it happened now, who knows, but I need surgery soon. My surgery consult is next Thursday. It's something that could put me in a wheelchair. My wife is being an ahole. Like why do I need surgery. She has a very bad attitude about health issues. Why can't I plow through it. I'm not the terminator. Its like she thinks I get kick out of getting another procedure.


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[Joelene9]

  I have a rare form of this disease. It is an autoimmune system disorder that eats of the nerve myelin sheath. I'm in a 30 month remission with some attacks of pain since my last treatment. I'm not a diabetic nor do I have MS or the other known major causes. Peripheral neuropathy has over 200 causes and the right diagnoses of the cause is key to the right treatment. Diabetes has 30-40% of the cases. I had to jump through the hoops on testing for the other causes before seeing the neurologist. The neurologist needed the test results plus an x-ray results of my feet before seeing him. He did then did a conduction study plus a spinal tap to look for an elevated protein level plus eliminate the other causes not detected before. I'm lucky that I'm not in a wheelchair like some of the Guillian-Barre and some of my fellow CIDP patients are in now.
  Get well, Gertrude!

Joelene

[Gertrude]

Surgery is October 29. Laminectomy and fusion L4-L5.


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[DawnOday]

Gertrude. I have neuropathy in my feet and I am near to no feeling. It makes it very hard to keep my balance. I have lost 100 lbs which is making it easier. I use mj to calm my nerves and allow me to sleep. I am not advocating just stating my experience. They say if you improve your exercise you can overcome it. I don't know about that. Is your blood sugar under control? Is the skin on your feet getting stiff. I find when I use the sander (I don't know what it is called) I get a little more feeling back. Surgery has never been mentioned to me except my heart surgeries, which has been a few. It has taken a while to develop. I got diagnosed in 2007.

[Gertrude]

A1C was 5 a couple months ago. I lost 160lbs in the last 15 months. Oh well. It would have happened anyway.


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[Maid Marion]

Wish you well on your surgery. 

[Gertrude]

Gertrude. I have neuropathy in my feet and I am near to no feeling. It makes it very hard to keep my balance. I have lost 100 lbs which is making it easier. I use mj to calm my nerves and allow me to sleep. I am not advocating just stating my experience. They say if you improve your exercise you can overcome it. I don't know about that. Is your blood sugar under control? Is the skin on your feet getting stiff. I find when I use the sander (I don't know what it is called) I get a little more feeling back. Surgery has never been mentioned to me except my heart surgeries, which has been a few. It has taken a while to develop. I got diagnosed in 2007.

My spinal chord is fully compressed at L4-5. The only other choice is wait for incontinence and then a wheelchair. Actually if I went in continent I'd have to get surgery. 4-6 weeks out of work.


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[Kendra]

Wow Trudy I am so sorry to hear this.  Best wishes on your surgery and I'm glad you are tackling this head-on. 

[Gertrude]

Wow Trudy I am so sorry to hear this.  Best wishes on your surgery and I'm glad you are tackling this head-on.

Thanks Kendra


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[Cindy]

Dear Trudy,
I'm so sorry to read this. I have neuropathy in my feet due to the side effect of chemotherapy.

Mine is transient, which means it doesn't really go away but returns when it feels like or is triggered. I'm told it will gradually get worse.

As I now live alone I have started to adapt a few things for the times when I cannot take any pressure on my feet and I have planned ways to get help - as I cannot always vocalise either - so calling an ambulance etc is not always possible for me. If there is anything I can do to help please let me know.

Cindy

[Gertrude]

Dear Trudy,
I'm so sorry to read this. I have neuropathy in my feet due to the side effect of chemotherapy.

Mine is transient, which means it doesn't really go away but returns when it feels like or is triggered. I'm told it will gradually get worse.

As I now live alone I have started to adapt a few things for the times when I cannot take any pressure on my feet and I have planned ways to get help - as I cannot always vocalise either - so calling an ambulance etc is not always possible for me. If there is anything I can do to help please let me know.

Cindy

Thank you Cindy. I think they call it a grade 3 stenosis at L4-5. They showed me the MRI and it was like now you see the spinal chord and now you don't at that level. It's progressively gotten worse. I have drop foot on my left foot and my feet are getting stiff. I'm walking goofy. Thing is, the insurance company has a approval waiting period and the soonest I can get into the surgeon is October 29. I don't know if I can make it until then going to work. I have 4.5 weeks time and my fmla isn't set to start on the 29th and the recovery averages 4-6 weeks. If I run out of time, i have short term disability, but then I have to pay my total premiums out of pocket while I'm on it. Welcome to America and I work for a state university. Our sick time accrual rates stink.


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[Gertrude]

Recovering from surgery 1. This doc splits it into two surgeries. First is remove disc and put cage in with cadaver bone and some sort of modified something or other. They go through the side. Tomorrow is from the back removing bone/arthritis/spurs to relieve the stenosis and add more titanium. That hurts more. Wish me luck.


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[Sonja]

@Gertrude

Good Luck Gertrude - Hope it all goes well!

Take care,

Sonja.

[Cindy]

@Gertrude

Thinking of you honey and all my best wishes.