Small Fiber Polyneuropathy

Hello @amber3212, I have idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy and my neurologist thought it may be hereditary. I think the reality is as much as I would like to know the cause it is just not to be for me. I hope someone can provide an answer for you. I did a little research on causes and did find an interesting article that just adds a little more clarity.

Small-Fiber Polyneuropathy Could be the Answer Some Fibromyalgia Patients are Seeking
-- http://nationalpainreport.com/small-fiber-polyneuropathy-could-be-the-answer-some-fibromyalgia-patients-are-seeking-8835911.html

Does anyone else in your family have small fiber polyneuropathy?

John

Interesting! Thanks a bunch. I'm writing this for Momma 🙂 she just got diagnosed with SPFN. shes on several medications and also has RA. I'm on the lookout for a functional medicine doctor I'm STL, MO to start weaning her off her meds and approach this the natural way 🙂

@amber3212 thank you for being an advocate for your Mom. The medications and their side effects can be challenging. I like the natural way when possible myself. What got me started thinking that way was a book by Dr Terry Wahls - The Wahls Protocol. She has a really amazing story of getting rid of her symptoms of MS and going from a wheelchair to riding a bike by changing what she ate. Here's a link to her story - https://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/. She also has a lot of interesting YouTube videos and some TED Talks that are quite good.

I found something that has helped me and some others but I don't know if it will work for your mom. Here is a link to the post where I shared my story on Connect: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anyone-here-dealing-with-peripheral-neuropathy/?pg=42#comment-65985

John

I was recently diagnosed with Small Fiber Polyneuropathy recently after 12 years of symptoms, testing, medications, doctors, specialists etc. I live in NY but finally went to Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston for help. For the past 12 years I have dealt with many of the same symptoms described here: neuropathy (legs, feet, arms, hands), heart (tachnycardia), lung, bladder retention, severe constipation, sluggish digestion, sleep disorders, temperature intolerance (heat), numbness, tingling, pins/needles, electric shocks, breathing issues - you name it. Not one dr could diagnose the issue until I had autonomic tesitng and skin biospies to determine I had autonomic abnormalities and small fiber. I have been on high does of gabapentin for years then switched to Lyrica, cymbalta, regelan, heart and blood pressure meds. All symptom control but no real solutions for all that goes on on a daliy basis. I also have bouts of extreme weakenss and fatigue and I am now experiencing muscle stiffness and cramping in my legs and arms and feel like it is all just getting worse. Any suggestions or advice is welcome and appreciated.

Hello @obackus, Welcome to Connect. I think most of us with some form of neuropathy have asked that question about treatments being all symptom control and no real solutions. In my case of having idiopathic small fiber PN with no pain only numbness I guess I should consider myself lucky that there are no treatments that relieve the numbness symptoms. That's what brought me to Connect back in 2016 when I was looking for something to help. I started looking at cellular nutrition after reading Dr. Terry Wahls story about how she was able to roll back her MS symptoms through diet which got me thinking why not neuropathy also. Her story is pretty amazing even though she still has MS - https://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/

I started looking a supplements that would support nerve growth and healing. Eventually I found a group that was taking a lot of the same supplement that I had started with and I joined them on Facebook. That was back in 2016. I shared my story in another discussion here -- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/310341/

There are two sites that I find really good research and reference material on:
-- Neuropathy Commons: https://neuropathycommons.org/neuropathy/neuropathy-overview
-- Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy: https://www.foundationforpn.org/treatments/

The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy also has a document with a list of neuropathy supplements which got me started:
Complementary and Alternative Treatments:
-- https://www.foundationforpn.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Complementary-and-Alternative-Treatments-Revised-2020-final.-1.pdf

@artscaping and @rwinney and others may also have some suggestions for you. Have you looked into any type of alternative or complementary therapy to see if it might help?

@obackus Thank you for sharing your story. You hit the nail on the head by saying all symptom control, no real solutions.

Your symptoms seem to be running rampant. I was diagnosed with SFN as well, however I had more going on, similar to what you describe.

Here is what I discovered about myself. I had Central Sensitization Syndrome. CSS an umbrella to many diagnoses and symptoms. It's an upregulation of the Central Nervous System and Peripheral Sensory System. My light bulb moment came from watching the following video by Mayo Clinic's Dr. Sletten:

I’ve been diagnosed with both small and big. Mixed Polyneuropathy. I don’t understand much but I go to Doctor today.

@raysbabygirl Good luck on you doctor visit tomorrow. Be sure to take notes that you can read later. Will anyone be going with you?

Good evening @raysbabygirl, This is the first time I have seen "Mixed Polyneuropathy". I will be in line with others for your report. I hope you get great news.
May you have happiness and the causes of happiness.
Chris

The doctor told me I have Peripheral Neuropathy and also in my muscles. Gave me Lyrica. And said I would be disabled in my walking etc.