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Do You Too Have Small Fiber Sensory Neuropathy?
Neuropathy | Last Active: Jul 27 11:02am | Replies (15)Comment receiving replies
I don't know what small fiber in neuropathy is but no one seems to be able to help me. I have a lot of compressed nerves I already had laminotomy but several of the surgeons I've spoken with said I have a typical symptoms for stenosis and spondylosis. My whole body twitches mostly in my calves after I walk but then it can progress to my whole body. No one has suggested that I might have this condition they all just say I have severe stenosis but maybe I haven't been going to the right people. I don't even know what a neuro muscular psychologist is also. And where to find one? I live in New York City and I've been to four neurologists. Would they test for this neurologist?
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@annie1
I meant to mention that I have experience with cervical and lumbar spine surgeries and symptoms from congenital spinal stenosis/degenerative disc disease/arthritis/bone spurs and osteophytes bony complexes/neurogenic claudication, etc. (narrow spinal canal with disc herniations and bone spurs compressing spinal cord/nerve roots causing myelopathy spinal cord injury). My symptoms include/have included daily headaches, tinnitus, neck/shoulder pain, arm/hand weakness/numbness affecting handwriting and dropped things, bladder control issues, walking and balance issues with weakness, numbness in hips/legs/feet, etc. Your surgeons sound like they are not providing solutions and options to consider to decompress your spinal cord/nerve roots, stabilize your spine and remove bone spurs. Saying your symptoms are typical doesn’t provide a solution to stop or reduce the symptoms and improve your quality of life. Sometimes you need someone to help you talk to surgeons is a way to make sure you are being heard and respected. If not, you need to find a surgeon who is a better fit for you. Make sure to do research online for surgeon reviews and ratings before going to appointments. I did this before choosing my 4th surgeon who properly diagnosed me and did my 3 cervical and lumbar surgeries.
For example, I used to have significant pain/weakness/numbness in lower back/hips/buttocks/legs/feet when I would stand/walk for more than 5-10 minutes. After having my L3-L5 decompressed and fused, this has improved significantly. My L4-L5 level (spinal canal/nerve roots) was significantly/severely compressed/stenotic/closed which they described as neurogenic claudication.
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@annie1
I live in New England so not too far from you. It sounds like you should be seeing orthopedic spine specialists for full evaluation of your symptoms, imaging (MRIs, etc.), and a neuromuscular specialist for EMG/nerve conduction studies. Neurologists are limited in treatment options other than medications and they test a lot but don’t really help patients much (my experience).
Small fiber neuropathy (diagnosed by neurologists with skin punch biopsies) affects skin sensations, temperature, autonomic nervous system, etc. that can cause burning/pins and needles and numbness but it sounds like you may have compressed spinal cord/nerve roots that needs to be decompressed through surgery. Laminectomy makes space for spinal cord and nerve roots by cutting away lamina bone if done where it is needed but it doesn’t provide stability of the spine. If you have movement of vertebrae due to degeneration of discs and bone spurs/osteophytes/laminectomy, it can irritate nerves/spinal cord and cause symptoms.
When was the last time you had MRIs of cervical and lumbar spine and EMG/nerve conduction studies of upper and lower limbs? You may benefit from getting other opinions because it seems you are being dismissed/ignored in your suffering. Do you go to appointments with someone so they can help you advocate for yourself and ask questions/write down notes?