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Do You Too Have Small Fiber Sensory Neuropathy?
Neuropathy | Last Active: Jul 27 11:02am | Replies (15)Comment receiving replies
@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?
Replies to "@annie1 I live in New England so not too far from you. It sounds like you..."
My Neurologist also told me that my neuropathy is caused by nerve compression in my neck and back and I had several injections. I did have 2 lumbar fusions, 15 years apart and cervical fusion 19 years ago due to stenosis which is back due to arthritis. Physical therapy was not much help.
I do my home exercises and balance exercises. Due to my age (85) surgical intervention is not an option. So I am taking 1 day at the time. Just wish I could get some decent sleep. Even with melatonin I am up every 2 hours getting at best 6 hrs. of sleep.
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I had decompression surgery with no fusion between l3 and l4 already but it didn't last. It helped me for 4 months and then the symptoms came back. I've had many many mris, x-ray etc. I just can't find anyone who knows what to do about the twitching. I've gone out to Stanford University and met with a surgeon there she said she would do fusion she's the one who said my symptoms are not typical.