After diagnosis, do you continue to see your neurologist?

I would not rule out the Mayo Clinic.

I so agree. Seems like they don't feel like we are worth the extra time and rxpense to study neuropathy

My feet were a bit numb a few years ago. My nurse practitioner had my arteries checked, then sent me to a vascular doctor. (I had told the NP I thought I had neuropathy from my research.) I had the major vein in both legs ablated. My feet were still numb. Finally I had an EEG and they sent me to a neurologist. This took considerable time and I knew the earlier caught the better chance of help. The neurologist ordered many blood samples, but came up with idiopathic. At one point he considered Marfan disease, but my family is just tall! He offered gabapentin, but since that just masks the numbness and doesn't "cure" anything, I declined. I read comments on here about ALA and R-ALA and asked him about them. He googled it (as if he'd never heard of it)! Said supplements weren't regulated and he didn't recommend using them. Said they would make an appt. for me in 6months. I said to the receptionist "You will call me in 6 months? " They never called; I didn't go back because all he ever suggested was gabapentin. That was 2023. In the last few weeks my neuropathy has gotten noticeably worse. I have a "bulge" on my spine, so I think I have a disc problem or something. I went to my GP (who is retiring) and asked about my spine and neuropathy, he said unrelated but I should go back to my neurologist. To make a long story slightly shorter, the first appt. I could get is November 7. I am frustrated, not sure what to do. I admit I still think it's spine related, but have heard some horror stories about back surgeries. I guess I'll wait until Nov., but also ask my new nurse practitioner in Sept. (since my GP retired.) Thanks for reading my experiences.

I have suffered with Neuropathy for over 16 years and lost count of all the Doctors I have seen for relief, my Internal Medicine Doctor,
3 Neurologists,
Podiatrist, (who did surgery for a Morton’s Neuroma and Plantar Fasciitis, but that was not the problem 😠,
and an Acupuncture MD Specialist but all with no help. I’ve gone the route of Gabapetin, etc. but none of these drugs or surgery helped. My last Physician is a Pain Management Specialist. He has done more for controlling my pain than anyone else. 6 years ago he placed a Spinal Stimulator in my back which provided much relief for about 5 years but I’m having trouble with it now in that it is not providing the relief I was getting but there is still some relief. I’m not sure if this is happening due to the length of time I have had Neuropathy because I’m told the Stimulator is working.
Since I see my Pain Specialist often, he has me on Hydrocodone which helps me with my pain. I’m also on an Anxiety Medication which helps me deal with this and helps me sleep.
The frustration with the medical system is causing depressing from what I read from the posts here and some people fear addiction to opioids but I’ve suffered for too many years to worry about effects.

I also have neuropathy in both legs but much worse in my right leg. I have tried all the oral medications with no relieve. I had a SCS placed in 2020 for chronic pain in my lower and upper back. No relieve from the chronic pain and the SCS did not help my neuropathy. My pain specialist is doing an ankle nerve block this week. Hopefully this will help.

Hi rwilson53,

Can you let us know how you make out with the nerve block in your ankle?

I have PN in both legs. I don't have much pain due to success with gabapentin.

However, I do have severe pain in my left ankle which I believe is caused by the combination of sciatica and PN. I am trying to get my neurologist or back ortho to consider trying a nerve block in my ankle. So far they are reluctant.

If you find some relief with the nerve block I may try going directly to a pain specialist to see if they may agree to try it.

Thanks in advance, and, I hope the shot works for you!

My feet were a bit numb a few years ago. My nurse practitioner had my arteries checked, then sent me to a vascular doctor. (I had told the NP I thought I had neuropathy from my research.) I had the major vein in both legs ablated. My feet were still numb. Finally I had an EEG and they sent me to a neurologist. This took considerable time and I knew the earlier caught the better chance of help. The neurologist ordered many blood samples, but came up with idiopathic. At one point he considered Marfan disease, but my family is just tall! He offered gabapentin, but since that just masks the numbness and doesn't "cure" anything, I declined. I read comments on here about ALA and R-ALA and asked him about them. He googled it (as if he'd never heard of it)! Said supplements weren't regulated and he didn't recommend using them. Said they would make an appt. for me in 6months. I said to the receptionist "You will call me in 6 months? " They never called; I didn't go back because all he ever suggested was gabapentin. That was 2023. In the last few weeks my neuropathy has gotten noticeably worse. I have a "bulge" on my spine, so I think I have a disc problem or something. I went to my GP (who is retiring) and asked about my spine and neuropathy, he said unrelated but I should go back to my neurologist. To make a long story slightly shorter, the first appt. I could get is November 7. I am frustrated, not sure what to do. I admit I still think it's spine related, but have heard some horror stories about back surgeries. I guess I'll wait until Nov., but also ask my new nurse practitioner in Sept. (since my GP retired.) Thanks for reading my experiences.