Can small fiber nerves regenerate?

Posted by jwr @jwr, Dec 5, 2023

I first became plagued with small fiber neuropathy in 2017 due to an environmental exposure to abnormally high levels of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from an unvented construction space heater. I had numerous polyneuropathy symptoms including hyperacusis (reduced tolerance to sound), tinnitus, heart arrythmia , chest pain, headache, night sweats, urge incontinence, and non painful numbness and tingling in my feet. Also fasciculations in my lower legs. It lasted about 6 months and then all the symptoms completely resolved. Then the numbness and tingling in my feet and the lower leg fasciculations returned in 2020. My SFN was confirmed by a skin biopsy. So the question is, did the small fiber nerves in my feet regenerate between 2017 and 2020? Has anyone else had a complete resolution of their numbness and tingling symptoms, only to have them return? I now struggle with balance. My body sways when I try to stand motionless. Is this due to the SFN, or are the fasciculations in my legs indicative of large fiber neuropathy? I guess only another EMG will tell. It will be my fifth.

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@johnbishop did your numbness have any improvement? Im desperate for the recent change in mine to improve. My doctors aren't interested in talking about supplements. They just want to throw gabapentin at me even though I don't really struggle with pain.

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@kitcatsheart I do feel like my numbness has improved some but it's still there. Kind of hard to describe for me since I also have to wear compression socks up to my knees daily for lymphedema in my legs and that squeezing all day provides a feeling all of it's own. I have had some feeling return to the bottoms of my feet that I really notice when I wear some barefoot shoes with no cushion.

Sorry your doctors aren't interested in talking about supplements. Right before I saw the neurologist for a diagnosis my PCP gave me gabapentin which I took for a couple of weeks and it did nothing for the numbness. After I told my PCP, she discussed it with my care team and the lead doc who explained it only helps with nerve pain and not numbness so I quit taking it.

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