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Small Fiber Neuropathy and New Onset Pain in Thigh Creases
I most likely have idiopathic small fiber neuropathy. My EMG, as well as multiple labs do not indicate the reason for my bilateral foot and calf numbness. My neurologist will see me in 6 months to make sure there is no further progression of symptoms. I do take 300 mg. Gabapentin at bedtime. It may have been keeping me from waking frequently during the night, but that's changed.
I'm 73 and I work on my feet one day a week. After 6 hrs. my legs are dead weight and it takes me a day of R & R to get my energy back.
Now I have a new complaint which is described in the topic. I cannot get comfortable at all. I'm using a pillow between my legs and that helps very little. In the morning I'm becoming more and more stiff and it takes me hours to come alive. Sometimes the pain in my thigh/hip area shoots into my right shin and my back hurts.
I'm waiting to hear from my neurologist to see if any imaging would be in order and also my PA to ask if a UTI may be the culprit. I've never had one. But I know they are quite common and I just feel sick all over.
Until the last month I could still manage a 3 mile walk, now a mile is questionable.
On top of everything I learned that I have a-fib. I've started Eliquis and Metoprolol. I have been using Advil for inflammation and Tylenol for pain because I know that I have some osteoarthritis. And the combo seems to help when I remember it. But now the Advil is contraindicated with the Eliquis because of the risk of increased bleeding.
I really feel like I've been rolling with the neuropathy symptoms thanks to all the good feedback here, but right now I hurt, I'm tired and frustrated.
I also need to ask my Cardiologist to weigh in after I see him in follow up to wearing a 30 day monitor. From what I can determine, these new meds can also make you feel like poop. To date I've tolerated Lisinopril, Atorvastatin, Gabapentin and Boniva (osteoporosis). Maybe my tolerance has peaked.
Thank you for following my meandering (if you've come this far) and I'd love to hear your stories and maybe gain some new insight.
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Sounds like you are well aware of the risk of taking Advil with Eliquis. Have you discussed with your PCP? I too am on Eliquis, probably for life due to multiple Pulmonary Embolisms. I had to give up my Celebrex due to increased risk of bleeding.
I also had a bout with A-Fib, it is transitory. My PCP ordered a echocardiogram and a 2 week heart monitor. It took over 3 weeks to schedule. The A-Fib stopped after a week.
How was your SBN diagnosed? My least favorite medical term, "idiopathic" basically doctor telling you they do not know. I had SBN diagnosed by a Neurologist ruled out by a skin biopsy. I had been on Gabapentin, at one point up to 800 mg 3 times a day. I did not tolerate that level. I took that back down to 300 mg 3 times a day, then switched to pregabalin 150 mg 2 times a day.
Did you Neurologist do any specialized blood work.
I am a 68 year old male, just recently had an ICU stay due to some severe pulmonary embolisms. I just posted detail about it in the "Lung Disorder" group. I have been dealing with a undiagnosed, untreated and progressive disease that has deteriorated my health over the past 3 years. I have worked my way through the alphabet of specialist and started a new PCP.
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1 ReactionMy Neurologist did do lots of blood work. For some reason he's not a fan of the skin biopsy because it is invasive and in the end, treatment would be the same if small fiber was positive or negative. The testing results point to small fiber neuropathy in his estimation. And no, they don't always know the reason.
I've begun a different workup for my new area of pain. I'm waiting for the results of a hip x-ray and labs that measure inflammatory markers. I think my PA is concerned about rheumatoid arthritis. I'm on a Medrol dose pack for 6 days and boy what a difference in my pain level overnight.
Thank for your interest. If you'd like me to circle back when I learn more about the hip/groin pain and stiffness, I will to share the results.
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1 ReactionHi, I'm sorry to hear about everything you're going through. I can't comment about any of the heart related issues and how they might affect the thigh crease pain, but I have had that also, but so far only on the right side. It has been 3.5 long years of it and it's really no fun.
I have had multiple MRIs and the conclusion was that nothing was obvious in the area of the spine where that nerve originates. Last year I had a hip MRI which showed torn cartilage and they thought that was causing the thigh/groin pain. So I had a hip replacement in April and the pain is still there. Nobody really can figure out what the problem is but they suspect it's the obturator nerve which runs through the SI joint area (explains the back pain), through the glutes and wraps around the front of the hip and supplies the groin and inner thigh areas.
Because I also have idiopathic SFN the pain specialist suggested a spinal cord stimulator, so I had one implanted (after a trial to see if it would be effective) about a month ago. Now I'm in the process of trying different settings and programs until we hopefully find the one that will work best.
I wish I had a good suggestion to give you as far as what you might try but right now all I can really do is share my experience. Maybe it'll give you some additional areas to explore. I wish you the very best! Please let us know anything you find out, I'd really be interested to know.
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1 ReactionI have all your symptoms I am surprised you are taking advil with your blood thinner. I am going to ask my neurologist for a skin test
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1 Reaction@queeniep69 I'm not taking Advil since starting Eliquis. Going forward, since I originally posted, I've been seen and tested for the new pain, including a hip x-ray and labs to test for inflammation.
The C-reactive Protein was abnormal at 67. Fast forward I'm now on Prednisone which is keeping the pain under control while I wait for an MRI and Rheumatology Consult. There are a couple of things that they have in mind that "may" be contributing to my pain. As I learn more, I will share in the event that it may help you. What's going on with me now is most likely independent of the neuropathy symptoms.
All so interesting. I honestly am baffled by what I have. Bad hip pain but mine around my bursa and lower back on Ty side. I do have some arthristis in the back area. But I also have it in knees. To walk upstairs I go one at a time.
Now I also have shoulder tendon pain both sides amd pain in my lower thumb, left side.
Plus the Idiopathic peripheral neuropathy that is moving up my legs.
Do you have cramping and painful stiffness? That is also progressing.
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