Connect
← Return to Ideas for pain relief from Small Fiber Neuropathy (SFN)
Discussion
Ideas for pain relief from Small Fiber Neuropathy (SFN)
Neuropathy | Last Active: Apr 26 7:21pm | Replies (449)Comment receiving replies
Hi Barry @jager5210, That is a really tough question for me. I can share my own experience with small fiber peripheral neuropathy and just the numbness. I think the supplements I'm taking have slowed or stopped the progression but it is really subjective on my part. I haven't had any additional testing done to prove it other than it's about the same as it was over three years ago when I was diagnosed with small fiber PN at Rochester Mayo. I only have numbness so when I asked about treatments my neurologist told me there were no medications or topicals that would help with the numbness which started my search and is how I found Connect. I'm 76 now and just had my right knee replaced in April and recovered quite well in part I believe in doing the pre-surgery and post surgery exercises. I still can't walk very far but it's more due to my lower back than my legs and I do watch my balance especially when I first stand up after sitting for awhile. I'm planning to try Myofascial Release Therapy as soon as I can find an accredited therapist close to my location or after I retire in December. I'm hoping it will help my lower back so that it's easier to walk.
You mention you suspect your neuropathy is related to a long-standing gut issue. May I ask why you believe that? I don't personally believe there is a cure or resolution for SFN other than treating the symptoms and improving the quality of ones life so if it were me and I thought it may be a gut issue that could be fixed I would definitely get a second opion from and health a major health facility like the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic or other major hospital.
I hope you find some answers that help you.
John
Replies to "Hi Barry @jager5210, That is a really tough question for me. I can share my own..."
Connect
Hi John, Again, thank you for your reply as well as the other two I received. I guess the only reason I would go to Mayo is to see if my gut issues underlie my SFN. I believe there is a connection because my pain and symptom expression has varied greatly over time and there seems to be some mediating variable. I have long standing gut issues which I have not found anyone in Atlanta to address...3 gastros & 1 holistic practice. My attempts to get help with this issue rivals my experience at Emory which advertised a 'holistic, multi-disciplinary' approach to neuropathy where the Ukranian doctor said to me; "Why don't you just go home and die" and "Why don't you just make an appointment with Dr. Google" I guess because I referenced Dr. Perlmutter who sends me emails. By the way, I'm always polite and respectful so it's hard for me to explain my experiences. Dr. Mark Hymen, director of the Functional Medicine Center at Cleveland Clinic and Dr. Perlmutter, a neurologist on the Internet & PBS, have a lot of articles and interviews with researchers exploring the relationship between our gut and brain. Dr. Hymen just had one on his Farmacy Series, not pharmacy but Farmacy I believe, with a researcher who believes there is C-Diff bacteria from the gut in all the major neurological diseases, Alzheimer, ALS, MS and Parkinson as well as a possibility of it being a cause of many cancers. Leaky gut lets bacteria & viruses into your body which cause all kinds of infections and disorders. Anyway, I just have gut issues along with all my other issues. It is interesting to hear these doctors dismiss or minimize the 'comorbidity' diagnosis and, instead, argue that there is one body and likely one 'something' wrong thing that is causing multiple problems. Their approach is to find and treat causes and not to 'treat' symptoms. So I just wonder if I could get my gut issues fixed, would I see a corresponding improvement in my nerve network.