← Return to Ideas for pain relief from Small Fiber Neuropathy (SFN)

Discussion

Ideas for pain relief from Small Fiber Neuropathy (SFN)

Neuropathy | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (449)

Comment receiving replies
@iceblue

@burningfeetinphoenix - we may need a doctor to chime in and provide clarification on the medical terminology and differences (@jeffrapp?), but when I look up polyneuropathy - it pretty much describes my situation and I was diagnosed with Small Fibre Neuropathy. In fact, I told my doctor that I always experienced pain on both sides of my body at the same time - which seemed bizarre to me. I NEVER felt pain in only one foot or one calf - the pain was always 'mirrored'...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyneuropathy

Jump to this post


Replies to "@burningfeetinphoenix - we may need a doctor to chime in and provide clarification on the medical..."

@iceblue, I'll give it a try. This is a very complex and confusing subject.
The terms polyneuropathy, peripheral neuropathy, and neuropathy are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference. Polyneuropathy is more specific, and refers to a set of diseases characterized by multiple, often symmetrical nerve involvement. Peripheral neuropathy is more general, and can involve only one nerve, such as trigeminal neuralgia. Neuropathy is more general still, and can even mean involvement of the central nervous system.
Small fiber peripheral neuropathy is a form of polyneuropathy which refers specifically to the small fibers in the skin. This is the condition usually diagnosed with an epidermal nerve fiber density test (EFND), the "skin biopsy" often referred to here.
@burningfeetinphoenix, I don't quite understand your post about the podiatrist. If your skin biopsy was positive, then you do have small fiber peripheral neuropathy (SFPN). One way or another, I'd be careful about dealing with this podiatrist, as there is no evidence as yet that stem cells have a roll in treating any neuropathy.