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Small Fiber Neuropathy: Book Recommendation
Neuropathy | Last Active: Jul 30, 2022 | Replies (66)Comment receiving replies
I have SFN in my left foot and progressing up left leg. So painful. I had punch biopsies done to confirm but right foot is starting same pain.
Is it common to have unilaterally and bilaterally?
I am due to have left hip replacement on November 8 and scared the SFN might get worse. The orthopedic surgeon didn't answer my question.
Any information would be appreciated.
Trish
Replies to "I have SFN in my left foot and progressing up left leg. So painful. I had..."
If it helps I have autonomic small fiber neuropathy and had major surgery in June and I didn’t see any changes in my neuropathy.
Good evening @trishh, I have small fiber peripheral neuropathy and had a total knee replacement six weeks ago. I think you need to discuss the issue of medication for your neuropathy not being reduced or forgotten. It is important to maintain your treatment program. And as I say that, you may receive pain medication relative to your hip replacement surgery which might somehow interfere with your SFN program.
I had a bit of a hard time keeping everything straight. So I turned it over to my live-in caregiver. Now, he did a good job.
Do you mind sharing what you are currently using to control your SFN symptoms? Thanks.
May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris
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Hi @trishh, I don't think the orthopedic surgeon can answer your question because they don't know the cause. That would be a better question for the neurologist that provided your original diagnosis - assuming they did a skin punch biopsy to confirm the neuropathy and they have an idea of the cause. I really have no medical training or background but believe that it depends on the cause of the nerve pain - damaged or compressed nerve somewhere above the leg.
I have idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy that they think may be hereditary but they don't know. I was concerned of the possibility of a knee replacement making my neuropathy worse but it didn't. Pre-surgery I met with the surgical team and the anesthesiologist went through all of the risks and discussed the possibility of making the neuropathy worse but it didn't happen. I'm glad I had the knee replaced as it has given me some of my life back or a little more normalcy.
Here's an article from 2014 that discusses the risk. It might be a good conversation to have with the orthopedic surgeon on what they do to control inflammation after hip replacement surgery.
Mayo Clinic Study Finds Nerve Damage After Hip Surgery May Be Due to Inflammation: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-study-finds-nerve-damage-after-hip-surgery-may-be-due-to-inflammation/
Also, here's an article from 2018 that says the risk is minimal. I would want to make sure my surgeon has done a lot of hip replacements and is really good at it. Nerve injuries associated with total hip arthroplasty: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5884042/