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← Return to Neuropathy after TKR: I'm 68 and fearful of future
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Neuropathy after TKR: I'm 68 and fearful of future
Neuropathy | Last Active: Oct 22, 2023 | Replies (112)Comment receiving replies
I'm speaking for a family member, my son who was diagnosed with SFN at age 38 after going through a few stressful years in his life, SFN took hold. It came on suddenly and has the balance issues, pain, wet skin, etc. As he is/was very athletic and health conscious, the only thing we can think of was stress and anxiety triggered this. He has a toddler son and needs and deserves a long healthy life and is adamant against using anxiety meds for his stress. In fact, we are pretty sure the meds are part of the culprit here and was wondering if anyone else has taken benzos to control anxiety and then come down with SFN?
Replies to "I'm speaking for a family member, my son who was diagnosed with SFN at age 38..."
As a loving grandma too, try to look objectively at your son’s behavior with your grandson and (if he has) “a significant other”. My son (40) has anxiety/depression issues and before he went on meds, he was often angry, yelling, frustrated, irritable- at his children, wife, slow servers, drivers of other cars, etc. With meds (refused counseling), life for all of them is MUCH better. If this is happening in his house, maybe he’ll listen to you as to the effect of his behavior on the kids and his wife/SO.
Last thought- I’ve been thinking about this a lot- we know COVID is a virus that also attacks nerves. We know other viruses cause nerve damage (Guillain Barre, Epstein Barr). We know COVID infection, especially in younger people, can be very mild and that Long COVID (in mild cases too) can develop many months after the initial infection. This possibility may bring him a little comfort, rather than thinking the PN appeared “out of the blue”.
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@lubelle Hi Lubelle, welcome to Connect. You are amazing for reaching out as a proud, protective mamma bear to learn more about SFN. I commend you!
As a mom, and as someone who was diagnosed with SFN in my mid-forties, I understand your concern for your son's future at such a young age and having a toddler.
I can't answer your specific question about benzos for anxiety causing SFN, but I'm drawn to respond to you and offer up some other info about the potential reasons behind onset of chronic pain and symptoms, anxiety, stress-management, etc...
You may find the following video presented by Mayo Clinic's Dr. Sletten, interesting. It's about Central Sensitization Syndrome (CSS) and how it relates to neuropathies and many other chronic conditions.
Also, it might be worth a watch for your son as Dr. Sletten discusses ways to achieve better life quality despite chronic pain and educates on Mayo's Pain Rehabilitation Center (PRC).
https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/pain-rehabilitation-center/sections/overview/ovc-20481691
Here you will find a conversation about my personal Mayo PRC experience in 2020. I hope it's helpful.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-pain-rehabilitation-program/
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance or if you have any questions about what I've provided. I'm rooting for your son, grandchild and you on this untraveled road.