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Small Fiber Neuropathy discouraged
Neuropathy | Last Active: Apr 13, 2023 | Replies (124)Comment receiving replies
Is there any way to determine the difference between PN pain and other ailments? I know I have it in my feet, big time! As other ailments get my attention as I age, I cannot decide what is PN and what is something else. So far, no solutions from my Doctors. When my vision seems to be failing (when it was fine), is it PN? When my body has pain here and there, is it PN? When I have intermittent, inexplicable pain in my jaw, having a dentist fill, pull, do a root canal and there is still pain now and then..is it PN pain ? My left hand has pins and needles, but not my right, and I am right handed, is it PN? It is very difficult for me to figure out what to try to give medical attention to. I know if it is PN, no cure, I wish I could tell so I could treat whatever else it is. Does anyone else have this problem?
Replies to "Is there any way to determine the difference between PN pain and other ailments? I know..."
Very often… I tend to think like John on this one. I had “things” before the years I ever had this sudden onset of PN, and I’d get them treated. We all are trying to manage our symptoms regardless of cause, and for me, cure the things that might be able to. But it’s hard, because it is easy for other specialists to take something and say it “COULD” be related to the neuropathy, and therefore decide not to do anything. We have to be proactive if we think it might not be and haven’t heard of many others having the same symptoms. I had a doctor accept a swollen lymph node and want to “watch” it, but I pushed for biopsy and sure enough it was cancer, not PN. And it was curable, not just “treatable “, so I got that cured. Vision problem? Yes, and it was film that developed after cataract surgery, a somewhat normal occurrence, and with a simple laser follow up I can see clearly again! That sounds extreme, but we can’t fear double-checking anything odd if we’re not convinced it can all just be lumped into Neuropathy, especially if there are pieces of our lives that can be made easier on us while we do our best to manage the things that can’t be cured.
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@fala, That seems to be the question a lot of people have asked or have thought about once they are diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy. Just thinking out loud here... I'm certainly not an expert but my thoughts are maybe, maybe not, could be, I don't think so, what else could it be -- it's confusing and something that you have to work with your medical care team to figure out.
In the past when I've had different symptoms, I don't think about them as being part of my PN. They might be but my main concern is to get relief for the symptoms, PN or not. I'm hoping you find some relief for your pain soon.