Hi Todd, I wished I had some answers for you. It's the pits having neuropathy of anykind and not knowing if there is an underlying cause or if it's genetics, or nerve compression by trauma, old age or something else. My only suggestion is to educate yourself on the condition and use what you learn to ask questions important to you like progression and impact on quality of life.

This site is good for learning more - https://neuropathycommons.org/neuropathy/causes-neuropathy

Todd - I think Mentor John replied in a way speaking for many with PN. I too have idiopathic polyneuropathy, now 8 years in. The 3 docs you've seen can't give you good answers for obvious reasons. I will echo on what John offered. I found a neuro doc near me that I can talk to on my level, I asked her to deal honestly with me as if I were her Dad. She agreed. In most cases, in medicine, I find if you don't ask, they won't tell. When you see your doc, write your questions down in advance and try to get the answers you need and learn as much as you can. Remember, you are not alone in this.

My Grandmother name is Fala, so that is what I use here. I have progressing idiopathic poly neuropathy. I read your post, I found out after a week of Gabapentin, that I am allergic to it ( throat closed) and the only thing that has helped is CBD. It was recommended by my hand specialist when I complained about my feet. ( Some Doctors care about your entire body). I went through the process, got a card and the pain is 1/2 of what it was. This was 5 years ago. I hope your State is permitting Cannabis.

I was on Lyrica, Gabapentin and Cymbalta. None worked for new my condition is my me walk funny and the horrific pain in my hips down my legs are horrible. Gabapentin made me have horrible seizures.

Hello Todd,
I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis! First and foremost in this day and age in medicine you MUST be your own advocate…….It is very difficult to find a neurologist that is interested or an expert in neuropathy. Do you live near a large medical center?
As a healthcare provider I ask what diagnostic avenues did they proceed to give you your diagnosis of idiopathic polyneuropathy? Did you have an EMG, nerve biopsy, or other imaging? I hear you say that you are continuing to have pain and your medications are not helping, correct? Have you informed your neurologist because the dose of gabapentin you are on is very low. I have CIDP and I started out on 300mg and since increased to 1500mg per day and my pain has dramatically decreased. Now don’t get me wrong I do have bad days but the majority of the time I am so much better. Has your physician mentioned any other types of treatment options for you? Perhaps you should ask him this! Have you ever gone to physical therapy or seen someone in rehab medicine or pain therapy?
There are many organizations for different types of neuropathy and they have great information for both patients and providers. Also, perhaps you can contact Mayo Clinic for more information. Please keep us posted on your progress.
Kim

Hi Todd, I also have a fast-progressing neuropathy that might end up labeled idiopathic. As Kim mentioned you really need to advocate strongly for your care. As others recommended, I would seek out the best neurology department you have access to and have the work done there.

I believe idiopathic often means “we stopped looking” rather than “the cause of your disease is unknown to medicine”, which is how a lot of people take it.

A 2015 paper from the Columbia University Hospital neuro department reported that they were able to assign diagnoses to 2/3 of the patients referred to them as idiopathic. Of course some of their diagnoses were probably wrong, but by doing a thorough work up for each patient, they got past the idiopathic label for quite a few. Even then, they didn’t turn over every leaf: there are hundreds of possible causes.

Of course, if you’ve already been to the Mayo, or similar, they may have already performed the first, second, and third level tests, but you definitely want to go at least that far.

FWIW, I found this book super helpful in understanding the disease, which helps me advocate for myself: “ Peripheral Neuropathy: What It Is and What You Can Do to Feel Better” by Weismann. It is published by Johns Hopkins and was written for patients by an NYU neurologist.

Best of luck with your search.

I am in the same boat except not as severe (yet). My neuropathy started in May 2019 (all of a sudden), is in my feet only, and is numbness only - very numb but no pain (yet).

The word "idiopathic" drives me crazy. I am an engineer by training, and if a bridge fell down you would not say it was "idiopathic", you would find the cause. Yes, medicine is different, but they use the word as though it's an explanation, and it's not.

I have a virtual appointment with Dr. Anne Louise Oaklander at MGH in April. It took a while to get that. https://neuropathycommons.org/experts/anne-louise-oaklander-md-phd

I think she is quite an expert, so hoping.... will report back.

In meantime I am trying a keto diet to see if that helps. My blood sugar is within range but on the high end of normal, and some say that even slightly high sugar (and/or insulin levels) can cause neuropathy. It may actually be the insulin that is the problem, not the sugar (some need higher insulin levels to control sugar).

I am also suspect of the fact that I was put in a statin a year before my neuropathy started. I stopped the statin when neuropathy started (my cardiologist said I did not need it), but neuropathy has worsened, so not sure whether statin was a factor or not.

I have low B12 but have taken shots for that for years, and B12 blood tests are normal. I've taken B vitamins, alpha and R lipioc acid, magnesium, etc. Nothing works so far.

There is WAY too little research done in so many areas in medicine. If all the $$$ are taken up in cancer research and more serious things like that, then I get it, but man, we still know so little about so much.

Hi Todd, I'm John. I echo what some others here have said. First, I had to gradually have my primary doc raise my gabapentin dosage to 3600 daily during the day. That finally cut my feet pain in about half. Recently I have been trying CBD topical on my feet at 8 pm so which cut down my gabapentin use by 25% and my evening pain is now gone. Consider these and best of luck man. Johnmacc