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Anyone here dealing with peripheral neuropathy?
Neuropathy | Last Active: Dec 8 11:43am | Replies (3052)Comment receiving replies
@dbeshears1 - On your post, I can almost assure you that if or when a treatment plan is discovered to cure PN, you will not get that call back to come in. Just my opinion here, there are over 100 different types of neuropathies and if that isn't bad enough, well over 100 various causes. No doubt, one of the leading causes is diabetes. But, when you begin to think about the low numbers of people under 30 years old with PN and the number of people over 50 with PN, no doubt, age has to be considered. Could the cause be related to the things we do over our life, like falls or is it from taking certain meds like antibiotics or outside effects that we are exposed to during our life like toxins or did we inherit PN. Or a combination of things. It is hard to pin down which makes this difficult. Neuro docs can't look into our past but if they could, they might see a clue. Even so, what is the cure? At one point, I wanted to know the cause of my PN. My neuro doc said what's the difference, there is no cure even if you do find out the cause. Hmmm...good point! I stopped looking at the why and figured I better look into how to live with this the best I can. Each person has to figure out their best way to live with PN. Best to all in 23!
Replies to "@dbeshears1 - On your post, I can almost assure you that if or when a treatment..."
I agree that we all must deal (individually.) But, I would like to suggest that learning more about your neuropathy may be a good thing. The VA suggested, without verification, that I had CMT. There is some research on CMT, and I wanted to get into studies. Also, it is sometimes treated a little differently than other types.
I paid for blood work (outside the VA) that ruled out CMT and ~35 other kinds of PN. I found that my PN was length dependent axonal motor and sensory neuropathy complicated by back problems. After a period of anxiety, this was helpful!
When I got Sanexas treatment, I had the electrodes applied to my back, instead of my feet. I got relief from the infernal itching this way. I also got PT. Dry needling was done at pressure points. One of these points is on the outside of the leg, just below knee level. Now, when I feel my legs and ankles are tight, I massage the area that I had previously ignored, with good results.
I believe that I would have tried Gabapentin or some other toxic drug, if I hadn't found out more about my particular problem.
"What's the difference?" I got some piece of mind, and some relief, and a long term coping plan. I fully embrace the thought that each person has to figure out their own path. Please don't refrain from testing, if you feel it might help.
Good health and happiness!
You do have a point however though there is no cure, if the cause can be determined you have a better chance of controlling it.
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One very overlooked cause, alcoholism. My husband saw several neurologists. One put him on medication for Parkinsons. Another gave him infusions for CIDP. Then, finally one said to stop drinking. My husband did and still has the nerve damage in his feet but overall is doing much better. So in my husbands case knowing the cause was very important. Yet, this simple cause was overlooked by several doctors. Good luck to you.