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Sudden onset neuropathy and scared
Neuropathy | Last Active: Sep 30, 2024 | Replies (34)Comment receiving replies
Mine also came on all of a sudden 4 years ago (I am 66). First in the left foot, then right foot a year later.
So far numbness only and neurologists call it mild PN. Neuropathy is only in feet.
As everyone here knows, it is really hard to track down a cause.
Possibilities with me are:
1. Pre-diabetic, but A1C is within range and no one thinks this is a cause.
2. Low B12 but have been taking shots for years. This could have been a cause, but my B12 levels are fine now.
3. I do have a mild back issue. No one thinks this is a cause for sure, but it might be. MRI impression is below. If anyone has thoughts on that, would appreciate it. Seeing a neuro-surgeon on that soon.
I take R Liopic Acid, B1, B12, Magnesium but they seem to have no effect. I walk 2 hours a day and walking makes feet feel a bit better. I can definitely live with the way they are now, but worry about it getting worse and they are very gradually getting worse (more numb, occasional pain).
BTW I know this is mild and others are really suffering.
From MRI results:
IMPRESSION:
Mild multilevel degenerative spondyloarthropathy of the lumbar spine as described in detail above. Most notably, there are narrowings of the subarticualar zone at L2-L3 and L4-L5. Mile neural forming narrowings at L3-L4 and L4-L5. No overt spinal canal stenosis.
Replies to "Mine also came on all of a sudden 4 years ago (I am 66). First in..."
I was prediabetic with A1C of 7.1 at most. Still I got neuropathy. Doctors at first were unwilling to place the blame on the neuropathy for this, but one neurologist after doing skin biopsies noted that the pattern seemed to be indicative of diabetic neuropathy. I found a paper noting that prediabetes may well cause neuropathy. I lost weight and got my A1C to around 5.8. I should say that I had glucose intolerance which meant that blood sugar levels stayed constant over time rather than just going down. They were not a bell curve as they should have been. My dad and granddad were diabetics so I had a proclivity. It makes sense that over the years the higher blood sugars in my system due to glucose intolerance, while not very high, would have still have had a negative effect on me. The neuropathy is progressing but it is manageable with lyrica.
Neuropathy is one of those fields which is new and little is known. Symptoms are treated but causes are so unknown in many cases. So helpful. Uuuugggh. I just try to be as healthy as possible and take it from there. New symptoms continue to emerge so I continue to see docs about causes, etc. Keep investigating and stay healthy AND enjoy life as much as possible. Thank you for sharing. This site has been so helpful in making me feel not so alone.
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I have neuropathy in both feet. I have spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease all the way up my spine., osteoarthritis and I’ve had nine failed back/Sacroiliac joint fusions. I have a herniated disc in my upper neck. I currently have loose screws and most likely surgical hardware causing my severe pain in my DI joint. I do also have a pinched nerve but that’s higher up in my back and don’t feel like that’s causing the neuropathy. I had three doctors tell me because the neuropathy is in both feet it’s not caused from all the back issues I have. I don’t believe it. After one fusion, they sent me home after surgery with Gabapentin. Then it went to both feet. I’ve had a pain doc say otherwise. She thinks it’s from all the surgeries.