Your story and mine are almost carbon copies! Mine started as just hot sensations in my feet and progressed to burning, crushed glass feeling in my toes and a few numb spots that has leveled off the last couple of years after gradually getting worse the first 4-5. Had all the blood work, nerve conduction studies etc. and never have found anything that can remotely be aligned as a cause. Was told that I am one of the unlucky 15% that will never know why, sounds great huh. I am one that leans toward the idea that being over treated with a statin drug right before this started as the cause for my issues and some doctors will even talk the theory but none want to come right out and admit possible as they all are complicit in the over prescribing of statins. Don’t fall for all the miracle treatments on the web that will start to flood your inbox if you research there as I have had no luck with any of the creams pills etc. Good luck with your treatment, hoping you find something to treat or at least a medication that will help with the symptoms. I was an avid runner that did a marathon and averaged 30 miles a week for years and then walked and hour each morning before work and now am lucky to survive a trip to the grocery store, cannot be on my feet more than 20-30 minutes without paying a large price.

The statin reference is interesting. I hadn't seen anything on that before. I put off taking a statin for many years despite high bad cholesterol because scans showed relatively clear arteries and I always assume docs over-prescribe. About two months ago I allowed a cardiologist, who was very persistent, patient and polite, to put me on a very low dose statin. About a month ago the neuropathy began ticking up from feet into legs. Probabliy a coincidence. Everything considered, I think the statin was the right decision. But I'm going to ask the cardioligist about this issue when I see him in a couple of months for review of routine statin-monitoring blood work. He's a smart young guy, one of those too rare docs who will spend considerable time tol reason with the patient rather than just pulling MD rank :

Statin's are definitely not good for you if you have PN. Even though my Mayo neurologist thinks my small fiber peripheral neuropathy is idiopathic and possible genetic I've long thought it's at least partially caused by statins. I took a statin for years along with a couple of other drugs for high blood pressure before I started feeling the tingling in my toes then feet. Here's a few research links I've found to support statins are bad for PN.

The implications of statin induced peripheral neuropathy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3103035/
Statin Neuropathy Masquerading as Diabetic Autoimmune Polyneuropathy
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/8/2082.1
Medication Induced Neuropathy
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11910-003-0043-8
John

@alanhny- I had PN mostly in my feet and it got worst enough that if I walked any more than a 1/2 mile my feet would go numb. The drs. tried all kinds of tests and found nothing. I kept saying from what I have read it had to be the statin drug. The drs. kept saying no, it would'nt be that. I finally told my dr. lets try another statin then. I was taking 40 my of simistatin and swithed to 40 mg of atorvastin. I have hardly any more numbness and can walk for miles now. Go figure! These drs. seem to know only so much when it comes to drugs. I believe in taking a statins, but lets use some common sense!

I took statins for years because of a family history of heart disease. Then I developed PN, and the symptoms included pain in my feet, instability, leg weakness, etc. I stopped stations, and the PN symptoms reduced substantially! I make up for the lack of statins with a low fat diet and plenty of exercise. So far my cholesteral levels are low enough.

Good evening Alan, welcome to our group of supportive folks who deal with idiopathic PN and SFN. In 2012 I had cervical surgery to relieve severe tingling and pain in my arms by lifting the vertebrae off the nerves and replacing discs with titanium blocks. Unfortunately, some of the nerves were so damaged that there was no chance that these slow healers would recover in my lifetime. And so .....the journey into neuropathy began. Four years later in 2016 the small fiber neuropathy skin test came back with indications of severe small fiber nerve damage and demise. Thinking that of course there would be a cure....I attempted to tough it out and maintain my active life....walking 3 miles a day and joining my friends for walking trips around the world....serving as the volunteer marketing director for a non profit development project in the small mountain village where I live and traveling with grandchildren and puppy dogs. Of course, that lifestyle came crashing down and my first foray into depression and anxiety began to control my world. As a synopsis, I will share with you the steps I have taken to improve my quality of life. 1. Let go of anger and actively grieve for the life you once had until you are able to accept reality. 2. Explore both conventional non habit forming drugs as well as alternative medications particularly medical marijuana. My journey to discover the right products and dosages has taken two years and has resulted in the availability of pain and moderate symptom control on a daily basis. 3. Find substitutes for outdoor or physical activities no longer accessible to you or for which you have to pay the price in pain. This was a major challenge that led me to the daily practice of gentle yoga, meditation and mindfulness. Embrace the possible. 4. Find a neurologist or other medical practitioner who demonstrates a desire to be your partner and with whom you are comfortable sharing your efforts and results. 5. Find joy in every day.....no matter now briefly. Notice things you haven't really seen before. Seek answers to questions you have never asked before. Care about something and /or someone. 6. Find a pain release massage therapist who understands that all of our nerves are connected so that the pain you feel in your knee may really begin somewhere else in your body. Save your pennies so you can receive this treatment often. My best to you and please keep us informed of your progress....we all care so very much.

So happy to hear that you are living your life to the fullest. It’s a wonderful thing when you realize you can adapt to anything with grace and humility ,thank you for being so forthcoming .

@artscaping- Chris, thank you for sharing the way you are handling your journey. It should be printed & framed in every Doctors office. I know for myself I will certainly save your post and reread as needed in this journey through life. God bless, @thankful- Jim

@alanhny- My wife realized I had reversed the Statins in my post. It should be that I started with Atorvastatin and am now on Simvastatin. Sorry for the misinfomation.

Got it, thanks.