Connection between Neuropathy and L4,L5 Issues

Thanks…..

Have foot Dr. Called it Neuropathy around 2000 . I have had pain every day since. from knee to bottom of my feet. no Dr wants to talk about it. VA has turned me down 3 times, a says I should have started when within 2 years after leaving SV (agent Orange) Have started over again for VA disability.

@penn - I hear about situations like yours and I realize that surgery is absolutely the last item to consider and has to be done with all known facts. I am not a candidate for surgery. I'm sorry to hear what you went through and all along, you were only trying to improve your quality of life. Glad to hear that you are getting relief from pain. Best to you as well, take care. Ed

The Peripheral Neuropathy Foundation just received money from Congress to help with research. No one has really done much research on the topic in a long time. I don't know if an answer will be found in time to help me but I keep looking. It has been almost two years since my spinal surgery and so far I have not felt any relief from the pain and burning in my feet. But the good thing is that the neuropathy has not progressed as I have heard that it can.

Did you have the neuropathy from your back?

That was the final conclusion. That the degeneration of the L4L5 was most likely the cause of my “idiopathic “ peripheral neuropathy

I’ve posted this before.
If anyone has had prolonged exposure to harsh chemicals have your blood checked for toxins. I did and had my blood cleaned about 80 percent through chelation. My numbness was up to both knees but after treatment it’s only the bottom of my feet. No pain. It’s been 18 years and not progressed. Gabapentin allows me to play tennis competitively at age 81. I hope this helps a few if you.

I have stenosis at L4-5 on both sides and neuropathy in both feet, ankles and calves. Several doctors have looked at my stenosis and told me it's not bad enough to warrant surgery, or to cause my neuropathy. I wouldn't want surgery anyway since fusion or the insertion of a rod in your backbone would, for me anyway, only lead to more neuropathy. I say this because when I broke my left ankle and right talus bone (in foot), my neuropathy got much worse. Insertion of a plate and screw in the left ankle really made a mess of things - now I have internal scar tissue that gums up my nerves, muscles and blood vessels. This cannot be fixed by further surgery. I already have pain in my lower back - I don't need insertion of a rod to make it worse. Frankly, I don't think back surgeons have a clue. I've heard of far more failed back surgeries than successes. I suspect my neuropathy is the result of multiple factors including the bone breaks, two genetic mutations, mitochondrial dysfunction, multiple toxic medications that I take for other chronic diseases, and neuroinflammation caused by the medications. My plan at this point is to strengthen back muscles with core exercises, doing anti-inflammatory diet, doing self lymphathic massage to help reduce toxic meds, lose more weight, and take a variety of supplements including a mitochondrial cocktail to support my mito function. I also do a lot of research online in google scholar to try to identify any new approaches that might help - right now I'm looking into exosomes which are supposed to improve nerve axon and sheath regrowth and reduce neuroinflammation. In my case, there does not seem to be a single silver bullet, and surgery for me seems like a bad idea. Maybe for others, it may be a magical fix. Hope you find a simple solution.

Based on my experience that’s a good course to take. Surgery on hands and feet is some of the most painful you can have. Many bones and nerves to navigate. I have had both and it was way worse than my hips being replaced
Core strength and nutrition will play a big role in keeping PN as under control as possible

It is unclear but a theory. If you read through, you will see many stories. It is why it is idiopathic. It is one of the things the Foundation is working on, what causes it.