Afib and neuropathy

Welcome @davidjp, I don't have AFib but do have hypertension along with my small fiber peripheral neuropathy. Hopefully others with AFib and neuropathy can share their experience. I've really never read anything connecting the two but did find this paper mentioning a possible connection with diabetic neuropathy.

"Can neuropathy cause AFib?
Conclusion: Type 2 DM peripheral neuropathy is associated with increased risk of AF. Blood glucose level alone does not explain this association. The underlying mechanisms can be multifactorial but may include inflammation, tissue hypoxia, autonomic dysfunction, autoimmunity, and oxidative stress."
-- Abstract 15201: Association Between Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy and Atrial Fibrillation - A Community Based Case Control Study: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circ.128.suppl_22.A15201

I think your question would depend on which condition causes the other condition. Have you done any research or discussed the symptoms with your doctor?

I am wondering if the Afib leads to neuropathy; my feet are just not getting good circulation. When I get up in the am, the neuropathy is much less then at night when I have been up and about most of the day. I of course, have been laying down all night so the blood can get back to my feet. Cardiologist says the problem lies in the veins (aged) which apparently do not function as well and the blood is prevented from leaving the feet thus preventing new blood from getting to the feet. Does make sense. Could Afib be related to the veins not functioning as well and thus putting more pressure on the heart to force blood through the veins? Wonder if Afib is more active in the am vs. the pm. Don't know.

Not sure if this is helpful or if you have discussed what you can do to help improve the circulation with your doctor.

-- What Helps Increase Circulation in Your Legs?:
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-increase-circulation-in-legs
-- Symptoms and Causes of Poor Circulation in the Arms and Leg:
https://www.healthline.com/health/poor-circulation-symptoms-causes

Thanks for that reference John, will get right to it.
Here is an interesting story for you; I did have my right knee replaced in April, and have been doing PT to re-strengthen the leg since then. What has happened to that leg, below the knee, is that it has redeveloped hair, just like I had when I was much younger (now 83). But the other leg is almost completely bare of hair as was the right one before the surgery. Have showed this to several health professionals, and they do not have an answer, and they tell me they have never seen this before in legs operated on. Only possible answer they say is it is due to increased blood flow from the exercise. Sadly, I still have the neuropathy in the right foot even with the possible increased flow. So not sure. But again, thanks for the reference. Will check it out.

Yipes. I’m having my right knee replaced early next year and I was very hairy most of my life. I am a female, age 79, and have been so happy the past few years that I didn’t have to shave my leg every day. I’ll report in after the surgery.

Good luck with the surgery! Just be aware that it takes forever to get your strength and stamina back. And make sure you get to PT at least twice a week. They (PT) have done a wonderful job with me. Have one more week remaining. And I am just now feeling ca. 70% of normal. (Surgery was 19 April).

They say it takes a full year for the knee to feel like your own. Thanks for the good wishes.

Hi, @davidjp - my initial (more obvious) SFN symptoms started in my feet around 2007. I had developed a-fib around that time, maybe a year later. I ended up needing a cardiac ablation which worked perfectly to resolve the a-fib. Unfortunately, the SFN continued and progressed tremendously. I guess I can say, at least my heart is fine. (Thankfully!!)

I have had Afib for several years now and have had a pacemaker replaced twice and am soon to get a new one again. Afib had nothing to do with my neuropathy. It was totally caused by my chemo treatments. I must use a walker to get around because my feet were severely damaged by it. I am going into my forth year with this now and my neuropathy is not getting better. You just have to learn to live with this condition the best way you can. My husband has dementia now so he occupies my time and helps me forget my own problems and believe me it is difficult to deal with him at times. Life goes though and we just have to move forward with it.

Hi runnergirl, I wish my cardiologist had informed me of the various treatments of Afib when it was diagnosed. I did read in my local paper about seizing off the left atrial appendage several years later, and did get that done, but now think the Afib has been there too long to get the ablation done. It really doesn't bother me that much, at least, that I am aware of. At my last recent appt., my cardiologist said "see you in a year' so I assume that I am not that bad.
Good luck with the SFN. Do stay as active as possible.