1. < Neuropathy

Is it Peripheral neuropathy?,

Posted by ttl1520 @ttl1520, Jan 29, 2021

Hi. I have arthritis in my knee & left foot. During the last year are so, my toes started to feel numb. Now they start out feeling numb and later in the day it extends to the heal & sometimes ankle. No swelling. Then my shins started hurting and now my thighs sometimes. My legs feel tired and are losing energy. This is the worst. I shuffle my feet when walking & sensitive to cold. I think I have some neuropathy. I have been to a local neurology group. They did many blood tests. .So far low on zinc. I had a nerve check & muscle test on my legs. The nerve test was ok and the muscle test showed some weakness. Had MRI on my lower back to look for damage the could cause pain and weakness. Some deterioration; but nothing serious. Blood circulation seems ok. No answers yet. I am too old for MS. I Hope its, not Parkinson's starting. I have started taking Liquid B12 & B1 50mg capsules. Has anyone have any comments or suggestions.

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Hank | @jesfactsmon | Jan 30, 2021

@ttl1520
Hi, welcome to Connect. Tests I most hear of for peripheral neuropathy are a nerve conduction test, a Electromyography test and a skin punch biopsy. They usually rule PN in or out from one or more of these tests. They told you the nerve test results were "ok". I wonder which specific nerve test they did for you? You mentioned MS as not likely since you are older. While true, it does appear later in life for some (search for "late onset MS"). My MS appeared at age 49, so not too old, but older than usual. Mine finally cleared up totally (in 2013) after I got on to taking plenty of D3 (I now take 5000 iu per day).

What you are experiencing certainly must be disconcerting. In addition to the b12 and b1 I would suggest that you consider starting to take both R-Alpha-Lipoic Acid (RALA) and Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC). RALA can be helpful for neuropathy and ALC for overall energy, and they work well when taken in conjunction with each other. My wife and I take 300mg RALA 20 minutes before breakfast and 1000 mg ALC with breakfast. I hope you are able to figure out what the cause of your numbness, pain and muscle weakness is. Glad you have posted here, Connect can be a very useful tool for both info as well as support. Best to you, Hank

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jan 30, 2021

Hello @ttl1520, I would like to add my welcome along with Hank @jesfactsmon and other members. I've had neuropathy in my legs and feet for over 20 years and am now in my late 70s. I listened to an 80 year old neurologist at a Minnesota Neuropathy Association meeting a few years back and he told us if you live long enough everyone gets neuropathy. He explained it by telling us nerves cells like other parts of our body eventually die off. Your symptoms could be neuropathy but only a doctor can provide a diagnosis.

You mentioned having tired legs and are losing energy. Here are a couple of articles that provide some suggestions and that you might find helpful:
- What to know about tired legs: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/tired-legs
- What's Causing My Tired Legs? - University Health News: https://universityhealthnews.com/daily/heart-health/causing-tired-legs/

Did your doctors offer any suggestions or additional testing to determine a diagnosis?

REPLY
1 reply
lorirenee1 | @lorirenee1 | Jan 30, 2021

@ttl1520 I don't want to be redundant is I will add that I really think you should take Benfotiamine, which is a form of B1 that has helped me a lot with neuropathy. Take 600 mg. daily, but you can take up to 1000 mg daily. Buy on Amazon. It helps with many neuropathy symptoms. As far as your diagnosis, your muscle and nerve tests were normal, but you still have nerve type symptoms. Unfortunately, I am just a patient, and do not know how to address this. Hopefully more folks will chime in to help you. LoriRenee1

REPLY
1 reply
ttl1520 | @ttl1520 | Jan 30, 2021
In reply to @jesfactsmon "@ttl1520 Hi, welcome to Connect. Tests I most hear of for peripheral neuropathy are a nerve..." + (show)
@jesfactsmon

@ttl1520
Hi, welcome to Connect. Tests I most hear of for peripheral neuropathy are a nerve conduction test, a Electromyography test and a skin punch biopsy. They usually rule PN in or out from one or more of these tests. They told you the nerve test results were "ok". I wonder which specific nerve test they did for you? You mentioned MS as not likely since you are older. While true, it does appear later in life for some (search for "late onset MS"). My MS appeared at age 49, so not too old, but older than usual. Mine finally cleared up totally (in 2013) after I got on to taking plenty of D3 (I now take 5000 iu per day).

What you are experiencing certainly must be disconcerting. In addition to the b12 and b1 I would suggest that you consider starting to take both R-Alpha-Lipoic Acid (RALA) and Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC). RALA can be helpful for neuropathy and ALC for overall energy, and they work well when taken in conjunction with each other. My wife and I take 300mg RALA 20 minutes before breakfast and 1000 mg ALC with breakfast. I hope you are able to figure out what the cause of your numbness, pain and muscle weakness is. Glad you have posted here, Connect can be a very useful tool for both info as well as support. Best to you, Hank

Jump to this post

Thanks, Hank for your reply. I will have to find out what nerve & muscle tests they did. I told the doctor about the numbness. I assume he would know tests to do. I went to Dent Neurology. They are well regarded in the area. For some reason when I take a neuropathy supplement with RALA. My arthritis gets worse. I have tried several with the same result. No change without it. Too much vitamin c also bothers my arthritis. So maybe it's the acid. My arthritis complicates the issues. Can't get an answer. Also can't understand why I am low on zinc. They did two tests. My multiple has 100% daily requirement. Also, my breakfast bar has some zinc. And I usually take several handfuls of sesame seeds. High in zinc. Again thank you.

REPLY
ttl1520 | @ttl1520 | Jan 30, 2021
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @ttl1520, I would like to add my welcome along with Hank @jesfactsmon and other members...." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hello @ttl1520, I would like to add my welcome along with Hank @jesfactsmon and other members. I've had neuropathy in my legs and feet for over 20 years and am now in my late 70s. I listened to an 80 year old neurologist at a Minnesota Neuropathy Association meeting a few years back and he told us if you live long enough everyone gets neuropathy. He explained it by telling us nerves cells like other parts of our body eventually die off. Your symptoms could be neuropathy but only a doctor can provide a diagnosis.

You mentioned having tired legs and are losing energy. Here are a couple of articles that provide some suggestions and that you might find helpful:
- What to know about tired legs: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/tired-legs
- What's Causing My Tired Legs? - University Health News: https://universityhealthnews.com/daily/heart-health/causing-tired-legs/

Did your doctors offer any suggestions or additional testing to determine a diagnosis?

Jump to this post

Hi John. Thanks for replying. Thanks for the web site. I used to ski, ice skate & play hockey. Probably a lot of wear and tear. I remember skiing when it was very cold. I would come in to warm up and took my boots off. Initially couldn't feel the floor. I went to Dent Neurological and am supposed to go back in April for further evaluation. Thanks again, Ted.

REPLY
ttl1520 | @ttl1520 | Jan 30, 2021
In reply to @lorirenee1 "@ttl1520 I don't want to be redundant is I will add that I really think you..." + (show)
@lorirenee1

@ttl1520 I don't want to be redundant is I will add that I really think you should take Benfotiamine, which is a form of B1 that has helped me a lot with neuropathy. Take 600 mg. daily, but you can take up to 1000 mg daily. Buy on Amazon. It helps with many neuropathy symptoms. As far as your diagnosis, your muscle and nerve tests were normal, but you still have nerve type symptoms. Unfortunately, I am just a patient, and do not know how to address this. Hopefully more folks will chime in to help you. LoriRenee1

Jump to this post

Hi LoriRenee. Thanks for replying. I have some Benfotiamine from Amazon. Bestvite, 150mg capsules. When I take one of these for several days, I tend to feel a little off. Maybe my imagination and I should try a higher dose I take liquid B12 Methylcobalamin, the natural form. 1000 mg. Again Thanks, Ted

REPLY
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