Living with Neuropathy - Welcome to the group

Hello all, thank you for having this forum available. I have a very challenging and stressful job (I hold a senior position within the UK government), and I have just broken up with my partner of multiple years. Growing up my father had bipolar and my parents became divorced. When my mother remarried, my step father was an alcoholic. My eldest sister developed schizo affective disorder and it pained my family and I to observe her have multiple nervous breakdowns. As a result of my personal circumstances, I became drawn to friends who had similar experiences to mine and this resulted in share alcohol and drug abuse. I haven't been diagnosed as yet but I have looked up online and I think I have peripheral neuropathy in my hands and it's likely it was brought on by me battling my addictions. I am dealing with detoxing and steering clear of toxants now but I just wanted to reach out and see if anyone had any experiences like mine in terms of neuropathy, brought on by the aforementioned means. I hope that you will not look down at me in my post as I am here because I am quite frightened and am looking for some reassurance, please. Thank you

Hello @kashc100, Welcome to Connect. There is another discussion that you might find helpful and can meet others who have shared similar experiences --- Alcohol-related Neuropathy: Anyone had good treatment results?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/alcohol-related-neuropathy/.

Probably one of the best things to do for yourself is to learn as much as you can about the condition and what treatments might help. Two sites that have a lot of great information are:
-- Neuropathy Commons: https://neuropathycommons.org/index.php/neuropathy/neuropathy-overview
-- Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy: https://www.foundationforpn.org/

You mentioned that you have not been diagnosed yet. Are you planning to setup an appointment with a neurologist to seek a diagnosis?

Get a diagnosis first. Then you can try to attack the problem.

I am new to connect and am going to be tested for small fiber neuropathy and have had neuropathy side affects after my two covid vaccines and the booster. The vaccine side affects lasted about three weeks and then went away but the booster has lasted much longer. I am wondering about other people with peripheral neuropathy and side affects from vaccine and help with my journey with peripheral neuropath and possible small fiber neuropathy. Thank-you

Welcome @beegie, Sorry to hear you had adverse effects to the COVID vaccines and booster. There is another discussion you may want to read through here and learn the experiences shared by other members:

COVID vaccines and neuropathy: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-vaccines-and-neuropathy/

Did you report the adverse side effects from the COVID vaccine and booster to VAERS?
-- https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html

For me, the COVID vaccine didn't have any impact on my neuropathic state - no better no worse.

I have idiopathic PN and I too can’t say with any degree of certainty that the vaccine or boosters did anything else to my PN. The nature of my PN is that it is a roller coaster, some good days, some bad. Like my doctors, I haven’t figured out the cause if my PN or the secret formula to guarantee the good days vs the bad, but do know that all I’m going through is the same before & after the vaccines and booster. I am very thankful to say to date I’ve never contracted Covid, which I know would be hard on me, so I’m counting it as a blessing.

my name is Beth. I had chemotherapy a year ago. I have been left with numbness in both feet and tingling in left hand. I have started gabopentin at night before bed. I also have a machine that vibrates feet. Can't tell anything has helped much. I would be happy to hear of any treatments that you all have found helpful. Thanks

Likewise

Welcome Beth @cbhagler, There are a couple of other discussions related to chemo induced neuropathy where other members have shared their experience and you might find helpful.

-- Chemo-related Neuropathy: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/1st-time-at-mayo-for-neuropathy/
-- Chemo-induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Breast Cancer: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/neuropathy-11/
-- Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy Webinar - Chemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: https://youtu.be/eNkDf9ezXFo

Is the machine that vibrates a whole body vibration device?