Severe Neuropathy in legs and feet and not a diabetic or alcoholic

Posted by jbb12 @jbb12, Sep 3 10:18am

Dealing with this neuropathy pain for over 3 years. Happened one month after I had an emergency appendectomy at the age of 70. Sudden onset of severe pain in legs and feet. Was not gradual pain. Been to 3 neurologists. Nothing has worked. I am not a diabetic and never drank alcohol. Tried different medication such as gabepentin, etc. tried epidurals, acupuncture, cryotherapy, stem cell therapy ($9000 which insurance did not cover). I have appointments with a fitness trainer to do my best to stay in shape, which exercising is getting so difficult. I am not overweight and have always been physically fit. I’ve had nerve tests, scans, etc. run with nothing conclusive. Said some stenosis. Next is doing an ablation on the nerve but don’t know if that will work either. Can anyone advise what to do next?

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@grampalou

I'm on a tens device used by Cancer Centers of America for their chemo patients because I found out lately that chemo causes neuropathy. Wish my Anns doctor had told us that years ago.
Anyway, look into lose dose Naltrexone. I've read thst it vould help my neuropathy. Found a doctor group in Chicago thst off label prescribes it. Going to try it because tens unit and red light therapy don't seem to be helping.
Lou Anselmo

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I just finished chemo, same problem. I am waiting to see if it betters itself given some time.

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I'm 75 and on hormone therapy for prostate cancer. I've also had back surgery because the neurosurgeons believed a pinched nerve was the cause of my neuropathy. Surgery was no help.
I started taking Pregabalin (3 -75 mg capsules a day) and it did not help reduce my leg pain. I'm now taking pregabalin (6 - 75 mg capsules a day), 1,200 mg Alpha Lipoic Acid and 10,000mg B-12. I stopped drinking alcohol 19 months ago. The Neuropathy pain is better but not gone. I've also tried 2 different antidepressants - one made the pain worst and the other made me dizzy. Note at the pregabalin dose I'm taking it's considered a controlled substance and required preapproval by my insurance.

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@thurlibier

I have had neuropathy in my feet for about five years - no pain and could walk several miles. I am also diabetic. This past April I started using a cane - not all the time - usually when the terrain was a little difficult. Very quickly my use of the cane became a necessity. A month ago I had to start using a walker and now I can hardly walk fifty yards without my legs shaking and feeling light headiness. I was admitted into Mayo Clinic in the neurology department, underwent several tests,
which were fine. Doctors told me that my problems were probably due to neuropathy. Went to another neurologist who said the same thing. Basically, it may or may not worse and physical therapy may help. I am very concerned how this will end up as it seems to be getting worse every day. I have heard, from reliable sources, that some people who were told that they were terminal, not neuropathy, went to India and received treatment that wasn't available in the United States and they recovered. I am going to look into this further, If anyone here has any information about successful or unsuccessful treatment in another country please let me know. Thanks. Margaret

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You went through all of the tests at Mayo and they did not find anything that could help you? I was considering going to Mayo!!

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@terry1976

Neuropathy is a complex symptom usually with an underlying disorder. There are many possible causes;
Diabetes
Chemotherapy
Alcohol use
Immune and auto immune disorders

Have you discussed with primary care and determined what causes yours and then you might be on a path to see a specialist, get relief

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Excessive doses of Statins have caused my Neuropathy, as I had a serious reaction to 40mg of Lipitor and the doctor in Australia Dr Rajappa increased the dose to 40mg of Crestor.
I was a low-risk patient and should not have been prescribed such doses with my moderate cholesterol reading.

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@chronicpain324

I am having Radio Frequency Ablation on September 10.
From L3-L5 on both sides of Lumbar spine. You do two trials with a drug shot into your sensory nerves. This helps to find out if their is any improvement in pain before the procedure.
I feel your pain, good health!

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I just had it done and it did not work. NOW, they want to do a lumbar TFESI.

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As you have been/were active, try physical therapy for stenosis. I am surprised at how much my pt for stenosis has helped.

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@jbb12

I just had it done and it did not work. NOW, they want to do a lumbar TFESI.

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I have had streoids for spondloythesus for years. Neuropathy started being a issue i has steroid shot at my spine clinic and he told me it wouldnt help the neuropathy. I moved this year and 3 weeks ago i had one that relieved most pain and tingling ftom back toes before i left the clinic. Dr said it wouldnt help numbness. I already have tingling in my toes and pain occassionally in my back. I suppose everyone is different

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I assume you saw a neurologist. Did they do a skin punch biopsy to test you for small fiber peripheral neuropathy? This would include doing an EMG test on your legs and feet (or wherever you have symptoms) and nerve conduction velocity test and also blood tests to rule out any auto-immune causes, and some genetic marker tests also. They should also check your B12 and B6 levels.

My peripheral neuropathy is actually caused by a pre-cancerous blood cell disorder, discovered by my neurologist and a hematologist doing extensive blood tests - peripheral smear, ANA, and other more specific tests to make sure that my blood cells looked normal in shape, size, etc. also. If you eat a fast food or high processed food diet, eat processed sugar, drink caffeine and eat fried foods, they can all contribute to increased symptoms with neuropathy, regardless of the cause.

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I have diabetic neuropathy and in feet, hands and plus lower back pain. Neurologist put me on gabapentin. 300 MG at bedtime. Now I am suffering with severe leg cramps when I am sleeping.
I also have tremors in my left hand.
Any suggestions???

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@soldman1

I have diabetic neuropathy and in feet, hands and plus lower back pain. Neurologist put me on gabapentin. 300 MG at bedtime. Now I am suffering with severe leg cramps when I am sleeping.
I also have tremors in my left hand.
Any suggestions???

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Sometimes the remedy is as simple as making sure you are well hydrated with water (adding a couple of drops of lemon juice helps me to be more motivated). Also, my P.T. told me the leg cramps are often because your electrolytes are too low. Drinking a sugary beverage with electrolytes, however, is discouraged. I hope you are able to find a solution!

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