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Sudden peripheral neuropathy

Posted by tkdesign @tkdesign, May 21 8:02am

I'm trying to find out some possible causes for this. Numbness and tingling in feet, legs, arms, hands...all over. It's been several weeks and came on after I had an SI joint block for chronic SI pain. It's only gotten worse over that time, and my doctor is unsure the cause.

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tkdesign | @tkdesign | 5 days ago
In reply to @dadcue ""It wasn't until my EMG that I was told what actually was causing it and it..." + (show)
@dadcue

"It wasn't until my EMG that I was told what actually was causing it and it was due to nerve damage due to a condition caused by Ankylosing Spondylitis I've had, affecting my spine."
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I went through the same process but nobody said my diffuse peripheral neuralgia was autoimmune related. I have never been diagnosed with diabetes in spite of all the prednisone I took over the years. All I was ever told was that Prednisone "can cause peripheral neuralgia" but the neurologist said mine was idiopathic.

Now I try to tell my doctor that I think my peripheral neuralgia has improved since being on a biologic and I got off Prednisone. I suppose that being off Prednisone has helped but maybe my autoimmune disorder is controlled better and that might explain the improvement too,

If the neurologist doesn't know what caused my peripheral neuralgia in the first place then they probably won't know why it seems to be improving. I don't even know for sure if it is improving. I somewhat want to do another EMG/NCS test to see if it is getting better ... except the fact that the EMG/NCS tests already done weren't very pleasant.

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What is a biologic? I rather doubt the benefit of EMG as it is only confirming a symptom, not giving a cause. It can tell if nerve damage, and pinpoint where, but not why.

REPLY
tkdesign | @tkdesign | 5 days ago
In reply to @italialola3 "Hello diydesign, I've read your post and all replies from you and others. SSEP test is..." + (show)
@italialola3

Hello diydesign,
I've read your post and all replies from you and others. SSEP test is (Somatosensory Evoked Potential) is a procedure that measures the brain's response to electrical stimulation of sensory nerves, typically in the hands or feet. It helps evaluate the integrity of the sensory pathways from the body to the brain. The test involves placing electrodes on the skin to record the electrical signals generated by the brain in response to the stimulation.
I have peripheral neuropathy which is caused by nerve damage from another reason. Sometimes the Simplist answer could be the most obvious cause. My pain management specialist is also a spinal specialist. Also, he assiciates with the spine center and spinal surgeons. Have you had your EMG test performed yet? This is how they finally ceased to point me to diabetes when I don't, never have had, not one blood test in 64 years, not one A1c. Twice I was sent for ultrasounds, both venous and arterial, "GOOD NEWS" your circulation is normal!!! Then nothing and the problem just kept getting worse. It was keeping me up at night and times I couldn't feel from my elbow to my right hand, or I couldn't feel my slipping my foot into my own shoe or I thought my sock was bunched up on the bottom. I even changed my socks. I said all of this to say, I am SO SORRY you're going through this. I understand why you feel so frustrated. Don't give up. It wasn't until my EMG that I was told what actually was causing it and it was due to nerve damage due to a condition caused by Ankylosing Spondylitis I've had, affecting my spine. Keep yourself and your health goals a priority because if you don't speak up about it no one else will keep speaking up about it either. Bless your heart!! Lola

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How did an EMG tell your dr you had AS? It definately is frustrating. I feel like the drs just think I'm making things up because I've had so much neuropathy over the years from multiple causes, and when they can't figure it out immediately they dismiss it.

REPLY
italialola3 | @italialola3 | 5 days ago

Hello. The EMG didn't tell me I had AS. I already had AS and was diagnosed by a Rheumatologist through blood testing, gene testing, too. It was only after the neuropathy worsened and other tests like I mentioned were ruled out, I.e. diabetes and circulation venous and arterial ultrasounds from groin down both legs and to the feet, were negative, did another doctor a year later with my telling him about it worsening he ordered EMG. You're right, they did dismiss it. They never asked how I was doing with the numbness and pain again. Then I moved and found new doctors so I just mentioned it and it seemed like the next reasonable step to take. There ya have it!

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