Dx'd Peripheral Neuropathy

Male, 20 years old. Only known medical condition besides the neuropathy is degenerating discs of the spine.

About a week ago I was diagnosed with a mild peripheral neuropathy after months of leg burning around my thighs and calfs, and occassionally my buttock and groin area (both sides affected). Aside from the burning, the only symptoms were muscle twitching and very very rare tingling in my pinky and ring finger on my right hand.

With the muscle twitching I naturally feared ALS, but the doctor that performed the EMG/nerve conduction study said he saw no signs indicating that. I also haven't noticed any real weakness -- my legs get fatigued faster, but maintain full functionality.

I am going to do follow up blood work and such to find out the cause, but I wanted to post here to see if anyone knew of any possible causes? I have a tendency to fear the worst.

The symptoms haven't really progressed. I woke up one day and my legs were just burning...4 months later, they still do. if anything though, it's gotten better, but not really any worse that I can observe.

Since the dx I have started taking B6, and the muscle twitches and burning has actually seemed to stop 90% of the time. I also recently found out I have an uncle that has a neuropahy in both his toes, and they never found the cause of his problem, even after the blood work.

Any thoughts, or advice would be appreciated. The doctor that performed the EMG said it didn't appear to be anything serious, just because it hadn't been progressing at all.

Thanks for your time!

[Carol in PA]

There are some things you can do to help yourself with twitching and neuropathy.
For muscle twitching, take supplemental magnesium.
The following article has many suggestions to help heal neuropathy.

Effective Treatment for Neuropathic (Nerve) Pain
by Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D.
http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:q4UhAeL5OB4J:www.endfatigue-dev.com/health_articles_o-q/Pain-effective_treatment_neuropathic.html+endfatigue,+teitelbaum,+effective,+neuropathic&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Wishing you the best,
Carol

[missouriangel]

I also have Neuropathy now. I used to be healthy with no problems, now I'm falling apart. You are welcome to look at my profile/Journal and see all my illnesses, symptoms, dx's, meds, etc. I didn't even have health insurance until Jan of this year. I have never been the sick type. Let me look around and I will find one of my messages that someone gave me and it said the causes of Neuropathy. I'll get back to you!!!

[missouriangel]

"Neuropaty is a syndrome of sensory loss, muscle weakness and atrophy, decreased deep tendom reflexes, and vasomotor symptoms. These my occur with disease of a single nerve, 2 or more nerves in separate areas, or many nerves simultaneously. Many things can cause it: collagen - vascular disorders, metabolic diseases (diabetes) or infectious diseases (ex Lyme); microorganisms, by direc invasion of the nerve, or acute febrile diseases due to a toxin (diphtheria), or an autoimmune reaction. Can be caused by toxic agents, nutritianal deficiency and metabolic disorders, etc.
how diagnosis: it is a symptom complex rather than a disease entity. Laboratory findings often are helpful, and EMg (electromyography and nerve conduction velocity tests help confirm neuropathy, etc or even muscle biopsy".

[missouriangel]

Just wondering if you were still around this post? I'm now showing signs of degenerating discs of the neck and spine. I've never had neck or back problems in the past, and the neuropathy just started on July 5 of this year. I was just wondering if there was ever a connection between the 2 for you.