Peripheral Neuropathy ????

[lori0716]

I have been experiencing neuro symptoms for about 4 weeks numb toes and pain in my heels especially when I have no shoes on. Also pain on sides of feet and ankles.  about 6 months ago after severe stress I had a bout of twitching and a buzzing feeling and slight numbness in only my outer two toes. This is worse all the toes go numb. 6 mo. ago had brain mri - negative also this time I had Rhem workup and all the other blood work - B12, Diabetes, Thyr, metabolic profile. I had a shot of depromedrol for a bad sinus infection about 4weeks or so ago and another cortizone in my wrist Dr. thought CTS.  the wrist still hurts nd now the other wrist hurts and now pain in arms and top of hand like  someone is sticking a needle in my vein. sometimes my toenails get a shade of blue. also pain like burning and aching muscles in arms and some spots on legs some cramps on side of foot and sometimes calves sometimes at night adn in am  going to neuro my back feels like I have pulled the muscles. left bottom of leg and foot goes to sleep if sit on toilet too long and if I am in certain positions when sleeping sometimes fingers sometimes hand or arm goes to sleep (even if laying on back sometimes).  what could this be PN my sister had Guillen Barre and has reynads could this be cipn  how can you rule out paraneoplastic disorder, pn, or ms what are your thoughts thank you.  also I have been under a serious amount of stress again and not getting much sleep my daughter wakes up about 4-5 times a night.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Too long to be Guillain Barre and not sure what you mean by CIPN-CIDP??. Your symptoms could represent a peripheral neuropathy which is best evaluated by an EMG. The normal brain MRI helps make MS less likely and the metabolic profile has ruled out some common causes of peripheral neuropathy.  Paraneoplastic diseases can cause a peripheral neuropathy, but it would be very, very unlikely for this to be the cause of your symptoms if all of the workup is normal, especially the EMG. Paraneoplastic diseases are relatively rare, very severe (trust me, you do NOT want this disease),and patients typically are older and have risk factors for cancer such as a long history of smoking. Finally, stress can certainly play a large part in your symptoms.  Consider the EMG.  In the meantime, there is a medication called Elavil that has traditionally been used for depression but is well known to help patients with peripheral neuropathies due to its anti-pain properties. Good luck.

[lori0716]

Forgot to say I also  get tingling in arms and legs on and off and pain in tips of fingers thank you so much

[t_anunson]

Hi lori,

I started having problems like this 2 weeks after the birth of my daughter in Aug. I noticed u get up a lot at night u said with your daughter. When did this start? Do u have an infant? I haven`t found out whats causing my probs either. MRI`s- negative, blood-normal.

[graham]

Hi Lori, your symptoms are very similar to mine, numbness burning and tingling in legs, and arms, feet sore to stand on, painful and tender muscles. The muscles in my back feel as if they are too tight and I also wake up with numbness in both my hands,particularly small and ring fingers, especially when sleeping on my back with my arms raised to chest level.

You say your b12 level was normal, but do you know what the level was. Many doctors think if you are in the low/normal area that problems such as yours and mine cannot be caused at those levels. That is completely wrong and is highlighted in numerous reports by doctors who work in that area.

Normally in the US the bottom end of normal is about 200pg/ml (normal range200-1100pg/ml). Ask what your b12 levels were and if they were anywhere in the 200's or even a bit higher, then ask for further tests to be done. Methylmalonic acid an Homocysteine are often better indicators of b12 deficiency than the serum b12 test. Perhaps your doctor has already checked these and your b12 level may be fine, but untill you get the result of your b12 level, I would keep an open mind on this being a cause of your symptoms.

Best of luck, I would be interested to know what your level was.

Best of luck
Graham

[lori0716]

thank you all so much for your comments

[richdb3]

You might want to do some bloodwork for vasculitis.  I have had similar problems, peripheral neuropathy, soars around the ankles.  If you have any questions please contact me.  Good luck, I know it has to hurt.  Couldn't hardly sleep at night because of the pain.  Especially with my legs and feet any pressure was horrible.

[fiddy]

i am a 50 yr old female with peripheral neuropathy..i have had it for 3 yrs.  medication has helped me function through the day and night...so painful that you can not stand the sheets touching your legs and feet.  i notice extreme changes in temperature is not helpful.  i have found neurontin takes away the pain, but have learned to live with the numbness( i have lost all reflexes from the knee down)...i do strange things like never wear the same shoes two days in a row, because anything touching the top of my feet is very uncomfortable. good luck