Peripheral Neuropathy diagnosis

[canttakeitnomo]

not ready to accept the diagnosis - recently diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy in feet.  Me -  50 year old hiv pos male - counts are decent - never really long term use of antivirals - start and stop them due to side affects.  

sudden onset of terrible burning pain in feet (burning is the best way I can describe it - maybe like I jumped off  two story building and landed on my feet? - feel like there should be blisters down there - but the skin isn't bad)  and I think there might be a tad of swelling down there - feels like it when I try to bend my toes down.

I KNOW! this happened to me about 3-4 years ago as well - and it went away - same pain - at that time I treated myself for a small blister on my toe with lamisil.  Prior to getting my PN diagnosis, I went to a foot doctor, then to a dermatologist.  foot doc of course wanted me to buy $350 worth of something to insert in my shoes, dermatologist said no to athletes foot.

Why I can't accept it's PN is because of the time before.... exact and I mean exact symptoms.... and it went away.  Around that time I did take 'valtrex??' or something like that for symptoms on my trunk.    

please tell me there is something else to look at before accepting the PN diagnosis.  

[bigsissie]

Mamta is right. you are showing all signs for PN. It can come and go kinda. It can flare up where you notice, ie the burning. You could have other symptoms that you are unawhare of the rest of the time. Do have the NCS test and see how bad it is. It is something that caught early can be treated and lived with but ignoring can cause serious damage. Good luck to you.

[Mamta7]

Hello,

As you have described your pain as severe burning, it is a typical sign of neuropathy. Also, taking into consideration the primary diagnosis of HIV +, there are high chances that the burning sensation in your feet is due to PN since it is associated with HIV (In a HIV + patient, there are multiple systems involved). Although you mention that you had experienced the same pain previously as well, I still think that you are not misdiagnosed because there are chances that you might come up with such and other symptoms frequently since they are associated with your primary diagnosis.

If you are still apprehensive about accepting the diagnosis, you can go for nerve conduction studies but Its better you consult your doctor before you do so.

Last but not the least, it will only do you good by accepting the diagnosis because the more you delay, the treatment will be delayed as well.

Regards,
Mamta