Perhipheral Neuropathy, Heavy Metals Test - Arsenic

[JoshuaY46013]

Hello,

My Name Is Josh, I have peripheral neuropathy and we're in the process of finding out why that is.  I took a 24 hour urine heavy metals test, I'm not sure if this arsenic is ENOUGH to be causing my neuropathy.  Someone stated that beaus lines could be a signal or the poisoning and I remembered 5 months or so ago I had raised horizontal white lines across ONLY my left hand and foots nails, there was a raised horizontal bump where the white lines were. That was 5 months ago, wouldn't it be out of my system by now?

I'm so lost in all this, is this enough to be causing complications?    

Lead UG/L 0
Lead UG/Day 0
Lead UG/G Creatinine 0

Mercury UG/L 0
Mercury UG/Day 0
Mercury UG/G Creatinine 0

Arsenic UG/L 21.2 (reference 0-35)
Arsenic UG/Day 62.5 (reference 0-50) HIGH
Arsenic UG/G Creatine 29.4 --- *no reference on paper?*

Creatinine-UR MG/DL 72
Creatinine-UR MG/Day 2,124 (reference 1,000-2,500)

I only drink bottled water, I have no idea where it could be coming from...

Josh

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the implications of your laboratory tests is nor what the cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

As you know there are many types of neuropathy and there are several potential causes. Heavy metal toxicity including arsenic toxicity is one of them. However, caution should be exercised in interpreting testing of heavy metals, particularly when the laboratory running such tests are not well experienced. Before definitively making the diagnosis of arsenic toxicity and pursuing treatment, an experienced physician should evaluate this, particularly because other (much more common) causes of neuropathy should not be overlooked. In general, an arsenic 24-hour clearance of more than 50 mcg is considered abnormal, but it must be the inorganic form, so if the lab has not distinguished between the organic and inorganic form, the test is not useful (it is the inorganic form that is toxic). Also, consumption of shellfish for 3 days prior to laboratory testing is important.

Arsenic is found throughout nature, in the water and in the soil, though usually not in quantities high enough to lead to toxicity. Most common causes of toxicity are through industrial exposure, pesticide exposure, and more recently, a lot of the herbal over the counter medications being used (that are not FDA approved) have been found to contain toxic amounts of arsenic in some rare cases. Of course, the possibility of poisoning is also present.  

What type of neuropathy you have depends in large part on the findings of your EMG/NCS, which further guides the diagnostic testing. Other causes of neuropathy in someone your age include diabetes, hereditary/genetic causes (there are several syndromes such as Charcot Marie Tooth and others), autoimmune disorders, vitamin B12 and B6 deficiency, as well as excess vitamin B6, can also cause neuropathy.In your age group, a type of neuropathy that should be considered, particularly if there is a family history of neuropathy and/or renal disease, and if there is a prominent burning in the hands and feet, is a disorder called Fabry's disease. In around 1/3 of patients, a cause for neuropathy can not be found.  

Continued followup with your neurologist is recommended.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.

[Jada235]

Hello Josh.. I'm not a doctor but it seems you were exposed to several toxic chemicals. Ask yourself how you were exposed.. was it on the job..?? or somewhere else where you were on a regular basis..that caused you to be exposed to this many metals.. Not sure what you mean by the beau lines?? but with toxic exposure if you were exposed on a regular basis or evenly an acute exposure in excess doses..it could possibly be that a person can acquire the PN from this.. If I were you I would look up all of those type of toxins you mentioned (google, etc) and find out what the EPA has to say on them (Environmental protection agency).. you might have to dig deep with thorough research. I know for a fact thru doing research that neurotoxins damage the peripheral nerves.Its kind of a no-brainer tho' about the Arsenic.. but do research on them so you can find specifics.. Also, any question you ask any dr that you see for an appt or online like this if your question is about toxic exposure especially if you got it on the job..They will NEVER EVER ADMIT that to you or put it in their report..They will always say its "idiopathic" (which means they don't know where its coming from even if they really do know where its coming from) Its really how their trained medically..their told to say that. but they also have a different understanding of how toxic chemicals can poison a person..they think all chemicals poison the same way..but what they don't understand is that a great deal of chemicals have different characteristics and that some can still poison a person even after it leaves the body. IF I were you I would go to An Occupational & Environmental health physician..make sure the one you go to has a physician whose familiar with toxic exposure..( ie a toxicologist- physician) if not, move on to where there is one otherwise your wasting your time..and they'll run you around.. Good luck! take care of yourself..peripheral neuropathy is no joke.. P.S. If your wondering why a dr from this forum has not answered you yet its because most are afraid of the whole toxic chemical thing.. Peace.. tabitha5378