Burning and stabbing feet 24/7 (lifting, sleeping, sitting)

[MindfluX]

Since July 2005 my feet are burning like hell after I lifted something heavy above my head and turned a slightly to the back. The pain got worsed through the years and now I am just to 24/7 burning and stabbing. I went to a neurologist and orthopedic specialist, got lumbar MR and CR, EMG of sciatic nerves, but nothing,... nothing found; all tests negative and no problems from the recessus lateralis, intevertebral foramen, no canal stenosis, no herniated disc or whatsoever.

I can walk and cycle for 30 miles, can play tennis for hours without getting pain, BUT... when I sit and my pelvis turns my feet start to burn immediatly. For 3 years I can _not_ sit anymore on a bench and can only sit on straight and hard material. I can't lay on my right side anymore; then I get so much worse pain on my left buttock and left leg, so im in a forced position when sleeping. I can't lift more then 5 kilo, if more, the burning gets worses. Squat position too.

I am taking 300-375mg Lyrica which helps very good. In the morning i take 1 when I goto work, during dinner I take 1 or 2 and just before sleeping I always take 2. I also used 100mg tramadol per day but I didn't like it all. Lyrica is my friend.

Doctor injected kenacort into my left nerve L5-S1 but I did nothing, I did not feel any difference at all, still so worse.

I am helpless,.. what can I do more, what is wrong with me,.. why I am in so much pain? The neurologist says it's probably orthopaedic, the orthopaedic says there's nothing maybe dehydrated disc, the anesthesiologist says it's probably neurologic.. im so sad about this.

Is there a surgical option, other medication, or diagnose method which I can try?

[saynono]

I was never into homeopathic drugs either.  Never took them because they were not evaluated by the FDA..but that was before this mess and finding out just how useless the FDA really is.  Someone posted on another nerve injury board, "Nerve Fix, Its a miracle" and I was looking for anything that helped, miracle or not.  I dropped everything I was doing at work and drove to the nearest mom & pop store.  As far as treatments for my nerve pain, it helped enough that I haven't stopped taking it yet.  

I've always been one to stop taking meds when I feel better, not when the prescrip run out.  The fact that I haven't stopped any of these drugs, including nerve fix, in 4 years speaks loudly about my botched root canal and the damage it has done to me.  

Never let a dentist use formaldehyde in a root canal.  Don't assume they won't.  ASK and then say NO!  Ask your dentist or endo next time you go and watch the expression on their faces....

[MindfluX]

Thank you for your tip. Im not really into homeopathic drugs, but it is interesting to hear that this stuff works for your nerve damage. I've googled "nerve fix" and read something about it. I keep it in my mind.

[saynono]

If this helps it would be a bandaid on a bigger problem but try taking the homeopathic "Nerve Fix".  I buy it on line at All Star Medical for $16+/- a bottle and take two bottles a month.  I take it for severe permanent nerve damage from a botched root canal, I know someone else who takes it for problems with his sciatic (sp?) nerve.  It isn't a miracle cure but it helps more than some of the prescriptions I take.

[MindfluX]

Hi,
I appreciate your post very much. It is interesting to read about SFN which I never heard before.

> What other tests have you had besides MRI's?
EMG legs, arms, XRAY lumbar, blood analysis

> Have you doctors pursued any other option besides the back?
- As I have scapula winging (scapula alatae) first thought was neuralgic amyotrophy, which is a neurological disorders. My neurologist says I don't have neuralgic amyotrophy based on EMG results (new scientific theories says EMG can be normal with people with neuralgic amyotrophy).
- I am tested if there was something wrong with my nerves in the legs, arms and shoulders with EMG (needle and nerve conduction test) EMG was normal all over my body: no lesion of long thoracic nerve, brachial plexus, ulnaropathy and no polyneuropathy

> ... did you have a Neurological Examination?
Yes, up till now I went to 4 different neurologist, first one for my shoulder pain, second one for my burning and stabbing feet, third one for both, fourth one for burning and stabbing pain in my cheeck and little in my neck.
All did a short physical examinition (standard procedure): trendelenburg negative, thomas and drehmann negative, laseque negative, so nothing found.

> ... do you get any other feelings?
No, nothing special. Although my toe topes are less sensitive when I am in more pain, they feel numbed, especially the 3 middle ones on each side.

> Did the Neuro ever say anything about Small Fiber Sensory Neuropathy?
No, none of the doctors ever talked about SFN. This is the first time I hear about this.

I am in doubt if it is SFN. When I press my lumbar back with my hand my burning feet get worse immediatly, especially when I lay for example 3 fingerstops in my lumbar area and press a little and turn and move slightly, then the sole near the toes is burning and when I do it more it starts stabbing.

Actually I think it some sort of discopathy, although MRI revealed nothing and there is no protrusion or herniated of the nucleus pulposus to see on it, I think my intervertebral disc between L5-S1 and maybe L4-L5 does have little tears, cracks or whatever you call it. When I sit it does press on my spinal nerve.

I am thinking to ask for testing my intervertebral discs, something like lumbar discography would be wise I think. Maybe I need some spinal fusion or intervertebral heat treatment. I do not no, I'm not into this.

[JoshuaY46013]

Hi,
I have Small Fiber Polyneuropathy.  What other tests have you had besides MRI's?  Your symptoms are like the the Hallmark for SFN.  Have you doctors pursued any other option besides the back?  With SFN, injections aren't sufficient for pain.  I can't believe you haven't been evaluated for this, it makes absolutely no sense, ESPECIALLY with the Lyrica helping the pain.

An EMG wouldn't show SFN, did you have a Neurological Examination?  This frustrates me that you've been going through this for years and a Neurologist couldn't figure this out.  ugh...

I'm so sorry, give me a little more information about your symptoms, do you get any other feelings?  Did the Neuro ever say anything about Small Fiber Sensory Neuropathy?
Josh