Neuropathy - seeking the truth! - Neuropathy Message Board

modert · 04-23-2004, 06:46 PM

I usually post on the Diabetes board - this message is posted there too... but I am hoping someone here may be able to help.

I am sooooo frustrated. I am trying to learn more about neuropathy and am reading opposing things that don't make sense. I believe I am experiencing symptoms of neuropathy but I am not sure.

On one hand, I have read that neuropathy is permanent nerve damage and that it is not reversible. On the other hand, I have read that the burning/tingling sensations associated with neuropathy can be a result of nerve regeneration or healing nerves. I have also read that neuropathy symptoms can temporarily worsen when you first bring your blood sugar under control (as is the case with me).

None of this makes sense to me. If its not reversable, what is healing/regenerating? What do they mean by "temporarily worsen" - for how long? What causes this? Will the symptoms go away?

I have had intermittant but daily burning in my feet that increases with activity and at night. This began about 5 weeks ago, approximately 5 weeks after my blood sugar levels were brought under control. The burning can be quite intense (like my feet are submerged in boiling hot water) and at other times it can be a mild tingling feeling in my feet and lower legs (more like a flushed feeling) accompanied by mild aching. More recently I have had a few incidences where my arms and hands feel mildly sunburned (but not nearly as bad or intense as the symptoms in my feet and legs)

I mentioned this to my doctor and he ran some basic nerve tests on my feet. He put a vibrating device on my toe and asked if I could feel it. Of course I could. Then he poked my feet with a light pin-like device, and of course I could feel that too. I explained to him that my feet are NOT numb - they burn!!! After those brief tests he said, "Nope, you nerves are fine!"

When I went to my chiropractor (for my neck/shoulder problems) I asked him about my burning feet - he said, absolutely it is neuropathy - he had no doubt.

So what is the truth about neuropathy? Can nerves heal or regenerate? If so, why am I reading that it is not reversable? Will the burning symptom go away on its own? If not, what can I do about it? Why is my doctor insisting that my nerves are fine based on the basic tests he did? I can't imagine having to experience this symptom every day for the rest of my life!

Any advice?

zoron · 04-23-2004, 10:35 PM

Yeah, I have heard about some people who heal and fully recover with no residual effects, and there are some who only get worse. I guess it depends on the initial cause of the problem, the severity of the nerve damage, and your age and health condition may play factors too.

modert · 04-24-2004, 07:42 AM

Okay, so is there anyone here who has recovered or greatly improved? My symptoms came on rather suddenly, my doctor is not addressing this, and I am hoping that it is a temporary condition that will subside.

Is this wishful thinking? What are my chances? I need some hope here!!!

zoron · 04-24-2004, 01:36 PM

Sometimes stress and anxiety will make it worse. What part of the foot and/or leg is it affecting you? Is it a burning sensation, tingling, electric shock type of pain, muscle cramp type of pain, etc?

Many doctors have no absolute answers or cure to this problem. They can only provide treatment in the form of medication. And, I think some can get rid of the problem via surgery or injecting alcohol into the infected nerve if the problem is too much for you. Some people opt for Chinese accupuncture and say it is effective. It all depends.

In the meantime, give it some rest, take some Vitamin B pills (esp. B-12 is known to heal nerves), do some massages on the leg/foot, using heating/cooling pads. Use magnet therapy if you like. I wore magnetic soles in my shoes and the burning sensations under the arch of my foot went away in one week, although I still experience these strange pains and aches in my leg and thigh.

modert · 04-24-2004, 03:31 PM

For me, it is an intense burning sensation, like my feet are submerged in hot water. It is not there in the morning, but seems to act up with any activity - running doing household chores, grocery shopping, etc. It seems to be worse in the evening, but I attribute that to having been more active during the day.

Sometimes, the sensation is less, more like a mild tingling with aches in the lower legs, but usually it is the intense burning in both feet. It is always both, never just one, and it is always the same intensity in both feet. And my feet are not hot or even warm to the touch, they are normal temperature.
Also, it seems like if I rub them, the sensation lessens, but as soon as I stop it comes back.

Also, as I mentioned, this only began about 5 weeks ago - completely out of the blue. Its not like it has been gradually increasing. Is this typically of Neuropathy? I always thought Neuropathy was a gradual progression, not a sudden onset.