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Neuropathy

SarahEldib

SarahEldib

Member
Hello,

I'd like to know what exactly does neuropathy feel like? I have all sorts of pains in my hands legs and eyes, some diagnosed as nerve inflammation and some as a vitamin D deficiency. The different specialists are all contradicting each other and confusing me so I now have no idea if it's my nerves, bones, muscles, or tendons that are in pain. I also don't know what kind of doctor could help me anymore. I'm 25 and was diagnosed last January, is it possible that I already have neuropathy? I understand that it happens after many years in uncontrolled diabetes, is this accurate? My BG levels are good almost 90 % of the time.

Thank you so much for anything you can share with me.
 
From my experience (mild neuropathy), it can be a sharp "shock" type pains or a burning sensation in my feet. Parts of my feet are quite numb. This used to vary a lot in how numb they were. The numbness was most apparent to me when I'd walk barefoot (after a shower, getting up in the middle of the night - I don't make a habit of going barefoot now).
My symptoms were dismissed for months till I had a nerve conduction test on my arms for carpal tunnel and the specialist decided to check my leg when I mentioned the bother I had with my feet. He confirmed what I suspected, neuropathy.

Hope that helps.
 
The symptoms of neuropathy are highly variable, including pain, tingling, numbness, not feeling anything at all. Unfortunately it is quite possible you already have neuropathy. I had severe neuropathy at diagnosis. However it fully reversed within a few months of insulin treatment. The nerve conduction test is the 'gold standard'. If the specialists are squabbling, ask for one of those. It is mildly unpleasant but it does empower you with a definite diagnosis.
 
I don't think it's neuropathy but I'm not a medic but have had T1 for twelve years and have got neuropathy in both feet and it is so painful that sometimes I find it hard to walk it's like a cramping sharp pain mainly in my toes but it was many years of poor control that caused it


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SarahEldib said:
Hello,

I'd like to know what exactly does neuropathy feel like? I have all sorts of pains in my hands legs and eyes, some diagnosed as nerve inflammation and some as a vitamin D deficiency. The different specialists are all contradicting each other and confusing me so I now have no idea if it's my nerves, bones, muscles, or tendons that are in pain. I also don't know what kind of doctor could help me anymore. I'm 25 and was diagnosed last January, is it possible that I already have neuropathy? I understand that it happens after many years in uncontrolled diabetes, is this accurate? My BG levels are good almost 90 % of the time.

Thank you so much for anything you can share with me.
Click to expand...
I have peripheral neuropathy in both feet which started about 3 years before my diabetes was diagnosed last year. It's an almost constant feeling like painful pins & needles with some sharp pains which can keep me awake at night. It does vary from day to day but the tingling is always there. I have been prescribed Amitryptiline which has eased the severity somewhat as it supposedly calms the nerves which are the cause of the problem. I also have numbness in both feet & have to remind myself not to go barefoot in case I tread on something injurious. I have only heard of this condition affecting feet. I have a very good support team at my local surgery with a nurse who runs the clinic & 1 of the GPs is a diabetic specialist so apart from regular checks I can contact them at any time & I find it awful that you are having conflicting opinions, no wonder you are confused! o_O I think you should start "bullying" your GP, & don't leave it. I wish you luck & hope you can get it sorted very soon :)
 
Thank you very much. I have had the shock type needle pains quite often and have been having fibromyalgia type pains for 3 weeks now. GP prescribed a painkiller called Cymbalta for both fibromyalgia and neuropathy. I'll do the nerve conduction test tomorrow and find out.

Sarah
 
SarahEldib said:
Thank you very much. I have had the shock type needle pains quite often and have been having fibromyalgia type pains for 3 weeks now. GP prescribed a painkiller called Cymbalta for both fibromyalgia and neuropathy. I'll do the nerve conduction test tomorrow and find out.

Sarah
Click to expand...
I do hope you get it sorted
 
Hi Sarah,

I have peripheral neuropathy in both feet. There has already been a post to you that describes very similar symptoms to mine.
Diabetes has damaged nerves in my legs and that has caused the neuropathy. It is strange that although my feet are numb there is also a tingling all the time. Not only that, I get the most severe shooting pains. This can happen at different places on my feet but also in my legs. By the way I am T2. Walking gives me different discomfort sensations/pains. At times it is like walking on a pebble beach bare footed and feels bruised. At other times it is worse - like walking on broken glass. I was told quite bluntly- "Of course there is no cure and no medication". I said "Thanks for nothing".
I have bought myself a "Luggie" mobility scooter and have just returned from a holiday in Spain and was able to go wherever I wanted and found people most considerate. I can certainly recommend this if walking is too painful.
Hope this might help you to decide whether or not you have neuropathy.
Best Wishes.
 
Thank you Anatoli, I'm glad you've found something to make things more convenient for you :) The nerve conduction test showed I have mild peripheral neuropathy (does not feel in any way "mild" !). I've been told it can be improved with some exercise, medication, and vitamin B12 shots. I'll wait and see.

Does anyone recommend exercising the areas that hurt or does that aggravate it?

Thanks again
 
SarahEldib said:
Thank you Anatoli, I'm glad you've found something to make things more convenient for you :) The nerve conduction test showed I have mild peripheral neuropathy (does not feel in any way "mild" !). I've been told it can be improved with some exercise, medication, and vitamin B12 shots. I'll wait and see.

Does anyone recommend exercising the areas that hurt or does that aggravate it?

Thanks again
Click to expand...
I used to do exercises to strengthen my feet up until two separate injures that prevented me. Also putting a tennis ball under my foot and rolling it back and forward to help circulation. Not sure how effective they were, but made me feel I was being proactive in my foot care.

I hadn't heard of vitamin B12 shots in relation to neuropathy. Do you know what the link is between the two?
 
Thanks a lot, from what I understood, most diabetics have a deficiency in vitamin B which is what makes their nerves weak so the regular shots help with that (I feel the difference when I forget to take a shot)
 
SarahEldib said:
Thanks a lot, from what I understood, most diabetics have a deficiency in vitamin B which is what makes their nerves weak so the regular shots help with that (I feel the difference when I forget to take a shot)
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You learn something new everyday: I didn't know that.
I'm taking a multi vit that has 800% of the RDA for B12, so hopefully I'm covered. :)
 
Also some claim success with niacin (B3), B6, lipoic acid, inositol. I can't vouch for any of these but you could research them. The only thing I can vouch for as effective against neuropathy is reduced blood sugar.

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Hi Sarah, I got the whole fibromalgia thing going on and also neuropathy and although it can sometimes be hard to distinguish between the two types of pain, with fibromalgia the pain usually only affects the muscles, whereas with neuropathy the pain is specifically located to the nerves. With neuropathy I get numbness, burning, pain and also difficulty walking at times and with fibro flu like aches and pains in the muscles. It sounds like you have a good GP. All the best!!
 
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