My Doc thinks I have Neuropathy but I’m not sure?

[Eurobuff]

Hi. I have been type 2 diabetic for 10 years. Diet controlled and have good control. Last hba1C was at xmas 46mmol. Before that 37, 36mmol.
With the recent cold weather I was sufferping with cold feet, despite wearing thick socks and lined boots. Everyone else at work was the same. I bought some heat pads that you stick to the bottom of your sock. As my socks were thick socks I thought this would be ok. At the time I was wearing them my feet felt fine (and warm). 2 days after I had not feeling in one toe on my right foot, (next to my big toe). I waited a week to see if it went back to normal but it didn’t. Then after this I was getting the sensation that when I was standing on the floor my feet were on ice and was in pain (this was both feet though). I went to the doctors who told me that the heat pads were a red herring and that even though I’ve had good control “excellent in fact” over the years, the fact that I have had diabetes for 10 years means I am still prone to diabetic complications. She prescribed Duloxetine and said she’ll ring me in a few weeks.

A week after I was in my car, heating on and gloves on. I had stabbing pains in my index finger on my right hand. When I took my glove off my fingertip was white, then it went blue then red. Then back to normal.

Does this sound like neuropathy? I do get occasional stabbing pains in my right foot as well, but just seems odd thatnit is just my right side?

So far, the tablets aren’t working but are giving me additional pain in my shoulders 2 hours after taking them.

 

[searley]

To me if it was the foot alone I’d say possible, but with the hand as well I’d think not…. Nerve damage to that extent is unusual in that time period if well controlled

Also the short term colour change of the finger doesn’t sound right.. that’s more of a short term blood flow issue

I would be going back to the doctor

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Hi. I have been type 2 diabetic for 10 years. Diet controlled and have good control. Last hba1C was at xmas 46mmol. Before that 37, 36mmol.
With the recent cold weather I was sufferping with cold feet, despite wearing thick socks and lined boots. Everyone else at work was the same. I bought some heat pads that you stick to the bottom of your sock. As my socks were thick socks I thought this would be ok. At the time I was wearing them my feet felt fine (and warm). 2 days after I had not feeling in one toe on my right foot, (next to my big toe). I waited a week to see if it went back to normal but it didn’t. Then after this I was getting the sensation that when I was standing on the floor my feet were on ice and was in pain (this was both feet though). I went to the doctors who told me that the heat pads were a red herring and that even though I’ve had good control “excellent in fact” over the years, the fact that I have had diabetes for 10 years means I am still prone to diabetic complications. She prescribed Duloxetine and said she’ll ring me in a few weeks.

A week after I was in my car, heating on and gloves on. I had stabbing pains in my index finger on my right hand. When I took my glove off my fingertip was white, then it went blue then red. Then back to normal.

Does this sound like neuropathy? I do get occasional stabbing pains in my right foot as well, but just seems odd thatnit is just my right side?

So far, the tablets aren’t working but are giving me additional pain in my shoulders 2 hours after taking them.

Maybe google Raynauds'? The discoloration in three stages, the relation to cold and the shooting pains sound more like vasospasm symptoms than neuropathy.... When all you have is a hammer, every problem is a nail; I think your GP isn't looking beyond the diabetes. Just something to research, maybe. The condition runs in my husband's family. My father-in-law fell in love with "the girl with the cold hands" at a dance where they had to switch partners all the time, and their grandchild (our nephew) was born with purple, ice-cold hands, making a lot of alarmbells go off in the NICU. My husband does have it, but not as bad as his sister does. It mainly affects the extremities in cold weather, and there are special gloves and socks that can help. Plus, you know, heating pads and keeping warm, trying not to stress overmuch, no smoking etc... Theirs is primary Raynauds, but secondary is more likely if it came on late, and if it hasn't been with you for life.

Not diagnosing, mind you... Just an avenue to explore, as you're not convinced it's neuropathy, and the meds aren't working.

Good luck!
Jo

PS: Link for thoroughness-> https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/raynauds-phenomenon

 

[Eurobuff]

Maybe google Raynauds'? The discoloration in three stages, the relation to cold and the shooting pains sound more like vasospasm symptoms than neuropathy.... When all you have is a hammer, every problem is a nail; I think your GP isn't looking beyond the diabetes. Just something to research, maybe. The condition runs in my husband's family. My father-in-law fell in love with "the girl with the cold hands" at a dance where they had to switch partners all the time, and their grandchild (our nephew) was born with purple, ice-cold hands, making a lot of alarmbells go off in the NICU. My husband does have it, but not as bad as his sister does. It mainly affects the extremities in cold weather, and there are special gloves and socks that can help. Plus, you know, heating pads and keeping warm, trying not to stress overmuch, no smoking etc... Theirs is primary Raynauds, but secondary is more likely if it came on late, and if it hasn't been with you for life.

Not diagnosing, mind you... Just an avenue to explore, as you're not convinced it's neuropathy, and the meds aren't working.

Good luck!
Jo

PS: Link for thoroughness-> https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/raynauds-phenomenon

Thanks. Looking at that picture on the website is exactly how my finger looked. And it did go red when warming up too. It does give an age range for secondary Raynauds but I’m over ten years older than it, so not sure.

Thanks for the info. I do tend to think that if you have diabetes then the doctor just looks at that and nothing else. She was a trainee but did call in an experienced doctor to double check her diagnosis!

I’ll get back on to the doctor