My Peripheral Neuropathy actually started a little over five years ago but at the time I had no idea what was going on. There were times I would feel off balance and seemed to stagger or would almost take off running when I would start to walk. I even had alittle blurred vision at times but being I had just passed the big 50 I really didn't think there was much to it other than starting to show my age alittle plus maybe it was time for new glasses. This lasted for about a year and would come and go like the seasons in northern New York. Finally I got new glasses and it seemed to help for awhile so I kept on working and like so many others I thought it would go away and didn't give it much more thought.
Then the other symptoms came on gradually over the next three years. There was days my feet seemed to burn more than usual and when I would get home from work my toes seemed awfully red at times. But it was summer time and wearing the big work boots and the fact that it was so hot in the cab of the locomotive I just didn't think of it as being anything too serious. There were days I would get sensations of something craweling on me like a insect or something but there was nothing there. Other days there was a mild numbing feelings here and there but because of the stress that was involved with the job I figured it was just my nerves getting jangled. Little did I know that the Neuropathy was starting to take off.
As time went on my feet had gotten worse. When I took hot showers they would turn purple and the toes were turning black. This scared me enough to go see my family doctor. He informed me after taking xrays and doing blood work that I had a circulation problem and a degenerative joint disease. He perscribed meds for the circulation and I was on my way. It worked for awhile and then I developed allergies from the medication and had to stop taking them. Mean while things were getting worse,especially the feet. Then the numbing was spreading up my legs and the tingling and burning had started by now. I set up another appointment and this time the doctor had mentioned the word neuropathy which meant absolutely nothing to me. He explained breifly what it was and there was no known cure for it and that it would only get worse as time went on. Little did I know that he had hit the nail on the head. That was in the summer of '97. I also had a physical by the company doctor that August and after his examination and what I could tell him about my symptoms he agreed that I had a problem and he wanted to take me off of the job because I was developing weakness in my lower extremeties which was probably a contributing factor why I was starting to stagger more and getting more problems with keeping my balance. But I convinced him to let me stay on awhile longer and try some different meds and maybe we could get this straightened out. He agreed but was very reluctant to do so.
This was in August of '97. By December I was only getting worse but I didn't want to give in. I only had six more years to a full retirement and wanted to keep going. My Primary Care Physician ordered more blood work and more xrays of the spine. After these tests he decided to send me to a spine clinic on the 28th of Jan.1998. The 29th I was put on disabilty and thats where I am now. I walked off of my job on the 27th under my own power and six weeks later I was useing a cane to stay amblatory. I have to use it daily and on the bad days I need to use my walker. It has a been a down hill ride ever since.
In March the doctor at the Spine Clinic suggested a brace for my right leg because of the muscle atrophy I had developed foot drop. But with the PT that I was taking daily and some determination to keep going I ruled out any braces for now.
I have had numerous tests and all have shown negative results as to why I have Peripheral Neuropathy. At one point just after I was put on disability I was told that I had early signs of Parkinsons but later that was ruled out from the testing that I had. Then I was informed that there were alot of signs and symptoms of MS also. Nothing has been mentioned about it lately but the neurologists keep checking for that and other neurological diseases.
At the present time Iam only taking a couple of meds. Effexor xr 37.5mg for depression,Ambien 5mg for sleeping and mild muscle relaxor plus xtra strength Asprin for pain. Today I have another doctor appointment and it's time to increase or get them changed. Sorry,that this seems so long but there isn't any real short version to this terrible disease. I will explain more later on about the tests that I have had and what the results were. I will also go into more detail about my symptoms now and what is happening to me physically and emotionally and my latest up dates on page two.
Different kinds of Perihperal Neuropathy are usually classified as Acquired or Inherited. Most are of the Acquired type. They are classified further in accordence to their causes or manifestations. Only a few have known causes and are very rarely identified. This neuropathy is referred to as "Idiopathic."
The type Mono referes to a single peripheral nerve usually caused by a trauma or local compression which causes the nerve to be squeezed or inflammation of the nerve. Two good examples are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which is a wrist or a hand disorder. A facial nerve disorder is connected to the discease called Bell's Palsey. These affect only single nerve trunks in a certain area.
If there are problems in two or more nerve trunks in seperate areas and is caused by a genaerlized disorder such as diabetes the neuropathy is called Mononeuritis Multiplex.
Polyneuropathy is refered to as the umbrella because of the greatest number of Peripheral Neuropathies which means that the disorder is diffuse and symmetric or relatively the same on both sides of the body. When motor and sensory fibers are affected its refered to as "sensorimotor" neuropathy. The "distal" ends of the longest nerves is where it usually begins, such as the hands and feet.
Neuritis is an inflammation of the nerves caused by an infection or the immune system.
Plexitis is an inflammation of the nerve plexus. This is where many nerves come together and interconnect. Two of the more common spots are the brachial plexus located under the shoulder which will cause arm weakness and the lumbosacral plexus in the pelvis which will cause weakness in the legs.
Links to other sites on the Web
The Kinds of Symptoms The Peripheral Nerve Where to Find It & What to Look For Guillian-Barre' Syndrome MAN'S BEST FRIEND ONE OF MY FAVORITE HOBBIES Art,Music,Entertainment Health & Education Entertainment,Education,Computers Sports,Education,News& Entertainment History of St. Lawerence Co.
© 1997 johnfran@northweb.com