Is this PN?

[jena1225]

I am just starting to put names to sx's I have had for years, and some that are more recent. I guess because they are getting worse. One of my MS sx's is that of feeling like my muscles hurt all the time. I do think some has a lot to do with my spasticity.

Of course there is my spinal problems...

But the other is the nerve pain. Where it's not the muscle, but something deeper that cannot be rubbed out. It's in my feet, shin, legs... Is this what PN is like?

[Kathi49]

Jena,

Without going into the 100's of reasons for PN, I will just tell you what the idiopathic small fiber PN felt like for me.

It first started in the palms of my hands and then went completely around my hands. Shortly thereafter it went into my feet, later on ankles and I believe my shins and calves. BUT...I also have lumbar problems. Anyway, sensation wise it felt like I had something on my hands that wouldn't come off and at the same time burned; just like a sunburn only worse because I couldn't get any relief for awhile. But I couldn't see a thing; no redness no nothing. My hands and feet looked completely normal. After my fusions it went away in my hands but I still have it in my feet. BUT...I am talking about small fiber PN. There are so many neuropathies that I would imagine pain could feel much deeper.

My lower legs, shins hurt all the time but I THINK that is more the lumbar causing that. It is always on the outer sides of my legs; more than likely the L5/S1.

Anyway, don't jump on the PN bandwagon just yet. :) Since you have the spinal problems going on it could be radiculopathy especially if it is following a certain path or dermatome.

[curiousforever]

It makes my hands tingle, and hurt - shooting down my arm pain. Mine isn't so deep - and I've had some deep pains before....I also have a sciatic nerve that is always letting me know it's there.

Certain ways I sit will cause feet or legs to become completely numb...

[jena1225]

I guess that is what it feels like: sciatica in my hands, feet, arms, legs... Is that PN? How do you get tested for it? I have MS and I THINK PN is a sx, so being tested may not show anything... I will ask Nuero on Friday

[Kathi49]

Jena,

Just get ready for a LOT of bloodwork, EMG's, QSART, etc. My Neuro even sent Athena Diagnostics to my home to take blood for even more extensive tests! And the reports and the tests were a mile long! And everything turned out normal; nothing...nada! So, the diagnosis was IDIOPATHIC small fiber PN. And, before anyone says anything, PN is one of her specialties. Anyway, it is almost darn near impossible to find anything unless something shows up specifically such as a B12 deficiency for example. And again, there are hundreds of causes for it. In the long run all I could do was to treat the symptoms as I cannot find an underlying cause other than the nerve root compression I had.

I think in my case the nerves were compressed for so long that when they were finally freed up, they fired up the peripheral nerves and it was just ongoing...like windup or central pain I suppose. I am just really guessing here because I do not know for sure. All I know is that my hands and feet were on fire! :eek:

Ask your Neuro though. I kind of doubt you have PN. But, you can always get it checked it out. Since you have spinal issues I would think it would be more of a radiculopathy. But I could be way off too! :)

[jena1225]

Oh, I fot to answer your ?? in you PM. My spinal problems are a bulge and tear along with DDD and arthritus in my L5-S1 on left side. I also have the same sx on the right side now ever since the first time they did traction on me! I am confused about something though - if the L5 is on the spine, why would I only originally have pain on one side and not both? Does that make sense?

[Kathi49]

Jena,

What does the MRI report say about the facets and arthritis? My L3/L4/L5 and S1 facets are very arthritic on the left...crumbling away I guess. The same thing is on the right side...but less in severity and I don't think it is at all those levels; maybe a couple. So, my left side was always hurting much worse than the right. Soooo...maybe your right side is just not as bad. That's just my guess though. You would think the left side would refer pain to the right. But anymore I think anything is possible. :confused:

[curiousforever]

I guess that is what it feels like: sciatica in my hands, feet, arms, legs... Is that PN? How do you get tested for it? I have MS and I THINK PN is a sx, so being tested may not show anything... I will ask Nuero on Friday

I know one EMG?NCV showed damage, one showed no problems!

[jena1225]

Jena,

What does the MRI report say about the facets and arthritis? My L3/L4/L5 and S1 facets are very arthritic on the left...crumbling away I guess. The same thing is on the right side...but less in severity and I don't think it is at all those levels; maybe a couple. So, my left side was always hurting much worse than the right. Soooo...maybe your right side is just not as bad. That's just my guess though. You would think the left side would refer pain to the right. But anymore I think anything is possible. :confused:

I have to look for the MRI report, but that exam only showed a bulge. A simple Xray done in the OS office was the one that showed the tear, DDD, and arthritus. I just called and left a message for the dictation.

I am not familair with facets, or anything else for that matter! lol. Just not really up on all of the medical term, etc...