Doctor says he can repair PN

[george]

I just read an article in a magazine called Remedy the summer 2006 issue.
On the front cover it said Reversing nerve damage. The article says he replaces the bad nerve with healthy nerve from elsewhere on your body.
This doctor is a cosmetic microsurgeon and learned this doing reconstructive surgery.
I called the office in NJ and they said i would have to come there to be evaluated.They also said he is the only surgeon doing this.

I do hope this helps someone. George

[dahlek]

Web up: www.healthyupdates.com/diabetes/news/content?cid=36&ctid=3
for what I think is a similar article. Check out diabetes and trigenimal neuralgia as I'm sure you can find folks who will comment on the procedures. I don't recall many posting here extolling the procedure tho, in the past. If the issue is a small fiber neuropathy, surgery is usually impossible, I believe.

If you web up 'nerve decompression surgery' I bet you'll find facilities all over the country that perform it.

Good luck! - j

[JLW]

If it sounds too good to be true, then . . . .

But of course that is just my opinion.

I agree with Dahlek as well. We're talking awfully small nerve areas -- microsurgery or not, how ya supposed to join the pieces together and hold them there for healing?

[GinaMarie]

Im not sure.. from what My primary care doctor told me.. PN is permanent. BUT.. who knows.. MAYBE there is something out there she doesnt know about. :)
GM

[nide44]

New research in nerve regeneration is changing the old philosophy that nerves that are damaged do not repair themselves. Most of the present research is geared towards spinal cord injury ('complete'/severed injury) and meds that repair myelin sheathing at the site of comprtession/damage. The Chris Reeve foundation has info on this
http://www.paralysis.org/site/c.erJMJUOxFmH/b.1169107/k.BE3A/Home.htm
There is also work that is being studied about new alternative nerve pathways that can regrow to replace the old damaged ones and bring function back where there was none. Kinda like heart bypass surgery where new blood vessels grow alongside the transplant to bring additional blood to the heart in the transpalnt area. Kinda like branches of a tree that grow new offshoot branches.
Small fiber neuropathies have not been studied, as far as I know, but the old concept 'damaged nerves will never repair' is being challenged, and will soon become obsolete.
Maybe some of this research will stumble upon something for small fiber PN & we will benefit from it....... someday.

[dahlek]

has to occur first. Most nerve research is being done in the spinal damage areas as BobB said...most of the progress has not gotten past the 'rat or mice' stage tho. Researchers aren't really sure what all happens to cause nerves die, let alone generate or re-generate. The little they know relates to chemistry...the why's of the chemistry changes and triggers is still a fairly mushy area.

One set of known facts relate to how nerves die...feet per day; and regenerage milimeters by day. Most of current knowledge is chemistry and changes in it these days. Also the factors to alter the environment on the cellular level that facilitates positive change. One factor about HUMANS is that we are simply not lab rats or mice. We don't live in 'controlled environments'. Nerves can and DO regenerate and develop new pathways...that in itself has been long proven. The hows, whys and whats changed to have it happen are being discovered daily...We can only hope and wait.

If I'm not mistaken, one can 'transplant' nerves...but, the place those nerves come from ...well nerves are lost there. IF we are talking reconnection of an amputation, well, trade offs of function could be no brainers. But fine nerve transplants or reconnection is a very hit or miss thing...from all I've read.

As many here w/spinal issues discussed in the past, stuff lost for now, it is a 50/50 bet at best. Read lots, think hard and decide on the trade-offs.
Super good thoughts your way in the interim! - j

[nide44]

-j,
Reminds me of my neuro who spoke to me after my
Skin Punch biopsy results were in.
He said "I've good news and bad news -
The good news is that your nerves are still able to grow and are doing so.
The bad news is that your nerve damage is ocurring faster than the regrowth".
So.....my PN is progressing more rapidly than my ability to repair it.
Object- find a way to halt the progression, and let the regrowth do its job (and maybe try to find a way to speed it up ....... that's the research)

[dahlek]

that just REALLY make your day?! - j

At least he/she was honest with you.

[Brian]

Im not sure.. from what My primary care doctor told me.. PN is permanent. BUT.. who knows.. MAYBE there is something out there she doesnt know about. :)
GM

Hi Gina,
It all depends on what is causing damage to your nerves, if the cause of the nerve damage can't be found well ofcourse its very permanent, but this definatly is not the case with all PN'ers.
I had lots of small nerve and a little large nerve damage, which has been reversed simply by changing my diet and heaps of b12.
My cause was found early, so the real answer is finding the cause of the destruction to our nerves, because our bodies have a remarkable ability to repair itself, given half a chance to do so.
all the best
Brian :)

[GinaMarie]

Thanks Brian,
They dont know what is causing mine. One neuro said I have compression PN because most of mine sets off after I have put any pressure on my hands or feet (like sitting with putting weight on them or sitting on them, if Im talking on the cell phone and holding maybe a little to tight, leaning on my arm etc). When I take the pressure off then the pins and needles off or pain hits. The Anodyne helped I think some.
GM