SFN As Explained By My Neurologist

[RiterLady]

I saw my neurologist last Friday and he explained that my vision problems are, indeed, related to small fiber neuropathy. He then went on to explain SFN this way: The human central nervous system is like a large Insterstate with exit ramps leading to highways and other busy thoroughfares.

Then there are the main drags and city streets. Any problems with these would show up on CTs and MRIs; however when you get out to the boonies where there are gravel roads, the problems there only show up with major autonomic testing (which I underwent last year).

The dirt roads in the "rural areas" are where the numbness and tingling in my face, hands, fingers, and feet show up. It's where things like my "full body mirgraine," as I call it (for which I take daily pain medication), as well as occasional slurred speech, frequent bladder issues, IBS, GERD, and other gastric problems show up. AND VISION ISSUES as well as high BP and high glucose problems. In fact, many of the symptoms are similar to MS, although SFN is not as severe.

This, for me, explained a lot and I don't know why I didn't get it last year when he explained my test results.

Just an added thought -- those who might think SFN is a label that MDs slap on patients they don't know what else to do with are very wrong. It's a real diagnosis PROVED by autonomic testing. It's a real medical problem that doesn't get much attention -- at least I haven't found a lot of answers via the Internet.

So I decided I'm going to try to learn whatever I can about this condition so I can help others like me who feel confused about what's happening to their bodies.

That's why I'm sharing what I learned now.

I hope this is a help to someone out there.

[joy]

we share a lot in common as i have idiopathic peripheral neuropathy. but even without that i have such high blood pressure i am a candidate for bad eyes anyway. i think you have visited with us in the emotional forums some in the past haven't you? in any case, if you haven't, you are more than welcome to do so.

thanks for taking th time to explain it. your eye doc did a much better job than mine did. in fact i don't plan on seeing my last one again if i can help it. most unplesant man if ever i saw one is my opinion of him. and i don't need that for sure.

[darlindeb]

I like his anology of SFN. I too have SFN, and when a doctor will ask me where the problem lies, I tell them, it's all over, not just one spot. Mine is not severe like yours, and mine picks different areas all the time to cause problems. One week it will be cellphone vibrations in my feet, another week it will be a round spot on my leg that feels like it is getting a blast of cold air blown on it, next time my piriformus muscle on my left buttock will flare and cause the nerve under it to shoot pains down my leg...it's always a different spot. My neuro never made SFN sound like it wasn't as real as any other, it never even occured to me to think it was something he told me to shut me up.:p

They have done lots of testing on me, and I do have anoxal (sp) neuropathy in my arms and shoulders, along with the sensory problems...all caused by my malabsorption from gluten intolerance. My first neuro ignored my neuropathy, and concentrated on my continual headache, yet I wanted to know about the neuropathy, so I switched to another neuro. As a rule, I am very happy with him.

Thanks for the definition.