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Current Replies for Peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy (dikdik)
Posted: 6:43:55 pm on 2/7/2010 Modified: Never

Hi I'm new here, so please bear with me.
My brother has Peripheral neuropathy at the lower extrematies confirmed by velocity tests from the feet to the brain and the optic nerve to the brain - hands are ok. Both indicate slow nerve transmision. Spinal fluid tests show elevated protien and ok white blood cells.
He's reaching a stage where he can just barely walk.
He was treated with corticosteroids IV for 3 days it had no effect.
Doctors don't wan't to go ahead Intravenous Immune Globulin, because he doesn't fit the mould for CIDP.
We only have gait imbalance and slurring. No loss of muscle strength, loss of reflex or sensation.
Has any one come across a Peripheral neuropathy with only gait and speech problems - and none of the other symptoms, (tingiling, burning, numbness,muscle waste, sensory loss?
Many thanks for any help.

Re: Peripheral neuropathy (bart)
Posted: 4:39:40 pm on 2/8/2010 Modified: Never

Hi, I've had peripheral neuropathy for 7 years and its getting worse with numbness; just the feet,no legs or hands. My neurologist suggests I should upgrade my medication to Cymbalta from gabapentin [' 800mg. 3 times per day ]. My general ataxic condition is OPCA.

Re: Peripheral neuropathy (bart)
Posted: 4:39:42 pm on 2/8/2010 Modified: Never

Re: Peripheral neuropathy (bart)
Posted: 4:39:44 pm on 2/8/2010 Modified: Never

Re: Peripheral neuropathy (dikdik)
Posted: 9:27:46 am on 2/9/2010 Modified: Never

Thanks for the responce Bart. How long have you had the numbness - was it when the problem began or has it developed recently??

Re: Peripheral neuropathy (bart)
Posted: 9:57:46 am on 2/9/2010 Modified: Never

Dikdik, The tingling at the start has changed to numbness over time. By the way I get my toenails cut by a doctor every 2 + 1/2 months. I also use Hydrostat, a cream, 1-2 times per week from the doctor's office for cracked skjn on heels and feet; the label says it also soothes painful feet and restores skin's healthy appearance and softens calluses which is true. Loss of feeling in my feet is obviously a problem for me. Bart

Re: Peripheral neuropathy (dikdik)
Posted: 11:11:41 am on 2/9/2010 Modified: Never

Thanks again for the post

Re: Peripheral neuropathy (bear)
Posted: 4:15:44 am on 3/7/2010 Modified: Never

Hi Dikdik,
Did they ever test many of your brother's B vitamins (B1,B6,B12, Folic Acid and
throw in D)?

The IV corticosteroids seems to make an autoimmune cause unlikely. Did your brother
every have any toxic exposures through work or otherwise?

Bear

Re: Peripheral neuropathy (dikdik)
Posted: 12:06:50 pm on 3/7/2010 Modified: Never

Hi Bear,

Thanks for the reply.

My brother has been taking Vitamin B shots once a week for several months now. The Vitamin B blood test shows a reading of 3000+ with a criteria of 220-960. One of the neauroligists we are seeing is not convinced that this test truely reflects his body requirement or adequite absorbtion of the vitamin - he has suggested continuing with the shots.

We live in Costa Rica and he has more than adequate sunshine exposure - I think his Vitamin D is ok. His diet has consisted of pleanty of beans/lentils/grains/fruit so we feel folic acid should be ok.

Concerning work exposure - from 1984 to 1994 he was in the Drycleaning industry and was constantly exposed to solvent - perc ethlyne. The ataxia problem started in 2009.

He has used Nexium for 5 years now. I understand that these "proton pump inhibitors" block the absorbtion of Vitamin B. Finally after several attempts he has stopped using Nexium and has been free of it for 3 weeks.

He used Cordarone an Amlodarona for 6 months from 01-2007 to 06-2007. This is a highly toxic drug used for life threatening arterial fibrillation. Which amongst a long list of side effects includes Peripheral Neuropathy. He had been of it for a year and a half before the problem began.

The progression has been quite rapid in the past year.

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

DikDik

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