Quilting Mends the Soul - Neuropathy



Hello, yes I am writing two days in a row!

Yes, I have had insomnia two days in a row as well. Too much thought, and not enough work I guess.

Oh well. Today I want to talk about neuropathy. YEP! You guessed it! I have it too. It is one of the strangest disorders I have. Since it is never the same. I have had the bee stings in my legs for no reason just all of the sudden feels like I am being stung, then I have had the electric shocks in my feet. I have numbness in my hands all the time, not to the point that I can not do anything, but my finger tips do not feel things like they should.

So what is it?

In general it is a disorder which affects all the nerves in our bodies. The most common being Peripheral Neuropathy.

"Neuropathy is a term that refers to general diseases or malfunctions of the nerves. Nerves at any location in the body can be damaged from injury or disease. Neuropathy is often classified according to the types or location of nerves that are affected. Neuropathy can also be classified according to the disease causing it".

What are the types:
Peripheral neuropathy: Peripheral neuropathy is when the nerve problem affects the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord. These nerves are part of the peripheral nervous system. Accordingly, peripheral neuropathy is neuropathy that affects the nerves of the extremities- the toes, feet, legs, fingers, hands, and arms. The term proximal neuropathy has been used to refer to nerve damage that specifically causes pain in the shoulders, thighs, hips, or buttocks.
Cranial neuropathy: Cranial neuropathy occurs when any of the twelve cranial nerves (nerves that exit from the brain directly) are damaged. Two specific types of cranial neuropathy are optic neuropathyand auditory neuropathy. Optic neuropathy refers to damage or disease of the optic nerve that transmits visual signals from the retina of the eye to the brain. Auditory neuropathy involves the nerve that carries signals from the inner ear to the brain and is responsible for hearing.
Autonomic neuropathy: Autonomic neuropathy is damage to the nerves of the involuntary nervous system. These nerves that control the heart and circulation (including blood pressure), digestion, bowel and bladder function, the sexual response, and perspiration. Nerves in other organs may also be affected.
Focal neuropathy: Focal neuropathy is neuropathy that is restricted to one nerve or group of nerves, or one area of the body. (University of Kansas Health system, 2018).

We are not going into all of the causes today, there are many and I am sure you have researched it as well. The one I want to focus on today is the Auto Immune type as well as peripheral.

What are the symptoms:



"Regardless of the cause, neuropathy is associated with characteristic symptoms. Although some people with neuropathy may not have symptoms, certain symptoms are common. The degree to which an individual is affected by a particular neuropathy varies".

'Damage to the sensory nerves is common in peripheral neuropathy. Symptoms often begin in the feet with a gradual onset of loss of feeling, numbness, tingling, or pain and progress toward the center of the body with time. The arms or legs may be involved. The inability to determine joint position may also occur, which can result in clumsiness or falls. Extreme sensitivity to touch can be another symptom of peripheral neuropathy. The sensation of numbness and tingling of the skin is medically known as paresthesia.

'The loss of sensory input from the foot means that blisters and sores on the feet may develop rapidly and not be noticed. Because there is a reduced sensation of pain, these sores may become infected and the infection may spread to deeper tissues, including bone. In severe cases, amputation may be necessary.

'When damage to the motor nerves (those that control movement) occurs, symptoms include weakness, loss of reflexes, loss of muscle mass, cramping, and/or loss of dexterity".

Autonomic neuropathy, or damage to the nerves that control the function of organs and glands, may manifest with a wide variety of symptoms, including:
Nausea, vomiting, or abdominal bloating after meals
Urinary symptoms, such as incontinence, difficulty beginning to urinate, or feeling that the bladder was not completely emptied
Impotence (erectile dysfunction) in men
Dizziness or fainting
Constipation or diarrhea
Blurred vision
Heat intolerance or decreased ability to sweat
Hypoglycemia unawareness: Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) are associated with trembling, sweating, and palpitations. In people with autonomic neuropathy, these characteristic symptoms may not occur, making dangerously low blood sugar levels difficult to recognize.

Man can I say these are all so common daily for me! For those of us who do have this, we have tried medications for sure. I see so many stating they are on 450 mg of Lyrica and more. That scares me, since that is a controlled substance with a very high addiction rate, and misuse rate as well especially is post alcoholism and drug addictions. "The maximum recommended dose of LYRICA is 100 mg three times a day(300 mg/day) in patients with creatinine clearance of at least 60 mL/min. Begin dosing at 50 mg three times a day (150 mg/day). The dose may be increased to 300 mg/day within 1 week based on efficacy and tolerability".

I actually only take 75 mg a day once a day and do just fine. For those who have gone above the recommended dose, you may need to seek out a new medication or find another way to reduce the amounts you take, your kidneys will soon be affected not only by the drug but by the neuropathy as well. As well be sure you have getting your blood work done as your doctors states, and if you are not getting or has not been stated you need it. FIND A NEW DOCTOR!

Like I said I have peripheral version of this little bitch, and there are days that I can not feel things; oh like I cut myself on those days I do stay away from sharp objects, I can tell, I can not feel my own skin when I touch it. Now on the days my feet are bad, well I am just going to not touch the floor with them If I can, it feels like I am stepping on hot glass shards.

It is said that a combination of medications may help more than any one, so an antidepressant with an anti inflammatory and a nerve blocking agent may be better for you, it all depends on the treatment you have tried and failed with. But also it really does need to be communicated what is happening and when. Frequency, duration and intensity. All must be communicated to your care providers.

Again I can not stress the large amounts of Lyrica being taken is very dangerous to many of you. Ask about other treatments.

Get your vitamin levels checked at least every 3 months. That is a major contributor to the pain, a low B vitamin level will cause pain.
Vitamin deficiencies: Deficiencies of the vitamins B12 and folate as well as other B vitamins can cause damage to the nerves.

Be sure you or your care coordinators are well versed in your situation, and are able to correlate all the information to your provider(s).

"The treatment of neuropathy involves measures to control the symptoms as well as treatment measures that address the underlying cause of neuropathy, if appropriate. Medical treatments for diabetes, autoimmune diseases, infections, kidney disease, and vitamin deficiencies are varied and are directed at the specific underlying condition. In many cases, treatment of the underlying disease can reduce or eliminate the symptoms of neuropathy. Some cases, especially those involving compression or entrapment of nerves by tumors or other conditions, can be relieved by surgery". (University of Kansas Health System, 2018).

Treatment is key, but voicing your concerns, your symptoms, and your current medications and illnesses is also very important. If need be, ask for a referral to a neurologist since they specialize in this disorder.

Until next time, keep your hands and feet warm. Your heart open to all, and remember you are not alone.



T

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