I have peripheral neuropathy involving the sensory nerves. I am on 150 mg (my dr says that is the max) of imuran and 5 mg prednisone. I am seeing a lot of progression in the last month and have lost the feeling all the way up one leg. The loss was up to my knee in August. And it is starting in the other leg. Has anyone with neuropathy found a way to stop it? It had slowed for a while. I am wondering if I should call my neuro but I think all they left to do is increase the pred and I don't want to do that. I can walk just fine, just can't drive a stick anymore and can't balance on that foot. Anyone know of any treatment that is effective for sensory neuropathy?
Laker
Lyrica is designed for neuropathy and has been very effective for me and others here. It can be a difficult med to get used to, but it's worth it. Another alternative is neurontin.I take neurontin (generic Gabapentin) for mine and it has helped a lot.Unfortunately, I have tried both of those and they didn't work. My neuro (not the dr who prescribed the lyrica & neurontin) said they won't work for what I have - maybe that is because it is caused by vasculitis?
Laker
Laker. neuropathy is usually not reversible but treatable. It is too bad theseI saw a neuro when they thought I had MS because of unexplained neuropathy. I had the peripheral nerve conduction test but I was fine even tho I had unexplained 'numbness' in my feet - particularily my right foot - which is weird as my left was the one that felt numb.
The neuro said there were 3 types of neuro pain and all take an extremely long time to heal. For most of us it's the nerves being squished by the inflammation. I started AP and my neuro pain and numbness was gone within 5 months.
That being said - check out the drugs listed in the second to the last paragraph. That gives you another possibility.
http://www.biology-online.org/articles/immune_system_pain/gl ia_modulator_pain.html
I totally disagree with him about the Mino, of course. :-) but the other drug is a possibility.
Pip
I was dx'ed with neruopathy also and had the nerve conduction test and all of that came back good. The only problem it showed was one area on my leg that was damaged in some old surgery years ago. The Lyrica helps with that a lot. All I have to do is miss a day to know exactly how much.
My neruro also check my B-12 which evidently no one else has ever done. Turned out I had a b-12 deficinecy and started b-12 injections. I haven't been back to see the neruo since starting the injection or after having the nerve test. I'll be interested to see what he thinks of the neuropathy dx now. Since the injections the numbness/tingling has decreased dramatically.
I had started wearing braces at night because my hands would fall asleep and wake me up numb. Since the injections I haven't had to wear the braces at all. It's not 100% better......but I'd say a good 80% and that's progress for me.
This isn't likely anyone elses problem.....but I like to mention in the hopes that something as simple as this b-12 thing can help someone else.
It's a simple blood test. I think it should be standard with the RA test as well. It's so simple but can cause all kinds of problems if left untreated long term.
Laker, I also have vasculitic neuropathy which had me very worried because it was moving from my entire left side to the right and it was only going to be a matter of time before I would have to stop driving and well, you know, you can just shoot me then. I was starting to feel that the meds were working to at least slow down the progression but I was still going to ask the RD about Lyrica next time because others here have been so pleased with it. I'm sorry it didn't work for you, and I may have the same result as you. I also had normal nerve conduction studies like some of the others, even with the numbness and tingling. What the RD told me about the neuropathy is, it can take a very long time for the nerves to heal, but they often do, once the inflammation is under control. I know for a fact that isn't always true because I have had painful damaged nerves in my right thigh (due to pregnancy, I think) that never healed, but the pain is gone with these meds. Pip has had good success, so there is hope, right?