I am not a medical expert, but I have some peripheral
neuropathy in my feet (from diabetes), and a degree in
biology.
I cannot imagine why nerve damage in your feet would be
related to speech problems. If you really are having unusual
difficulty speaking, especially if it changes from time to
time, I'd definitely see a neurologist ASAP. But I'm hoping
that you too are just getting older...
A stiff neck is also not likely to be related to peripheral
neuropathy. These are cranial nerves, and are not
peripheral. What's more, they are *probably* unrelated to
the nerve pathway to your foot. If this is chronic and lasts
more than a few weeks, again, I'd see a doctor.
You could well have a problem with balance or coordination
simply due to the neuropathy. Sensation nerves give you
feedback as you stand or walk which are used to give you a
sense of how you are standing and how your body is
positioned. It's likely that if these nerves have been
damaged, you will sense a loss of balance. If this problem
occurs only when standing (and not when sitting) then it's
likely that the problem is strictly in the nerves in your
feet. If it occurs when sitting, again, I'd see a doctor.
A way to check whether nerve damage in your foot is
affecting your balance is to stand on just the *other* foot
and see if your balance is better or worse than when
standing on just your bad foot. If both are equally bad,
then your problem is likely to be unrelated to peripheral
neuropathy in your bad foot. Of course, be careful when
doing this that you don't fall.
It's my understanding that Neurontin does not inhibit nerve
regeneration, so it should not pose a problem with your
healing. Initially, my feet were very painful, especially at
night in bed. But after about five months of good blood
sugar control, (and some use of Neurontin), the pain
subsided and has not returned. But twinges occur several
times a day. (Not severe pain, just some discomfort. A
little massage will usually resolve it.)
There are a couple of good books out there on peripheral
neuropathy. IMHO, the first is better. Both are probably
targeted more at diabetics than at injury, but I don't think
the emphasis is substantial.
Numb Toes and Aching Soles: Coping with Peripheral
Neuropathy amazon.comamazon.comOpen ↗
/0967110718/qid=1084311822/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-0764787-
5448828?v=glance&s=books
Numb Toes and Other Woes: More on Peripheral Neuropathy amazon.comamazon.comOpen ↗
/0967110734/ref=pd_sim_books_2/002-0764787-
5448828?v=glance&s=books
Randy
Nancy Taylor said:I do not have diabetes, but this group seems to have the
most activity on the subject, so thought I'd ask.
I developed peripheral neuropathy almost a year ago from a
freaky accident in which one foot/heel was caught in a
swinging door. The foot came to a screeching halt, but the
rest of me hurtled forward. Hamstring pain was immediate
and changed to intense leg pain over the next few hours.
By the next morning, the other leg and lower back were
also in pain.
My family doctor failed to diagnose the neuropathy on my
first visit, but a week later, when I returned in agony,
he prescribed neurontin, which worked nicely on the pain.
It also made me extremely sleepy, and I lost my job.
I was approved to see a Workers Comp doctor, and we
watched the effect of lower doses of neurontin. Gradually,
the pain went away and I continued to lower the doses
until I was weaned off the neurontin in October. The WC
doctor closed the case, but said that his next step would
have been a neurologist.
Now here's the funny part. In February of this year, the
pain suddenly recurred with a vengeance. Has anyone out
there ever experienced this thing of going underground and
then resurfacing? The pain has since gone away gradually,
but I have some problems walking a straight line, keeping
my balance, and speaking (can't find the right word). I
still have twinges of pain from time to time. My neck has
been very painful and stiff ever since this recurrence,
particularly just beneath the skull. Muscle relaxers help
with the neck, but don't cure it.
Anyone out there with similar situations? Thanks so much.
--
Randy Crawford ruf.rice.edu~randOpen ↗ rand AT
rice DOT edu
