Neuropathy Defined

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In a message dated 11/24/2004 5:13:10 AM Pacific Standard Time, hsnsonmn@... writes:

Since it affects the peripheral nerves it can occur anywhere in the

body

How do they treat it?

Pris

Does your pig need a brush-up in manners or obedience?

Or bored and wanting to learn tricks?

"Potbellied Pig Behavior and Training" book

www.valentinesperformingpigs.com

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Thanks for the definition. That helps a lot and definitely puts a name to what is a sometime condition I have. It must be some sort of brain thing - I'm curious because I only experience it once in a while. I've never heard of this condition before. Is it something that is somehow tied to RA? I'd be interested to hear how many others also have this. How did they finally treat your condition? And is it better now?

gloria

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Neuropathy exists whenever the peripheral nerves are damaged or

constricted in some way. It does not include damage to the brain or

spinal cord. The symptoms are many and can include,

*Numbness

*Tingling

*Burning

*Muscle twitching

*Sudden shocks

*Muscle weakness

Since it affects the peripheral nerves it can occur anywhere in the

body. One way neurologists determine you have a neuropathy is by

measuring the flow of electric current through your body (EMG or EKG?

not sure).

In my own case, I started to experience many of the symptoms above to

a very severe degree. Then, I had trouble walking, primarly from my

left leg and foot. All of the doctors said I was just stressed out

and put me on the typical anti-depressant stuff. That was kind of

interesting. I spend $1000 at AVEDA one day on spa treatments and

shampoo. I KNEW it was something else because I couldn't move my

foot!!! I guess they thought I was faking. I finally begged to get

into MAYO and they did the appropriate tests which determined that

yes, there was something wrong and took me off the anti-depressants.

BTW...When you read any medical information anyone presenting with my

symptoms should be given the tests to check for neuropathy right

away. But, they said they didn't know what caused it. Typically

about 25% of cases of neuropathy the cause is not known.

Now, I have been having this horrible stiffness in the morning in my

feet and hands. And, guess what, I just found out I am two months

pregnant (again!) and my symptoms are going away - which is also

typical of RA!

[Guest guest]

Pris,

In my case, they have been "treating" the neuropathy with neurontin, this somehow intercepts the synapsis of the nerves from occurring or at least reduces how I feel that process goes on in my body. although there was a bid lawsuit about neurontin and it's use in pain management, when I tried to wean myself down and off of the neurontin, the pain in my legs came screaming back when I had only reduced my dosage from 3 to 2 tablets a day. I don't know what the longterm affects of using neurontin for this purpose will be, but for now, until they can come up with something else to replace it, I will stay on the neurontin. So technically the neurontin doesn't "treat" the neuropathy, it just masks or reduces the pain that I experience from it. My understanding is that there is no "treatment" only time which may or may not see a return of the normal function of the nerves.

Again this is my own experience and understanding of the neuropathy that I deal with.

-------------- Original message -------------- In a message dated 11/24/2004 5:13:10 AM Pacific Standard Time, hsnsonmn@... writes:

Since it affects the peripheral nerves it can occur anywhere in the bodyHow do they treat it?PrisDoes your pig need a brush-up in manners or obedience?Or bored and wanting to learn tricks?"Potbellied Pig Behavior and Training" bookwww.valentinesperformingpigs.com