Is This Neuropathy?

[AzizaRivers]

Some of you may have seen a few posts of mine here and there recently related to trying to figure out why I'm feeling sick again. I have had several ulcers at the same time lately, as well as mild stomach issues (nothing like if I was blatantly eating gluten, but still enough to make me feel "yucky" all day long) and just feeling down.

Today while I was at yoga, I was bent down forward, and my feet and ankles started to feel like I was standing on something that was vibrating. It was more than tingling, it was really a fast vibrating feeling. Over about 45 seconds to a minute it just got worse and worse until it was almost unbearable and I was about to sit down or say something to my instructor when it stopped all of a sudden with a warm rush. Now this has happened to me before--mostly while I am either at yoga or at dance at my body is feeling the strain of exercise--but not quite this bad. Because it usually happens during exercise, it never occurred to me that it was anything other than my body just "being weird." But since I've been feeling sickish anyway, it crossed my mind that what I know of neuropathic symptoms is that they feel like a tingling or vibrating and often happen in the feet.

I never got that before diagnosis. But does this sound like it might be related to the food issues I'm trying to figure out? Or does it sound like it is more likely to have to do with the exercise? Any thoughts are appreciated...I'm just trying to get to the bottom of this.

[Marilyn R]

A specialist would tell you that you can't say that you have neurapathy. That is a diagnosis. Then you can be referred to a neurologist that orders some really horrid tests and be told that you have polyneuropathy. That was my experience. I officially have permanent muscle and nerve damange . And I can say I have neuropathy now, vs. "pins and needle sensations."

Good gosh, I hope the medical community steps up to the plate on celiac disease and takes us out of the Neanderthal period.

[T.H.]

Today while I was at yoga, I was bent down forward, and my feet and ankles started to feel like I was standing on something that was vibrating. It was more than tingling, it was really a fast vibrating feeling. Over about 45 seconds to a minute it just got worse and worse until it was almost unbearable and I was about to sit down or say something to my instructor when it stopped all of a sudden with a warm rush.

Not sure if it's the same, but here's mine. :-)

For years, I had something that sounds very similar to what you expressed - I never even thought to describe it as vibrating, but when reading your description, all I can think is that's pretty much exactly what it felt like. Mine was my arms, and it happened when I would put them in certain positions.

I had a neurologist, and according to him, what I was feeling was not a terrible thing. Supoosedly, my nerves were being compressed in some way, almost pinched but not quite. When I would move in certain ways, it would alleviate the compression (this often happened when I'd stretch), and feeling would be rushing through the nerve in reaction. It would go for a while, and then stop suddenly.

He thought that inflammation of the nerves played a big role. I was given huge doses of ibuprofen to keep the inflammation down, and that did help some. Physical therapist recommended ice in the areas where the nerve might be getting compressed, and that helped some too. But finally going really gluten free and getting rid of food allergies was what did the trick, for me.

However, the reason this wasn't a bad thing (if it's the same thing at all), was that it meant there wasn't permanent nerve damage. He said that if the nerves were compressed/inflamed and there was no rushing buzz any more, that usually indicated nerve damage.

Don't know if that helps; I have no terms to even google on this one! But hoping that you can find the answer soon.

[AVR1962]

I personally have had alot of nerve issues. I contribute it to my back and have no doubt the malabsortion is part of it. Yoga and strething are great, stretching & exercise is how I work my issues out. Be real careful how you position yourself to sleep (Mayo clinic site has great info on this), and while exercising make sure you have no pressure on your low back....hips square, slightly bent knees and do not hyper extend. Stretches should be slow rather than sudden. At least these are what helps me.

Here's something too that might help. Something I searched on the subject and kept: Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage to the peripheral nerves - nerves that carry information between the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and the rest of the body.

Peripheral neuropathy may be caused by a number of different medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, and nutritional deficiencies. Peripheral neuropathy can also be caused by medications and chemicals. It can interfere with the senses, with movement, or with the function of internal organs.

Some nerves close to the surface of the body, such as the median nerve in the wrist, the ulnar nerve in the elbow, the radial nerve in the upper arm, and the peroneal nerve in the calf, are more easily injured than other nerves. Repetitive wrist movements can put pressure on the median nerve in the wrist, causing carpal tunnel syndrome.

The symptoms of neuropathy depend on the location and seriousness of the nerve damage. The first symptom of neuropathy is often mild tingling, which gets worse over time until the area becomes numb. People with diabetes often have neuropathy of the feet. This is a serious condition because they could get an infection or injure a foot and not be able to feel it.

Along with the tingling and numbness, people with chronic polyneuropathy may feel burning or shooting pain. Since they can't sense changes in temperature or feel pain caused by injuries, they often burn themselves or develop open sores from injuries they don't realize they have. They may also have trouble walking and standing because they can't tell what position their joints are in. Neuropathy can also cause weakness.

[AzizaRivers]

Okay, thanks guys. So what I'm getting is that my symptoms could possibly be related to food, and they could be nerve issues, but neuropathy itself indicates actual nerve damage, which only a specialist could test me for? I'm not particularly interested in that, I'm just interested in getting to the bottom of my issues. I'm either getting gluten sneaking in somewhere, or I have another allergy/intolerance that needs to be discovered.

Thanks for the thoughts.

[Debbie B in MD]

I believe that soy has cause a lot of my neuropathy issues. I am not officially diagnosed with neurotpathy, but had and still occasionally have tingling/burning pain. I am almost certain that soy is the culprit. If you search this site you will fidn many others who have the same opinion and experience with soy. I hope that helps. Of course, soy is in everything. Sorry.

[lemontree1]

Probably not the same thing, but I get a vibrating feeling in my extremities when I experience tachycardia-- heartrate over 200 bpm. That's usually accompanied by a hotflush and rapid breathing. I'm hoping it is just diet related, and will not ever happen to me again because it is very scary.

[beebs]

Keep in mind that Anemia can cause neuropathy type symptoms as well - so if you haven't been well lately maybe get a blood test to rule it out.

[Marilyn R]

Probably not the same thing, but I get a vibrating feeling in my extremities when I experience tachycardia-- heartrate over 200 bpm. That's usually accompanied by a hotflush and rapid breathing. I'm hoping it is just diet related, and will not ever happen to me again because it is very scary.

That sounds like what I went though. And I had hyperparathyroidsm, (diagnosed with primary) but now think it was secondary after reasearching. Have you had your calcium level checked?

I'm just guessing, and I'm not expert by any means.

[AVR1962]

Probably not the same thing, but I get a vibrating feeling in my extremities when I experience tachycardia-- heartrate over 200 bpm. That's usually accompanied by a hotflush and rapid breathing. I'm hoping it is just diet related, and will not ever happen to me again because it is very scary.

I had this happen a few months back. Does your face get real red too? Scary! Are you taking ANY herbal supplements or eating herbs of anykind including kelp? Are you having more heart palpitations than usual? Kelp can cause warm flushing in the skin and certain herbs can raise the heart rate and blood pressure much the same way ingredients in the energy drinks do.

[lemontree1]

I haven't been taking any meds or supplements. I have no idea what causes it, though now when I inadvertently eat wheat, I get an immediate lightheadedness reaction, vertigo and/or back pain, then about 8 hours later get the warm flushing, chest and kidney pain, and a more mild tachycardia (around 120 or so). So, I don't know if it is all wheat related or another allergen or something else. I don't recall ever being tested for calcium, but my iron, vit D, and vit B12 are all still low, and I don't tolerate supplements very well-- it causes my DH to flare.

[lemontree1]

Oh my goodness! I just looked up hyperparathyroidism and everything sounds so familiar. And with the location of the parathyroid gland it may explain my throat swelling sensations as well. I'm going to ask my doctor to check for it when I go in for an appointment next week.

[lemontree1]

I thought I'd check my labs just to be sure, and what do you know? Calcium is included on the metabolic panel. Mine has never been abnormal. :-( I thought we were on to something there.

[AVR1962]

Oh my goodness! I just looked up hyperparathyroidism and everything sounds so familiar. And with the location of the parathyroid gland it may explain my throat swelling sensations as well. I'm going to ask my doctor to check for it when I go in for an appointment next week.

This stuff between hyperparathyroidism and celiac gets real tricky. If you are experiencing high calcium levels it could mean that you have a growth or it could mean that your gland is swollen from toxins in your diet (gluten being one of them). In either case the glands that regulate the calcium to the body go kind of nutty trying to keep body working but what unfortuantely happens when the calcium goes high is the calcium then gets pulled from the bones which causes bone loss and you would not even know it. Calcium levels fluctuate during the day, normally staying within a 2 point range. What docs look at is the calcium level vs the PTH level, both should be tested at the same time to make a determination to test further.

My docs first thought I had parathyroid disease. I have a history of kidney stones (which is also linked to celiac), my blood calcium was out of range high. There are alot of similiar symptoms. Went thru a battery of tests and thru scans and my PTH test they determined it was not hyperparathyroidism. Ruling that out and then having my calcium return to a normal range in gluten-free diet, I can say the one symptom that is different is the very hormal feeling I had when my calcium level was high. I just wanted to hide. That stopped once my calcium went back to normal range.

What they did find instead is a growth called a nodule on the thyroid itself. This you might ask your doc about. You mentioned a swelled senation in your throat? When the nodule which is a non-cancerous growth develops on the thryoid is can press against the throat, it may cause a funny unexplained cough which is what I had, it can make you choke for no reason, and it can make swollowing hard at times all of which I was experiencing. My doc gave me meds to shrink it and I have a feeling they are working, my cough is gone and I am actually starting to regualte the temp in my body better.

However, the thing when you ran, not sure if this is related. If you are not taking any herbal supplements, no bath soaks with herbs, etc. I would lean towards putting more B12, iron definatly in your diet somehow. You need your dark green like spinach to help you absorb the iron.

I would bring this up to a doc though. It is easy enough to check the thyroid, and as far as that goes the parathyroid too.