Odd symptoms. Neuropathy?

[Flutterby]

Hi everyone, just want to pick your brains. On Sunday afternoon I had pins and needles in my left foot, I blamed the way I had been sitting, as that passed off it left behind a feeling of something tight around my ankle. This is ongoing.

Saw GP today (chose him because he works as part of the diabetic team at the hospital clinic, we don't have a consultant at present so he is all I have other than a very good DSN who hasn't been available due to the snow and ice) his findings were that there is no weakness, some reduced/changed sensation on top of foot and a diminished ankle reflex. He reckons its not neuropathy "as it's only my left foot/ankle and not both" and thinks that as I have had some back pain now and then it's a trapped nerve possibly caused by a slipped disc. May need MRI if no improvement by next Friday. Also warned me about possible incontinence problems. Feeling somewhat upset to be honest. What puzzles me is that I hadn't realised neuropathy has to be both sides? Any thoughts?

 

[Martin Canty]

Sounds like l4-5 & S1 nerve impingement, best get it checked by a neurologist. I had something similar last year😱.... Yoga & a course of Physical Therapy helped a lot & now I only have a touch of pins & needles sometimes.

What puzzles me is that I hadn't realised neuropathy has to be both sides? Any thoughts?

Never heard that.....

 

[trophywench]

I think diabetic neuropathy is both sides Karen - as opposed to neuropathy when you've accidentally damaged a nerve - like my left big toe, half of which has much less feeling than it should have - cos I dropped the grill pan on the nail bed in 2010.

Sounds more like your back to me, too. Something trapped or being pressed on.

 

[AJLang]

Karen massive hugs. Like the others have said my understanding is that neuropathy is both sides. Sounds like the GP is on the case about what is going. I hope it improves very soon and that he was just being over cautious about possible incontinence xx

 

[Pumper_Sue]

What puzzles me is that I hadn't realised neuropathy has to be both sides? Any thoughts?

Sounds as if your GP is on the ball well done him.

I have problems with left foot going numb with pins and needles on and off plus loads of other symptoms which I wont bore you with and it turned out to be MS. Which means having a numb foot can be the cause of many things and well done your GP for connecting the back pain with your numb foot as others have said it sounds like pinched nerves in your back.

Hopefully you will be feeling tip top again fairly soon.

 

[Flutterby]

Thank you all very much. I am struggling with many aspects of life at the moment and anything unexpected feels hugely threatening. I am sorry Pumper Sue that you ended up with such a nasty diagnosis and thanks for your reply . Thanks to all of you.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I’ve also been told that if neuropathy was developing in legs as a result of diabetes it would occur equally in both sides.

Hope you get some relief from the pins and needles!

 

[Flutterby]

I’ve also been told that if neuropathy was developing in legs as a result of diabetes it would occur equally in both sides.

Hope you get some relief from the pins and needles!

Thanks Mike, the pins and needles has eased, it's like my ankle is in a vice though. Very unpleasant. I sometimes think I have slight problems with toes on my right but nothing like this, although a stroke 7years ago might have caused issues too. Thanks for replying.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Thank you all very much. I am struggling with many aspects of life at the moment and anything unexpected feels hugely threatening. I am sorry Pumper Sue that you ended up with such a nasty diagnosis and thanks for your reply . Thanks to all of you.

Hello again @Flutterby,
not knowing is the worst thing possible as imagination tends to run riot hopefully the reassurance from forum members has helped you. ((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))

As to my MS I can deal with it as know what it is now. Looking on the bright side things could have been a lot worse so count myself as very lucky with all the help and advice I have been give. Even better I have more good days than bad now 🙂

 

[Flutterby]

Hello again @Flutterby,
not knowing is the worst thing possible as imagination tends to run riot hopefully the reassurance from forum members has helped you. ((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))

As to my MS I can deal with it as know what it is now. Looking on the bright side things could have been a lot worse so count myself as very lucky with all the help and advice I have been give. Even better I have more good days than bad now 🙂

Thank you for your kind reply, very much appreciated as are the hugs.xx

 

[Flutterby]

Just to update you all. My symptoms are unchanged and I have an MRI on February 1st at 7.10pm.

 

[AJLang]

I'm sorry to hear this Karen. I hope that the MRI gives you answers that have easy solutions. Big hugs my friend xx.

 

[Flutterby]

A further update for you all!

Just got my MRI results today and nothing significant has shown up on the scan. Doctor away this week but left a message for me to ring next week if my symptoms are at the same, which they are.

I am going to ask that my B12 levels are checked but other than that we are back to square one!

 

[trophywench]

Well that's good in one way but pretty frustrating in another, Karen.

Such a PITA when we get nowhere, slowly.

Ask to get everything tested that medical science has a test for!

 

[mikeyB]

Could be a long drag getting a solid diagnosis, I can think of ten (at least) possible causes, but it doesn’t sound like diabetic neuropathy, for sure.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Good luck getting a proper diagnosis Flutterby. Glad the MRI came up clear for neuropathy, but sorry that you don’t have clarity yet

 

[Flutterby]

Thanks, hopefully it will go away one day and that will be that lol. I am relieved it's not my back. Dr considered another stroke but I don't think it is, probably just another Karen weirdness! Or maybe a tendon thing. I do suffer from plantar fascitis and am going to get some new trainers, see if that helps.

 

[Lanny]

Oh, it occurs equally on both sides.

I was diagnosed with neuropathy, March 2017. It affects me mostly on the right side more than my left. It feels different too. I sometimes get a freezing sensation in my left leg. My left hand has less feeling & I can cut my left fingers & not feel it (fine cuts). I minimise chopping by using a blender. But, on my right I feel more intense freezing sensations in my leg. I'm more sensitive to heat in my right hand & fingers. I can burn myself taking things out of the microwave. I put a pair of leather gloves beside the microwave to put on before taking things out after heating.

 

[Flutterby]

Oh, it occurs equally on both sides.

I was diagnosed with neuropathy, March 2017. It affects me mostly on the right side more than my left. It feels different too. I sometimes get a freezing sensation in my left leg. My left hand has less feeling & I can cut my left fingers & not feel it (fine cuts). I minimise chopping by using a blender. But, on my right I feel more intense freezing sensations in my leg. I'm more sensitive to heat in my right hand & fingers. I can burn myself taking things out of the microwave. I put a pair of leather gloves beside the microwave to put on before taking things out after heating.

That sounds horrible Lanny. Thank you for replying.

 

[Flutterby]

Another update from me. We are now 6 months on, symptoms are still unchanged. I have had nerve conduction tests today on both feet and ankles and although the official results will take a while they said that the results were pretty good. They were impressed that my nerves responded so well despite over 40 years of Diabetes. So that's good but still no closer to an explanation. I have got used to it now so although it's still quite unpleasant I am not in a hurry for more tests. I will update if I ever find out more!