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Is My Heel Pain Caused By Plantar Fasciitis or From A Heel Spur?

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Plantar fasciitis involves pain and inflammation of a thick band of tissue, called the plantar fascia, that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes. Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain.

Plantar fasciitis commonly causes stabbing pain that usually occurs with your very first steps in the morning. Once your foot limbers up, the pain of plantar fasciitis normally decreases, but it may return after long periods of standing or after getting up from a seated position.

Plantar fasciitis is particularly common in runners. In addition, people who are overweight, women who are pregnant and those who wear shoes with inadequate support are at risk of plantar fasciitis.

Diagnosing plantar fasciitis

The diagnosis of plantar fasciitis is usually made by clinical examination alone. The clinical examination may include checking the patient’s feet and watching the patient stand and walk. The clinical examination will take under consideration a patient’s medical history, physical activity, foot pain symptoms and more.

Treating plantar fasciitis

Your health care provider will usually first recommend:

  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) to reduce pain and inflammation
  • Heel and foot stretching exercises
  • Night splints ( http://footpaincenter.com/Royce-Medical-Night-Splint) to wear while sleeping to stretch the foot
  • Resting as much as possible for at least a week
  • Wearing shoes with good support and cushions. Some recommendations for heel cushions include:http://footpaincenter.com/Aetrex-Gel-Heel-Cradles and http://footpaincenter.com/Heel-Spur-gel-with-removable-plug

Other steps to relieve pain include:

  • Apply ice to the painful area. Do this at least twice a day for 10 – 15 minutes, more often in the first couple of days.
  • Try wearing a heel cup, felt pads in the heel area, or shoe inserts.
  • Use night splints to stretch the injured fascia and allow it to heal.

Do heel spurs cause heel pain?

Plantar fasciitis is often confused with heel spurs. People do not suffer from heel spurs because heel spurs do not cause pain. Spurs develop in response to a painful situation in an attempt to relieve the discomfort. Heel spurs are not really spurs at all. When seen head on, they are ridges, although they may look like spurs in a two-dimensional X-ray. Regardless of their appearance their development can be explained by a simple theory of kinesiology. Bone conforms to the stress under which it has been placed.

 

Dealing with Plantar Fasciitis

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Plantar fasciitis is a painful foot condition causing pain and stiffness in the heel. With plantar fasciitis, the bottom of your foot may hurt when you stand, especially first thing in the morning. Pain usually occurs on the inside of the foot, near the spot where your heel and arch meet. Pain may lessen after a few steps, but it comes back after rest or prolonged movement.

Sufferers of this condition may experience excruciating pain when first getting out of bed in the morning. This is because the covering of the heel bone (the periosteum) is like a Velcro attachment. When it is torn away from the bone, an inflammatory condition arises. Depending on the expertise and discipline of the health care professional, you may be told that you are suffering from plantar fasciitis or –horror of horrors—heel spurs (more about heel spurs below).

So, plantar fasciitis is usually caused by the fibers of the plantar fasciae tearing the periosteum away from the heel bone as they try to prevent the foot from over-pronating. Over pronation is excessive rolling motion of the foot when it strikes the ground. However, abnormal pronation is not the sole cause of this condition. In the high-arched semiflexible foot or the rigid foot, the plantar fascia encounters added pressure-causing plantar fasciitis. As we age we are more prone to developing plantar fasciitis.   This is due to the fact that as we age, the fascia tends to lose its elasticity.  Plantar fasciitis tends to be chronic in nature and can linger for months and even years!

Testing for plantar fasciitis

The history is a key factor in making the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis. The history is often very consistent with plantar fasciitis as follows: I have extreme pain when I take my first steps in the morning. After walking a while the pain seems to subside; however if I sit and then try walking when I first stand, I experience a great deal of pain.”

X-rays of your foot may be taken, or you may have a bone scan to confirm a suspected heel spur or stress fracture of the heel bone.

Treating plantar fasciitis

Limit or, if possible, stop daily activities that are causing your heel pain. Try to avoid running or walking on hard surfaces, such as concrete.

Anti-inflammatory medication may be effective in reducing pain. Caution should be used when taking these medications. Prolonged use of anti-inflammatory medication can produce a number of adverse effects including stomach ulcers and problems the blood cells.

Wear shoes with good shock absorption and the right arch support for your foot. Athletic shoes or shoes with a well-cushioned sole are usually good choices.

Try heel cups or shoe inserts (orthotics)to help cushion your heel. You can buy these at many athletic shoe stores and drugstores. Use them in both shoes, even if only one foot hurts.

Put on your shoes as soon as you get out of bed. Going barefoot or wearing slippers may make your pain worse.

Do simple exercises such as toe stretches calf stretches and towel stretches several times a day, especially when you first get up in the morning. These can help your ligament become more flexible and strengthen the muscles that support your arch.

Custom-made shoe inserts (orthotics) Custom-made orthotics require a prescription. If your foot has an unusual shape or if you have a certain problem that the device will help, then a custom-made insert may fit better and control pain better than a nonprescription one.

Night splints- A night splint holds the foot with the toes pointed up and with the foot and ankle at a 90-degree angle. This position applies a constant, gentle stretch to the plantar fascia.

A walking cast on the lower leg. Casting is somewhat more expensive and inconvenient than other nonsurgical treatments. And after the cast is removed, you will need some rehabilitation to restore strength and range of motion. But a cast forces you to rest your foot.

Formal physical therapy instruction can help make sure you properly stretch your Achilles tendon and plantar fascia ligament. Doctors usually consider surgery only for severe cases that do not improve.

Treatment if the condition gets worse

Your doctor may suggest cortisone if you have tried nonsurgical treatment for several weeks without success. Shots can relieve pain, but the relief is often short-term. Also, the shots themselves can be painful, and repeated shots can damage the heel pad and the plantar fascia.

Out of 100 people with plantar fasciitis about 95 are able to relieve their heel pain with nonsurgical treatments.

Only about 5 out of 100 need surgery. If you are one of the few people whose symptoms don’t improve in 6 to 12 months with other treatments, your doctor may recommend plantar release surgery. Plantar fascia release involves cutting part of the plantar fascia ligament in order to release the tension and relieve the inflammation of the ligament.

 

 

 

Neuropathy Treatments That Do No Harm

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When searching the term “neuropathy treatments” on the internet”, you will discover that there are literally hundreds of potential treatments for neuropathy. Some are legit-while others are simply selling snake oil products. Miracle cures for neuropathy abound on the internet. I hate to sound like a broken record but there are no simple, quick-fix miracle cures for neuropathy.

Some complicated neuropathy complexes such as CIPD or advanced diabetic neuropathy do require a combination of aggressive therapies. As with the case with CIPD, aggressive therapies such as IVIG therapy are indicated for treatment of that particular neuropathy condition. IVIG therapy consists of periodic transfusions of the protein Globulin.

Other advanced neuropathies such complicated diabetic neuropathy or neuropathy from chemotherapy also a combination of treatments and medications. Oxycodone and other pain medications are used judiciously to help relieve severe neuropathy pain. Spinal stimulators are electrical devices implanted around the spinal cord that may block pain signals to the brain.

For moderate neuropathy pain the ‘big 3” are often prescribed; that is Neurontin, Lyrica or Cymbalta. These medications are sometimes effective (the key word is sometimes), in relieving neuropathy pain; However many people who have taken these medications often report that these drugs are not particularly effective in relieving neuropathy pain. These people also go on to state that that often experience terrible side-effects such as severe fatigue, a feeling mental fogginess, weight gain and sleep disturbance.

As the director of the Foot Pain Center in Orange County, California, my philosophy in treating a neuropathy patient is start out with the most conservative therapy plan initially. The Neurontins, Lyricas and Cymbalta’s can be tried at a later date. An initial line of defense is the use of topical analgesic products to help temporarily relieve neuropathy pain.

Over the years, many excellent topical analgesics have been specifically formulated to relieve neuropathic pain.  Zostrix Foot Pain Relief Cream (http://footpaincenter.com/Foot-pain-Relief-Zostrix-Pain-Cream) and Zostrix Diabetic Foot Pain Relief Cream (http://footpaincenter.com/-Diabetic-Zostrix-Foot-Pain-Relief-Cream) are topicals aimed at helping with neuropathy pain. The Zostrix pain relieving creams contain a natural ingredient called Capsacian.  Capsacian is derived from chili peppers and has the unique ability to block pain impulses. It is commonly used in the treatment of Shingles and the associated condition called neuralgia.

Neuragen solution (http://footpaincenter.com/neuragen-15ml) and Neuragen Cream (http://footpaincenter.com/Neuragen-Cream) are other excellent topical developed to alleviate nerve pain. Neuragen contains a combination of homeopathic botanical oils: such as Geranium oil, Lavender oil, Bergamot oil) Eucalyptus oil and Tea Tree oil. The Neuragen products work as follows: Results from animal studies indicate that Neuragen reduces the spontaneous firing of damaged peripheral nerves. By calming these aberrant electrical signals at the source, Neuragen reduces neuropathic (nerve) pain quickly and without the side effects of orally taken medications. This is in part due to lipophilic molecules found in Neuragen which rapidly carry the active ingredients through the tough outer layer of the skin (stratum corneum) to the site of the pain.

These topical products can be very effective in temporarily relieving neuropathy pain. There is an additional therapeutic benefit in using topical medications- that is by applying these topicals by rubbing and massaging through the skin  this can increase local circulation in the affected area- which in turn can reduce neuropathy pain.

 

 

Be Skeptical-Very Skeptical About So Called Miracle Treatments for Neuropathy

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My neuropathy practice is located in Southern California. Every day when I pick up the local newspapers, my blood pressure shoots up when I read the multitude neuropathy ads. These ads make bodacious claims such as: “We can end your neuropathy pain or our amazing clinical treatments will end neuropathy treatments.” These out and out lies perpetrated by so called “doctors” who play on the desperation of  those who suffer from peripheral neuropathy.

Their scam is devious but effective. They offer a free dinner at local restaurants-hoping to “reel in” unsuspecting people who just want some relief from their discomfort. Their presentations are vague and ambiguous. I know I have attended these presentations “under cover.” The presenters throw out a few facts mixed with scare tactics. Facts such as: “You are at risk of losing a leg from complications from neuropathy. This is a pathetic scare tactic. In fact most people with neuropathy do not wind up with amputations. Yes there are cases such as advanced diabetes in which a person at risk for amputation; however in most instances, people with neuropathy do not have to undergo amputations. When asking the presenters regarding questions about their methods-they side-step using a lame excuse. They state that they cannot answer questions due to HIPPA regulations. To be clear HIPPA are government regulations prohibiting disclosure of information without a patient’s permission. Now if you ask a question about yourself, you in fact giving permission disclose information.  Using the HIPPA excuse they can avoid answering specific questions and thus their “amazing treatment” remains a mystery. That is until you sign up for a series of treatments that can set you back between $3000 and $6000.

The reality is that neuropathy cannot be cured but can be treated

Neuropathy is due to damage to the nerves. It mostly affects the feet and the toes-causing pain, burning, tingling and other odd sensations. There at least 20 causes of neuropathy. Diabetes is a major cause, but there are many other causes including: side effects of chemotherapy, spinal problems, autoimmune diseases, nutritional deficiencies, exposure to toxins, alcoholism and hereditary factors, to name just a few.

The primary reason that neuropathy is not curable is due to the fact that nerve cells do not have restorative or regeneration properties. Skin cells have the opposite characteristics-they have excellent reparative abilities. Since nerve cells do not heal readily, reversing nerve damage is extremely difficult.

If neuropathy cannot be cured-is my condition hopeless?

Not at all! The approach and mindset in treating neuropathy is twofold:

1          To slow down progression of the disease

2          Using various medications and treatments to reduce pain and discomfort.

Slowing the progression of neuropathy pertains more to diabetes. Excellent control of blood sugar can be significant in preventing further nerve damage. Another cause of neuropathy, nutritional deficiencies, can be controlled by a healthy diet and selected nutritional supplements. For example Nerve health Essential Nutrients (http://footpaincenter.com/nerve-health-essential-nutrients) can be helpful in maintaining nerve health.

Controlling nerve pain

There are a number of approaches controlling nerve pain and discomfort. Various medications including Neurontin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, anti-inflammatory medications and stronger medications such as oxycodone have used  effectively for neuropathic pain. Other modalities such as light therapy (laser and infrared) and electrical stimulation can be helpful in controlling neuropathy symptoms.

Topical medications-applying analgesic creams, oils and patches can temporarily relieve neuropathy pain. Some of the more effective topical analgesics include: Neuragen (http://footpaincenter.com/neuragen-15ml) and Zostrix Pain Relieving Cream (http://footpaincenter.com/Foot-pain-Relief-Zostrix-Pain-Cream).

 

Shingles and Other Important Facts about Neuropathy

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 What is shingles and how is it related to neuropathy?

Shingles (herpes zoster) is an outbreak of rash or blisters on the skin that is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox — the varicella-zoster virus. The first sign of shingles is often burning or tingling pain, or sometimes numbness or itch, in one particular location on only one side of the body. After several days or a week, a rash of fluid-filled blisters, similar to chickenpox, appears in one area on one side of the body. Shingles pain can be mild or intense.  Some people have mostly itching; some feel pain from the gentlest touch or breeze.  The most common location for shingles is a band, called a dermatome, spanning one side of the trunk around the waistline. Anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk for shingles.  Scientists think that in the original battle with the varicella-zoster virus, some of the virus particles leave the skin blisters and move into the nervous system.  When the varicella-zoster virus reactivates, the virus moves back down the long nerve fibers that extend from the sensory cell bodies to the skin.  The viruses multiply, the tell-tale rash erupts, and the person now has shingles.

After an acute attack of shingles, the nerve heals slowly, and may remain painful or sensitive for a long time, The sensitivity may eventually go away, but not always, depending on the extent of damage and regenerative capacity of the nerve.

Do nerves ever heal or regenerate?

Can nerves heal over time?

To some extent, depending on the type and severity of the damage already present and ongoing disease activity. Demyelinating neuropathies heal more easily than axonal neuropathies, and mild neuropathies heal better than if severe damage is present. It is therefore important to treat early, to preserve function.

By “cutting the nerves” via surgery reduce neuropathy pain?

An effective surgery for reducing nerve pain is known as nerve entrapment release. In some cases as with carpel tunnel, the nerve is strangulated by soft/scar tissue. Releasing or freeing the nerve by surgery can relieve nerve pain. Rarely, as occasionally in the case of neuroma. However, if the pain signals are generated more proximally to the resection, cutting the distal part of the nerve won’t help.

Some people neuropathy experience burning sensation in their feet-Is it ok to soak the feet in ice-cold water?

Cooling the feet when they feel hot and burning can be soothing, but icy water can cause frostbite, especially if the neuropathy prevents you from felling the cold. Better to use cold water without ice, or a refrigerated gel pack, and dry well afterward to avoid trench foot.

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s Play Jeopardy Neuropathy-Key Facts About Neuropathy

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 Answer                        One of the largest nerves that can cause neuropathy

Question                     What is Sciatica?-Sciatica is a neuropathy problem that is very common. Sciatica is used to describe a pain syndrome that results from compression of the sciatic nerve in the lower back, with radiating pain down the leg. It’s a focal neuropathy that results from local compression of a single nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome, facial palsy, trigeminal neuraligia, and tarsal tunnel syndrome, among others, are other types of focal neuropathies.

 

Answer            A borderline condition that cause neuropathy

Question          What is borderline diabetes?-Some people with borderline diabetes are more susceptible to developing neuropathy than others, for reasons that we do not yet understand. Those who are more easily affected have to work harder at keeping the blood glucose levels in the normal range.

 Answer                        A food that can cause neuropathy

Question                      What are glucose-many foods contain high sugar content-which can lead to pre-diabetes or diabetes?

Answer                        One of the more serious and disabling neuropathies

Question                      What is chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy?

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIPD) is a condition that arises when the myelin sheaths around nerve cells are damaged. Myelin, the Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , ,

The Benefits of Swimming and Water Activities-Advice From Marc Spitz

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Over the years, I have been asked about a million times: Are you the “real Mark Spitz.” While I am real (my family and my pet dog attest that I do exist), I am not the Olympic swimmer that won 7 gold medals. Coincidently I am full agreement with the other Spitz that water sports can be very beneficial. Water activities are great for people with neuropathy, arthritis or diabetes. From a physics perspective, a water environment, presents a limited gravity situation. Land exercises such as jogging, walking or the treadmill can be challenging for those who experience balance problems or pain when ambulating.

 Getting started

Many communities offer water programs such as water aerobics or swimming lessens. Check on line or request for a community schedule. Also many private gyms with pools offer similar classes.

 Use a kickboard to give your muscle groups and cardiovascular system a workout.

  • Join a water-walking class. Florida aerobics instructor Kellie T. is living proof that you can streamline your body with swim aerobics and water walking.
  • Water walking for 30-45 minutes is being taught by instructors at clubs and Y’s everywhere. Go slowly at first, and see how your feet feel when the class is over. Pace yourself. You don’t have to keep up. PNers who are prone to feeling dizzy should take water walking slowly as the turn at each end of the pool, if done too fast, can cause dizziness for a PNer.
  • Start a class yourself if you have a pool and friends who want to join you. Many books list illustrated water-based exercises that you can do yourself or with others.
  • Use a swim belt to exercise in deep water. Connie B. never goes into the pool without one. “And stay in the deep end,” she says. “In the shallow end, when you do jumping jacks, jogging, and other moves—all of which demand constant pounding and jumping—it can be harmful to your feet.”
  • Be cautious using hand weights or weighted water gloves if neuropathy bothers your hands. Caution with hand weights applies to both land and sea (pool).
  • Water exercise classes for people with arthritis, done in warm warter at various YM/WCA pools, are good for people with neuropathy, too.
  • If you really can’t exercise, but love being in the water, try using “noodles”, those long, rounded Styrofoam “elephant trunks” that you can sit on. They might be an enjoyable way to cool off on a hot day. Inner tubes also work well for relaxing in the water.

 

Diseases That Can Cause Neuropathy

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There are a number of systemic diseases that can lead to the development of neuropathy. The following are known condition that has been linked with neuropathy:

Diabetes

What are diabetic neuropathies?

Diabetic neuropathies are a family of nerve disorders caused by diabetes. People with diabetes can, over time, develop nerve damage throughout the body. Some people with nerve damage have no symptoms. Others may have symptoms such as pain, tingling, or numbness-loss of feeling-in the hands, arms, feet, and legs. Nerve problems can occur in every organ system, including the digestive tract, heart, and sex organs.

About 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy. People with diabetes can develop nerve problems at any time, but risk rises with age and longer duration of diabetes. The highest rates of neuropathy are among people who have had diabetes for at least 25 years. Diabetic neuropathies also appear to be more common in people who have problems controlling their blood glucose, also called blood sugar, as well as those with high levels of blood fat and blood pressure and those who are overweight.

About 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy. People with diabetes can develop nerve problems at any time, but risk rises with age and longer duration of diabetes. The highest rates of neuropathy are among people who have had diabetes for at least 25 years. Diabetic neuropathies also appear to be more common in people who have problems controlling their blood glucose, also called blood sugar, as well as those with high levels of blood fat and blood pressure and those who are overweight.

About 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy. People with diabetes can develop nerve problems at any time, but risk rises with age and longer duration of diabetes. The highest rates of neuropathy are among people who have had diabetes for at least 25 years. Diabetic neuropathies also appear to be more common in people who have problems controlling their blood glucose, also called blood sugar, as well as those with high levels of blood fat and blood pressure and those who are overweight.

 Rheumatoid Arthritis: In case of RA, the immune system recognizes components involving the areas of the body where bones attach to each other (joints) as threats in the body and sends out killer cells called “antibodies” to attack them. These natural tissues are mistakenly identified by the immune system as intruders or invaders that threaten bodily health. The joint related tissues affected by RA include bones, cartilage, fibrous tissue, nerves and synovial fluid. This form of arthritis causes destruction of the joints over time and in some cases can also cause joints to become locked in place (fused) and immobile. It typically affects the small joints in the extremities (hands and feet) but can potentially affect any of the joints of the body. Over time RA can also cause inflammation in blood vessels (vasculitis).

Sjorgren’s Syndrome (SS): An autoimmune, inflammatory disease that affects the fluid producing and lubricating glands and tissues in the body. (SS) can co-exist with other types of autoimmune diseases and is especially common in people who suffer autoimmune thyroid diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. The severity of the disease varies among patients who have it and in some cases, in can become disabling.

Sjogren’s syndrome (pronounced “show-grins”) affects the fluid producing ducts and glands of the body, as well as mucous membranes in the body. When a person has SS, the immune system has sent out killer cells, called antibodies, to attack these mechanisms of the body that produce lubricating fluids and membranes. This, results in these fluids and membranes becoming dry, so that the parts of the body that contain them may also become inflamed and/or damaged, including the nerves.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): Is a condition in which the arteries that distribute blood-flow to different parts of the body become hardened, narrowed or blocked. As tissues and nerves are starved of proper blood flow, symptoms of pain and muscle weakness begin to develop. PAD commonly develops in the arteries that supply blood to the pelvis and legs and may be restricted to the limbs or may affect many areas of the body simultaneously, including the heart. The condition is more common in people who have diabetes, who smoke or who have reached their elder years of age. In severe cases, body tissues experience permanent death and must be amputated from the body. Some patients with the disease lose their ability to walk and may be at increased risk for heart attack or stroke.

PN that results from the health disorder described above or from other underlying chronic diseases, such as AIDS and types of lymphoma cancers, can be significantly improved by treating them as optimally as possible. Some patients do however; require treatment specifically for their PN symptoms, as they await improvement or recovery from their disease or for permanent nerve damage that has occurred.

 

 

 

Virus Infection Causing Peripheral Neuropathy

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 Most people are under the impression that diabetes is the main cause of peripheral neuropathy. In fact diabetes is a common cause of neuropathy however there are over 20 other causes of neuropathy. Post chemotherapy, nutritional deficiencies, alcoholism, spinal problems and inherited condition can cause peripheral neuropathy. Another cause of neuropathy can be attributed to infections. Bacterial and viral infections can cause nerve damage . This blog will discuss infections>

A number of viruses have been found to be triggers for symptoms on PN. Some of these cause gradual, progressive symptoms of nerve damage and dysfunction (chronic), while others or even the same viruses can cause a sudden and severe onset of them (acute). In some cases the severity of the PN following a viral infection is dependent upon how severe an infection is or in how well the infected person’s immune system is functioning during and following a contracted viral infection.

These PN causing viruses can include those following, as listed below.

  • * Varicella Zoster
  • * Hepatitis Viruses A, B, C, D, and E

The viruses listed above including hepatitis which encompasses several sub-types, can be triggers for a neurological condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). The three viruses included in the list with asterisks beside them (*) are from the “herpes” family and a majority of the general population will carry them in their bodies, once contracting them, life-long but most do not suffer ongoing symptoms after initial infections by them during childhood.

The viruses will usually remain dormant and benign but can reactivate in imunno compromised individuals (in those with deficient immune function). Another term for GBS and the peripheral nerve symptoms and/or damage resulting from autoimmune reactions, following viral infections or due to other causes that activate aut-antibodies to attack nerves is “Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy” (CIDP). The “polyneuropathy” multiple nerves are being affected simultaneously.

When only one nerve is affected by a disease or damage that occurs to it, the term “mononeuropathy” is used.

The onset of CIDP can manifest with something as simple as a hand or foot that drops due to lack of motor-nerve impulses carried to the muscles of them. Other patients may experience the onset of severe pain in their feet and legs or in other parts of their body, due to sensory nerve involvement and this may be accompanied by an overall body-weakness and fatigue.

.Varicella Zoster, is a virus that initially causes two medical conditions called “shingles” (more common in adults) and “chicken pox” (more common in children), while the Epstein-Barr Virus can first manifest as a condition called “mononucleosis” (the kissing disease). These viruses have also been associated with causing GBS/CIDP in susceptible individuals and in some cases may be due to their immune systems having become weakened or compromised due to other chronic or autoimmune diseases. For reasons yet fully understood by medical research science, these viruses can lead to an immune system reaction.

The “myelin”, a material that covers the outside of the nerves, acting as a protective sheath for them, comes under attack by auto-antibodies, that mistakenly recognize them as intruders and enemies to the body. These killer immune cells begin to attack this essential part of the peripheral nervous system as an enemy in the body and may do-so, even after a particular viral infection has diminished or is no longer active. It is possible that this misguided immune activity is an over-reactive response by the immune system, to fully eradicate these viruses from the body and in the process of doing so, results in damage to nerves that become exposed and unprotected over time.

Treating GBS/CIDP

Conditions of PN caused by the autoimmune and inflammatory components that have been described may include the administration of prescribed steroid anti-inflammatory drug (corticosteroid), by a qualified physician. In some cases this type medication, commonly prescribed via the brand –name “Prednisone”, will alleviate and reverse GBS/CIDP, without the need for further treatments. This may depend on how advanced the condition has become.

For those patients with severe symptoms needing more advanced treatments, a treating doctor may refer them for a therapy called “Intravenous immunoglobulin” (IVIG). This treatment consists of administering this plasma protein, intravenously at regular intervals of every few weeks, until the patient’s own immune system becomes better-charged with healthy antibodies that help them to recover from their disease.

IVIG has also been suggested by some medical experts, to be beneficial in helping to reduce inflammation levels as well. In some cases however, both IVIG and corticosteroid therapies may be administered. The symptoms of GBS/CIDP can be treated successfully and in many cases completely reversed.

 

Key questions in Determining if You Have Peripheral Neuropathy

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 Peripheral neuropathy is truly a perplexing medical condition. The symptoms range from total numbness to severe pain/burning in the feet and the toes. The following questions can help clarify if in fact a person has peripheral neuropathy:

When did you first experience symptoms? It is important to note in many instances neuropathy symptoms can constantly change. Many people report that initial symptoms start out with a vague sensation of pins and needles in the feet-over time the symptoms can change to burning, cramping or electric shock sensations.

  • When did they start-since initial symptoms can be subtle it often difficult to determine when symptoms initially appeared.
  • Did initial symptoms start out in the feet? In over 90% cases of neuropathy starts in the feet or toes.
  • Did the symptoms begin suddenly or gradually?
  • Were they preceded by an illness, food poisoning, vaccination, a new medication, travel, or exposure to a toxin? Were other people affected at the time?
  • Were you drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, or eating a diet rich in fish that contain high mercury level Do you have weakness in your feet and legs?

Do you experiencene weakness- Is the weakness in the arms or legs, and in which muscles?

-Do you have difficulty with walking, going up or down stairs, carrying packages, or turning a key?

-         Presently describe your symptoms-Is it numbness, pain, or annoying sensations? Provide a succinct description.

-         Which parts of the body are affected; the legs, arms, torso, or face?

-         Do you feel pain if you accidentally stick yourself with a sharp object, or suffer a cut or a burn?

-         Do you have systemic symptoms such as dizziness or rapid heartbeat when standing up, abnormal sweating, frequent diarrhea or constipation, or fullness after eating small amounts of food?

  •  Do you have impaired coordination in the arms or legs? If yes:

-         Do you lose your balance easily, or fall?

-         Does your hand tremor when you use it?

-         Do you have difficulty with fine movements such as when buttoning your shirt?

Have the symptoms increased recently, improved, fluctuated, or stayed the same?

  • What is the overall course of the illness since it began?
  • Has anyone else in your family been diagnosed with neuropathy, or have similar symptoms?
  • Do you have diabetes and is there a history of diabetes in your family?
  • What are your dietary habits? Do you eat a lot of fast foods or consume a lot of coffee. Nutritional deficiencies such as a lack of Vitamin B6 or B12 can cause neuropathy.