I have a pinched nerve in my lumbar spine complicated by spinal stenosis and herniated discs. I started seeing a pain management doctor but for this visit he was out sick. They didn't tell me but they assigned me to a physician's assistant.
She really triggered me from the second she flew into the room. Instead of greeting me she immediately sat down in front of the computer and started typing and asking me what my pain level was. She knew nothing about me didn't read anything from my records and was just ready to just renew a prescription and send me out the door. I had to ask her to turn around a talk to me directly instead of looking at her computer. She told me my EMG results and said that I have some peripheral neuropathy. I asked her if Sjogren's or rheumatoid arthritis could contribute to that and she said it was only from old age and diabetes and that neither sjogrens or RA will cause PN. Since I am not a diabetic it must be because I am old.
I just finished doing some research on this and now I'm wondering if my low vitamin D plays into this? Can vitamin deficiency causes peripheral neuropathy? Should I add to my vitamins to prevent further damage? Can anyone advise me?
Sorry to hear this Cassy
Vitamin d : is vital for the body and can cause a lot of symptoms. So please take supplements and get that back to normal.
Same applies for vitamin b12.
Peripheral neuropathy : is well known symptom of sjogren. So please meet the Doctor who knows sjogren well.
All the best.
I have profound peripheral neuropathy in my legs, which developed over a 12 year period after my first diagnosis of Sjogren's.
I do have a serious Immune Disorder, but it isn't technically Sjogren's since I don't have antibodies attacking my organs/systems, but probably cytokines, doing the same damage.
I also have severe Small Fiber Neuropathy, and various neuropathies of my gastrointestinal system.
Immune Disorders often have serious neurological damage as a result of the Disorders.
Find a competent Immunologist, Rheumatologist, Neurologist.
Unfortunately, for me, there is no treatment to cure or stop the progress of my neuropathy. I wear braces and walk with a walker because the nerve damage in my legs causes severe balance issues. Gabapentin, 36000 mg daily, reduces most of the pain from my Small Fiber Neuropathy. I have had success with treatments related to my gastrointestinal neuropathies, but have to monitor my progress and will need further treatments, most likely, over time.
I have all of the standard symptoms of Sjogren's related to the moisture producing system, Meniere's, Interstitial Cystitis, and all of the other conditions listed with my signature.
You deserve respect and dignity from your medical professionals.
Regards, Elaine
I am sorry Carolina. You have such a difficult load to bear. I do have a very competent rheumatologist that I trust but because of the pain and difficulty from radiculopathy I was sent to a pain management specialist.
I like the pain management doctor that I originally saw and found out that he has been recognized as a top dark in his field. Unfortunately when I went for my appointment and only then did I discover that he went home sick and the physician assistant was covering.
I wanted to talk to him because my insurance company denied my MRI and without that he could not do the lumbar injection. This PA made me feel like I was in a hit and run. She flew in the room, sat directly in front of a computer and started typing and never spoke directly to me until I demanded that she turned around and look at me when she spoke.
You are right. I deserve respect and I'm glad I spoke out to her but now I am filled with questions and no answers in addition to still needing treatment for the pain and difficulty with mobility. The only thing I got out of this appointment was a new MRI request. Don't know what I will do if they turned me down again. I do know that my next appointment is two weeks and I will reschedule if the Dr is not available.
Thanks for your advice.
Dear Cassi,
I also have low dose Prednisone (Medrol, which is a variant) and low dose Naltrexone for pain.
I had a laminectomy of my lumbar spine in 2016 for severe sciatica and it was very successful.
I also had a pinched nerve, stenosis and other osteoarthritic changes in my spine, but not herniated discs. I never expected to have any surgery on my spine, but this surgery did not involve any hardware (no fusion with stabilizing metal or bone implants and screws for example) and the incision was very small, just enough to provide space for the nerve to be de-compressed.
Because I have some problems with absorbing vitamins, I do take supplements of most vitamins. I don't think vitamin supplements would be of much use for herniated discs or pinched nerves, however.
I have severe osteoarthritis in most of my joints (neck, shoulders, knees, hands, feet) and try to exercise to keep myself from losing all mobility. I used the NuStep at the gym two days in a row and overworked my shoulder, so had to take extra Medrol and Naltrexone yesterday, and rest from any exercise. It is really a balancing act when it comes to managing inflammation and pain, isn't it?
I hope to get to the pool today.
I'm in the process of finding new orthopedists to evaluate my neck, shoulders and knees. My knees are particularly a problem because I already have trouble walking, and I cannot stand for any length of time, not because of my PN, but because of my knees.
Of course, knee replacement surgery is so painful and the recovery is so demanding, so I don't really want that. But since I may have many more years to live, I would like to be able to walk and stand without so much pain. The PN isn't painful, it's my knees that are the problem!
I guess it's always something! I am surely a work in progress.
I wish you the very best at getting the treatments you need for pain relief, Cassi.
Regards, Elaine