Does this mean I must have small fiber neuropathy?
A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with a carpal tunnel injury (with evidence from an NCV that my right was much faster than my left hand), and that got me started in this craziness. The tingling in my hands was and is incessant, and after a year (last November) it moved to my neck and head. Lately my legs have been occasionally tingling as well, but the EMG/NCV that we ran there also came back normal. I've had burning hot needles (paresthesia) for many months at a time, as many of you are familiar with, as well as a laundry list of other symps (brain fog, Joint Pain, stiff neck, cracks & grinds, fatigue, dizziness, eye floaters, sound & light sensitivity), some of which have subsided. I have since been diagnosed with lyme, started treatment in May, and am weening off of my doxy at 100mg a day, while maintaining my herbal anti microbial and detox supplements.
I still struggle daily with being limited in the amount of activities (mainly guitar playing and recording, my "work") without my hands going numb.
There are many days where I still cannot wash my hands without them falling entirely asleep. Drinking cold liquids also hurts, which would make sense to me because the nerve fibers in your teeth are incredibly small. I am incredibly grateful for the overall decrease in intensity of pain over the past several months! I am baffled by how my tests can look normal when I am so symptomatic during treatment.
After a few google searches, I came upon this great article.
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/small_nerve_fibers_defy_neuropathy_conventions
Small Fiber Neuropathy could explain many of these symptoms. However, because it affects the small fibers in the peripheral nervous system (i.e. those in the skin), it is difficult to detect on an EMG/NCV, which tests the longer nerves with a larger diameter.
It seemed to explain my hypersensitivity to temperature and texture, and more importantly, how an EMG could come back "normal." I thought it could help some of you out!
I am wondering if any of you have also tested for it/confirmed your diagnosis of SFN? Is the test painful/does it have long term effects? I have read that you lose feeling in the small biopsy
location for years until the neurons regrow.
Any and all information is greatly appreciated! Best of luck on all of your healing journeys!
