Polyneuropathy of the lower extremities

The defining word is which - herpetic, diabetic, ischaemic, vibrational .....

I have diabetic polyneuropathy in my lower limbs. I had an EMG done a year ago—motor functions in one leg and sensory functions in the other are below normal. Previously, my legs would cramp, and I couldn't sleep with socks on; the skin on my toes burned when touched. Now it's fine, and I take Tiagamma injections three times a year.

I also have severe radial neuropathy in my left upper limb—that's where the real trouble is. At first, my arm became paralyzed; I was 14 at the time. Then it improved a bit after acupuncture, amplipulse therapy, physical therapy, massages, and d'Arsonval currents. Now I can use it a little—I write, peel potatoes, and cut bread (fortunately, I'm left-handed, otherwise I would have neglected the arm). But it's drying out and noticeably thinner than the right one. If I stretch both arms forward, the left hand droops, and I can't lift it up on my own.

God help you.

Hello! I also had BERLITION IV drips, then tablets, NEIROMIDIN IM injections, now I'm taking GINOS; no improvements whatsoever. I can still move around the house, but I stagger when turning, and outside I walk very unsteadily (I feel numbness and stiffness in my legs). And I often get the feeling that everyone can see me walking with my "drunken gait". Now my left hand has started getting what feels like "electric shocks", the disease is progressing. Really sad, had to leave my job. Strange, but I don't share my painful experiences with my loved ones, because I know - they won't be able to help anyway... We've been through so many neurologists, so many tests, so many injections and tablets...

Acupuncture should initially involve a 10-day course, followed by a one-month break, then another 10-day course, a three-month break, and another course. However, the doctor must be highly experienced. Not just anyone can perform this correctly. It is essential to strengthen the immune system (using mummy resin, chewing small pieces of calamus root, and ginger). To improve pancreatic function, one should try to walk more and drink herbal infusions made from common bean pods, bearberry leaves, corn silk, and knotgrass—all one teaspoon each, steeped in 300 ml of boiling water, simmered in a water bath for 10–15 minutes, and consumed as one-third of a glass three times a day. Follow the Breuss diet, which can be found online, and engage in therapeutic exercises. Avoid sausages, fatty foods, sweets, and baked goods. Increase intake of fruits and vegetables, and prepare meals by steaming or baking in the oven. Try to go without meat for one month. Good luck!

I have written down what needs to be done. Perhaps this will help you! Good luck!

Good evening, Ilmira! You've described in such detail what needs to be done with this illness, are you also concerned about this problem somehow?

Olga, hello! Well, how are things with you now?
This illness has several forms: diabetic, toxic, chronic demyelinating, Guillain-Barré, etc. And the treatment outcomes vary as well. I have a rather complex form and have been undergoing treatment for over a year. The progress is gradual, but it's there, and that's encouraging. As I see it, in our cases, three components are important:
1) Proper medication treatment prescribed by a competent doctor (including physiotherapy, massages, acupuncture, and spa treatments if there are no other contraindications). I won't list the names of the medications in an open forum to avoid self-medication ☺️.
2) Therapeutic exercises (again, if there are no contraindications).
3) And, most importantly, a firm belief in overcoming the illness, despite the current challenges.

I used to fall often, and bruises didn't have time to fade. My legs wouldn't hold me up. I'd wake up in the morning, not even out of bed yet, and already feel tired ☺️. I could barely lift 1kg with my hands. Gradually, I've worked my way up to 7kg dumbbells. I no longer fall outside, though I still stagger, feel unsteady, and walk uncertainly, especially on stairs without railings. But I pay no attention to people's stares. I stand by the idea that these are temporary difficulties and they just need to be endured without losing heart. Of course, it's daily work, and one must brace for the fight. And also try not to catch a cold.

There are many cases where people recover quickly thanks to medication. As they say, it's all individual.
Wishing you success in your treatment and a speedy recovery

Colleague, hello! You're quite right, we need to find a competent doctor, but where can we get one? If it's not too much trouble, could you advise? address: rozzasavvina@mail/ru

What the hell, I wrote and wrote, and there's nothing here.

[quote="Colleague" message_id="63101165"]Olga, hello! How are things with you now?

Hello, Colleague! I'm very glad you responded to my troubles. I've been suffering from PNP for almost 5 years now. I get injections twice a year and take medication. In the mornings, I experience stiffness and heaviness in my legs. The constant tingling and pins and needles sensation in my legs is very draining, and this feeling is getting higher (it's reached my waist). I often lose my balance when turning, and sometimes bump into door frames. I hardly go anywhere; if I go to the shop, my husband drives me almost to the doorstep. I've also noticed: if I know someone is watching me, my legs don't want to obey at all, and it becomes difficult for me to walk. I can't go up or down steps without handrails; panic sets in. That's how things are. Next week, I plan to get all the injections again (I don't go to doctors anymore; they have standard treatment). No neurologist has given an answer as to why this condition occurred. I think it's all due to my spine; the MRI showed protrusions, a hernia, and a cyst.

Yes, Olga, I can imagine what you're going through—everything you've described is familiar to me: the stiffness in the mornings, the panic, and all those unpleasant sensations in the legs. For me, it's particularly intense at night; I don't know what to do with my legs, everything feels uncomfortable, it's downright irritating. Through trial and error, I've found pine bath salts for myself. They slightly ease these unpleasant feelings and are generally safe. Of course, you can't take such baths every day, but I do courses periodically, using warm water, not hot.

As for the panic, I combat it only with self-persuasion: telling myself everything is under control, I can handle anything. Fear comes from the mind, and it needs to be blocked. I remember being terribly afraid to cross the road, especially in winter when it's slippery. At those moments, my legs would feel as if they were made of wood; they wouldn't even bend at the knees. The fear was so paralyzing and restrictive. And the same with stairs without handrails—I'd immediately start losing my balance. Although, generally, when there are handrails or a wall, I can go up and down just fine. So... we need to learn to block thoughts like "I can't," "it won't work," etc. Of course, gradually, all within reason🙂

If you have any personal experience in dealing with this ailment, please do share.

By the way, are you doing any physical exercises? Did the doctors allow it?

If you have personal experience in dealing with an ailment, please share it. And by the way, do you do physical exercises? Did the doctors allow it?

Good evening, Colleague! My personal experience is modest: Therapy (Neuromidin 20, Nicergoline 10, Combilipen 20, then in tablet form and Berlition—I don't think anyone would consider self-medicating), daily foot massage with castor oil, physical exercises for the spine (I have a set of 6 exercises with three repetitions each), and in the evening, I walk around the yard, forcing myself to move more, but it's becoming increasingly difficult. Surprisingly, I fall asleep normally (I've grown accustomed to the tingling and pins and needles). I envy your ability not to panic; I can't manage it, but I'll keep trying. How do you spend your leisure time, what do you do? How do you keep your ailment in check?

Olga, I'm trying not to pay attention to my illness and spend my leisure time just as I used to. I still go to the cinema, theatre, meet up with friends, and go for walks from time to time. I've even become somewhat kinder and more sociable, in a way))

However, during this winter, I hardly step outside because it's terribly slippery. I've even attached spikes to my shoes, but my feet still slide about.

Well, overall, I don't fixate on the illness. Yes, it's hard. Yes, the pace of life has changed. Yes, there's a lot I can't do now, even the simplest things. But I try not to feel sorry for myself. Because I'm sure that once I start pitying myself, I'll stop making an effort, and things will get worse. And I don't want to let that happen.

'How do I tame my ailment?' With regular therapeutic massages, acupuncture, physiotherapy, and treatment courses. And physical exercises, definitely strength training with dumbbells. Soon, I'll be off to a sanatorium; I hope the waters will make me feel better. I'll write about the effects.

Good evening, Colleague! It's wonderful that you have the opportunity to attend cultural events like the theatre and cinema; I don't have that, as I live in a village. I do meet with my family, and I try to ensure they notice my condition less, making an effort to sit more and not even sharing my worries about my illness and the discouraging prognosis with my husband or adult children, striving to remain optimistic. May I ask if my therapy aligns at all with yours? Which sanatorium are you planning to visit? I have such plans too, but I'm a bit afraid to go alone (I need someone by my side), and I'm trying to persuade my sister, but so far, alas...

Olga, if you have an email address, please write to me at fokus-ten@mail.ru. It will be more convenient to communicate there.

Good evening, Colleague! No email, I'll await your impressions of the treatment at the sanatorium. Wishing you health and all the best!

Thank you, Olga, and I wish you health and patience as well. I have also taken the medications you listed. In addition, I underwent hormone therapy, immunoglobulin treatments, and plasmapheresis. However, I suppose the treatment may differ for various types of polyneuropathy. I am planning to go to the Kuldur sanatorium and will write to you in mid-March.

Good evening, Colleague! I visited the website of the sanatorium you're planning to go to, and they do indeed treat that specific condition. I truly hope it will help you. I'm considering Kislovodsk, but their focus is more on the general "nervous system." Judging by the sanatorium's address, we live quite far from each other. What's the weather like there now? Here, it's raining, with temperatures at minus 3 at night and around 8-10 degrees during the day.

Wow, we only get such temperatures in October and early April☺️ I live in the Far East, where the main frosts have already passed; now it's around -14 during the day, sometimes even -20. At night, it drops to -25. As for sanatoriums, I suppose it's mainly the waters that differ, while most treatments are similar. In Kuldur, there are nitrogen-silicon mineral waters. They also say there are good sanatoriums in China, but probably a lot depends on the diagnosis as well. Do you manage without a walking stick? I think the main thing for you is to get to the sanatorium with someone's help, and then you'll be fine. You could arrange with the staff to keep an eye on you occasionally. You take care of yourself, as I understand.

Good afternoon, Colleague! I live near the regional city of Stavropol. Yes, I move around the house by myself and do all the housework; I am on a well-deserved rest (though I don't really like to think of myself as a pensioner). Please tell me, how do you manage to get vouchers for the sanatorium, and is there any compensation for it? Getting to the sanatorium is not a problem for me—my son or husband will take me by car (it's a 3-hour drive). What I'm worried about is being helpless there, going for treatments—who will take care of me there? I will definitely set up an email, and we can keep in touch.

Ladies, could you please tell me if the Lyapko applicator helps you, at least to alleviate the symptoms?
My father has polyneuropathy of unknown origin. It's been going on for a long time, it's progressive, with severe pain.
He feels better when he walks around the house in slippers with bubble-textured soles. So I thought, maybe I should buy some kind of needle mat? I started thinking about this in the context of looking for a birthday gift for him. I really want to give him something useful that might somehow ease his suffering. Maybe you could suggest some ideas? Some kind of sports equipment, a therapeutic device, ingredients for baths—anything at all?
Thanks in advance for your answers, wishing everyone well and good health!

Lynx, good afternoon!
It's difficult to recommend anything. Unfortunately, I haven't yet found any miraculous remedy that works perfectly. I haven't used the Lyapko applicator, but I do have spiky massage balls; I think the principle is the same. Personally, it doesn't help me for long, but after a light massage, there's less discomfort in my legs. In the evenings, it's my only salvation. The roller applicator with a handle is probably more convenient, though. Thank you for suggesting it; I hadn't heard of it before. ☺️

Regarding the mat: if your father has good balance, look up balance cushions online. They're smooth on one side and bumpy on the other. You can stand on them (the effect doesn't last long for me either), place them under your calf muscles, under your back, or sit on them—it relieves the spine. As for a simple mat, is it worth buying if your father already has slippers with bumps? The principle of action for all these bumpy, spiky devices is quite similar.
For bath ingredients, sea salt with pine helps alleviate symptoms. It's not an everyday treatment. Saying it "alleviates symptoms" might be a bit strong, of course. The effect is minimal, but still, it's something. 😊

Hello everyone. I've had polyneuropathy for five years. Two years ago, type 1 diabetes was discovered. But whether it's from diabetes or not—none of the doctors can say. There could be many causes. These include neuroinfections, tick bites, systemic diseases. I've been checked for all of that—nothing. There are also genetic polyneuropathies. That's the tricky part. Tests can only be done in Moscow. Besides numbness, I have severe pains. They completely drain me. I have no energy. I took Cymbalta for a year. Gabapentin for a year. Now I've started Lyrica. That's for pain relief. And a bunch of other things... I take Ipigrix, Espalipon constantly, B group vitamins. I've been to a sanatorium—no improvements at all. The main thing is to know the cause that acts as a toxin for the nerves and erodes the nerve sheath. Otherwise, all the treatment is in vain. Eliminating the cause is the main task. Good luck to everyone.

A week ago, my feet started going numb. I don't know what it is. The doctors are sending me for tests and suspect either vascular issues or that it's a form of neurosis. But I suspect it's from a herpes infection. I've already been tested for viruses several times, but I still need to get tested for types 6, 7, and 8. Tatiana, you write that we should look for toxins. Have you ever had herpes? Not on the face, but like shingles? Or just on your back or thigh?

Hello everyone. My symptoms started with numbness in my feet back in 2012, which I initially attributed to a poorly performed back massage. But now I'm not so sure if that's related. Gradually, the numbness began to spread upwards through my legs, and burning and itching sensations joined in my feet. Doctors couldn't pinpoint the cause; they suspect it might be hereditary, although no one in my family has had anything like this. For a while, I experienced severe painful cramps in my calves, but after taking Asparkam, they subsided. However, the numbness and discomfort in my legs persist. An electromyography in January this year revealed impaired sensory nerves, with no S-responses obtained. I was diagnosed with axonal sensory polyneuropathy. My mobility is fully preserved, but sensory disturbances are progressing, and muscle atrophy is beginning in my feet. I'm taking Neuromidin, Tebantin, Trental, and Milgamma three times a day. They told me that treatment will be long-term, and there's no 100% certainty of recovery. I also want to ask the doctors if spa treatment is recommended, and if so, what kind. Maybe some mud therapies... Girls, have any of you tried mud treatments, and does physiotherapy help? If yes, which types?

Has anyone tried treatment with bees? With bee venom? With live bees? Placing bees along the nerve pathway and along the spine? If anyone knows about this, please write? Thank you. (I read somewhere that bee venom treats nerves... for neuritis... maybe it also treats peripheral neuropathy, at least improves it a little?)

Hello. My electromyography does not show polyneuropathy, but I am deteriorating. Muscle atrophy has already begun, which is visible. It hurts to walk. There is a feeling of tightness and soreness, as if muscles are being bound. My arms periodically go limp, and it's happening more often. I constantly have bruises. My hands and feet are cold. The skin has lost its turgor, and dents remain from even a slight touch. Six months of treatment with Thioctacid, Thiogamma, Neuromidin, Keltikan, etc., have yielded no results. My muscles get terribly tired even without significant exertion.

Hello. My electromyography does not show polyneuropathy, but I am deteriorating. Muscle atrophy has already begun, which is visible. It hurts to walk. There is a feeling of tightness and soreness, as if the muscles are being bound. My arms periodically go limp, and it's happening more often. I constantly have bruises. My hands and feet are cold. The skin has lost its elasticity. Indentations remain from even slight touches. Six months of treatment with Thioctacid, Thiogamma, Neuromidin, Keltikan, etc., have provided no relief. My muscles get terribly tired even without significant exertion.

I've been examined for autoimmune diseases, thyroid hormones, MRI of all spinal sections, head, abdominal ultrasound, and had tests every two weeks. Nothing significant found. It's driving me crazy, especially since my child is only a year old. I had taken a large amount of antibiotics before without a doctor's prescription. I don't know what to do next. The myography showed minor abnormalities, but the doctors don't consider it enough for a diagnosis, and I'm falling apart.

It all started for me after a Botox injection in my forehead. Over three months, my face has sagged, my nose feels like plasticine, the entire left side including my head has gone numb, my earlobes have become like rags, and my muscles are atrophying. I'm 33. I don't have children. Is this really irreversible? I've wasted three months on the idea that 'the injection will dissolve and everything will pass' – as the doctor said. Who has been helped by Neuromidin? I've also heard about bee venom therapy and cold water dousing (the adrenal glands release hormones into the blood actively – as an alternative to synthetic ones).

I developed neuropathy from a tick bite (Lyme disease) after a long course of antibiotics... over six months... I've been injecting Neuromedin for 4 months with no noticeable effect yet, Octolipen injections for 4 months too, Mexidol.... An EMG 8 months after the tick bite revealed neuropathy in the tibial nerves of both legs.... I've been undergoing bee sting therapy for 3 months, not sure if it will help or not.... I'll have another EMG later to see if it's stabilized, worsened, or perhaps improved.

What medications did you treat yourself with? I've tried everything, no matter how hard I try, the illness keeps progressing: my walking keeps getting worse, I stagger, fall, break my arms. I don't self-medicate, everything is prescribed by doctors, but there's no benefit.

I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome 4.5 months ago. It started with numbness in a toe, then spread to the foot, knee, and thigh. Later, I lost sensation in my legs, then my arms. I began having difficulty breathing. Fortunately, immunoglobulin treatment halted the disease's progression. Over time, my arms have mostly recovered, though my wrists remain weak. However, my legs are a serious problem—the lower half of my body is paralyzed.

I suffer from severe back pain, from the lumbar region up to the shoulder blades. I have protrusions and osteochondrosis. Can you advise on how to restore mobility in my legs and whether home-based rehabilitation is possible? Unfortunately, I don’t have the means to travel for treatment :-(

According to the EMG results, they said you're fine, but half of my body is going numb, along with both arms and my face, muscles are wasting away, and I'm unsteady. And this has happened in just 4 months. Can anyone advise if they've had blood tests for neuropathy—for instance, antibodies to myelin, acetylcholine, or autoantibodies to neuronal structures? After all, EMG isn't an exact result that should confirm polyneuropathy.

Prednisolone in tablets, plasmapheresis procedures, intravenous immunoglobulin, thiolepta, vitamin B intramuscularly and in tablets, proserine intramuscularly, mexidol cytoflavin in tablets. That's what I remember.
My strength comes and goes (with physiotherapy), then disappears again. My gait is also sometimes more or less steady, then I get blown over by a light breeze and my legs give way. It depends on the weather, on colds, and even on my mood.
Such falls with fractures like yours are terrifying, of course. I hope you manage to achieve remission!

Natalia, what specific tests did you take? Are they actually called tests for neuroinfections, tick bites etc.?

Marina, you should do physical exercises for your legs. For now passive ones: using your hands or done by another person.
And then try to move your legs yourself, even if they don't move, tension is still created inside. But you have protrusions and osteochondrosis, so it's better to get advice from a specialist. So you don't cause harm.

In diabetes, polyneuropathy is treated primarily by stabilising blood sugar levels.

How are you doing? I've been diagnosed with this. Where should I start with treatment?

Good afternoon! First of all, you need to see an endocrinologist.

I'm doing bee therapy, just finished 10 sessions, the only improvements are that I've stopped swaying and veering off balance, and the hypoxia has gone. I had a terrible lack of oxygen and nausea before - the Botox from my forehead travelled along the nerves to my brain, poisoning me, that's why I have polyneuropathy. We'll see what happens next. But the loss of sensation hasn't returned yet - that's the saddest part.

Who suffers from orthostatic hypotension?
Please respond.

Girls, our Russian doctor, who lives in Germany and has her own clinic there, recommended an IV drip for polyneuropathy to me:

250 ml of saline solution + 10 ml of Dimexide + 2 ampoules of 2 ml each of 2% Procaine + 25 ml of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate solution.

Please, could you tell me, can there be an exacerbation after a Bioven course? And if the scan did not confirm it, but symptoms are present—what could that be?

Sorry, my phone's autocorrect is acting up. If EMG didn't confirm polyneuropathy, but symptoms are present - can that happen?

Have you tried getting this cocktail dripped? Was there any effect?

Hello!
I have medication-induced polyneuropathy in my lower limbs following tuberculosis treatment. I took isoniazid for about half a month, after which MDR-TB was diagnosed, and my treatment regimens were changed. I mainly took Teriz, gatifloxacin, linezolid, pyrazinamide, moxifloxacin, clarithromycin, and doxycycline. By the seventh month of treatment, neuropathy began, feeling particularly acute in the hospital. I was on Neurobine throughout the treatment, and I remember receiving injections and drips of Actovegin, Reosorbilact, Berlition, and I also took Milgamma.

After being discharged, I continued taking moxifloxacin, pyrazinamide, Teriz, and clarithromycin for a year.

The polyneuropathy eased up about 3-4 months after discharge, meaning I could sleep normally at night, and the sharp tingling in my fingers stopped.

I finished taking the medications in the autumn of 2014, but the pain has persisted to this day (I must admit, I've been slacking on taking vitamins—I got tired of swallowing pills, I confess!). I had hoped that over time, the chemicals would wash out of my system... but it's taking so very long... The "socks," or rather "leg warmers" sensation... stiffness in my legs (from the moment I wake up until I fall asleep), occasional cramps, though rarely... and relatively recently, pain started behind my knees... I have a sedentary job, but I try to incorporate some form of exercise—I run, do a bit of stretching (stretching helps quickly but not for long), the "birch" pose, of course, and belly breathing... Overall, the pain fluctuates, sometimes intensifying, sometimes easing; occasionally, I feel life in my legs, but it doesn't last long(((

Please help, advise me on what to do, which vitamins to take. I understand I need to pull myself together and stick to a treatment and exercise routine, not haphazardly as I do now... I'm really fed up with this situation. Of course, it's bearable, but I start to feel depressed when I think about how much time has passed, and yet, nothing has changed.

Greetings, everyone! I'm 55 years old, and it all started in 2014 with severe cramps in my calf muscles. Any sudden movement would trigger them immediately. Following doctors' recommendations, I took magnesium, calcium, and various vitamins, which provided only temporary relief. Then, weakness in my arm muscles began to develop; I couldn't carry a bag for long. After taking Panangin, I felt better, apparently due to a potassium deficiency. Later, sensations of numbness and burning emerged. A neurologist diagnosed polyneuropathy and recommended an electromyography test, which confirmed it. I searched online for experienced neurologists in my city (I live in Yekaterinburg) based on reviews but couldn't find any. Every year, I undergo bioresonance testing at a medical centre. I consulted a specialist, a former neurologist, and am currently undergoing treatment with bioresonance homeopathy and recommended medications (injections). The specialist thoroughly questioned me about all my illnesses since childhood and concluded through bioresonance testing that I have an infectious polyneuropathy that has been present since childhood but manifested in adulthood. There's positive progress in my treatment, and I've been under this specialist's care for a year. A plus is that she also specialises in psychosomatics, and we work through every psychological issue because everything stems from the mind. She says that dwelling on negative situations sets back the treatment. At home, I do a daily warming foot massage, stretch my legs and arms thoroughly, and use tennis balls for back massage. I practice qigong exercises, which are great for stretching the body and are done statically. I wanted to share my experience in case someone finds their right path through it. Wishing everyone success in their progress!