And Then Along Comes Neuropathy

Before I get into the gist of this post let me make it clear that I'm not complaining or looking for sympathy. I learned long ago that you play the hand that fate deals you, hopefully winning more hands than you lose. I've had my share of winning but these last couple of years it seems like that hasn't been the case. 

The string started with botched up cataract surgery in both eyes. No need to get into the detail but suffice it to say that prior to the surgery I didn't need glasses. Immediately after the surgery I was completely dependent on glasses. Then came about six months of being treated for a "knee sprain" which turned out to be bone-on-bone resulting in a total knee replacement. I recovered completely from that and walk without a limp or discomfort. A little over a year ago I underwent a totally unexpected triple by-pass. It was during a routine check up that 85% blockage of all major veins to the heart was discovered. I overcame that and was mowing grass and sawing wood three weeks later.

I turned eighty last December and it was about that time when Maribel and I noticed that I was stumbling frequently and brushing against things when I walked. I didn't pay much attention to that, thinking that maybe it's just a part of getting older. See, that's one of the issues about aging. I've never been eighty before so I don't know what to expect...what's normal versus abnormal? What's treatable versus ya gotta live with it? The stumbling continued and in addition I started experiencing the sensation that my legs were tightly wrapped from the hips down to the toes. It's a weird feeling. And then the night cramps began. They only happened when I was in bed, sleeping. They weren't regular muscle cramps. It felt like ligaments were being pulled apart, especially in the feet and behind the knees. Now I was starting to get worried. I've been physically active and athletic all of my life, and the image of me dependent on a walker or wheel chair is hard for me to deal with. When I explained the symptoms to my primary care doctor two months ago he promptly ordered a nerve conduction study.

A nerve conduction study isn't bad, but it's not a fun thing. In short, a neurologist continually inserts a thin wire probe into specific areas of the feet and legs and looks at a monitor that shows how well information is traveling from the peripheral nervous system to the brain and vice versa. At least that's my understanding of it.  

At the conclusion of the study he told me that I have nerve damage and a condition called peripheral neuropathy. As he explained it, damaged nerves are preventing my lower extremities from communicating properly with my brain, thus my brain is sending faulty information to my legs and feet. Which accounts for the symptoms already mentioned.

There are many possible causes of peripheral neuropathy. Injury is one, diabetes and B12 deficiency are others. I started taking B12 and quickly felt relief from the tightly wrapped feeling, and the night cramps diminished. What hasn't improved is the stumbling. I am also losing the sensation of touch, especially in the feet and lower legs. 

After the nerve conduction study the neurologist wrote a report to my doctor recommending fifteen different blood tests. My doctor and I put them on hold to see if the B12 would continue to relieve the symptoms. It hasn't so yesterday I had three vials of blood drawn. One of the tests is a 'timed test' which means the sample must be examined no later than four hours after being drawn. A technician explained to me that a courier would deliver the sample to a lab in North Carolina for examination. That doesn't make sense to me but I didn't ask questions.

Anyway, in about three weeks all the results will be in. Then I will learn if a cause or causes has been found and more importantly, if its treatable. I'm living a good life and I'd like to see that continue for a few more years on my own two feet.