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What Causes Sharp Pain And Numbness From Feet To The Hips?
Question: My husband is suffering with sharp jabbing and numbness from his feet to his hips. Both legs. He has trouble walking and his balance is compromised. He suffers from severe torticoliis and wears a foam collar 24/7. He's also diabetic, and wears a pacemaker to control his A-fib and CHF. His pain doc has him on Percocet and Gabapetin to treat his neck. They help his neck pain, but do not ease his leg pain. He's questioned several of his docs to no avail. Says it's due to his diabetes and age. He's 73. Any opinion?
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Since he is a diabetic it is well possible that the symptoms be due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy. However every hypothesis should be confirmed by appropriate tests when possible. Peripheral neuropathy should be confirmed by nerve conduction studies and when there is doubt lumbar spine MRI may also be required to exclude spinal canal stenosis. So without knowing the results of such tests it's hard to be sure about the diagnosis, can say only that it is well possible.
As for treating it Gabapentin is a good first choice. I do not know what dosage is he under, if low and not working it can be increased, can go up to 2400 m/d (though I usually do not go over 1800). If it still doesn't work (or dose increase is not tolerated) than the other option are antidepressants used for neuropathic pain such as Duloxetine. It is also a first choice drug and in addition it can be combined with Gabapentin.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Since he is a diabetic it is well possible that the symptoms be due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy. However every hypothesis should be confirmed by appropriate tests when possible. Peripheral neuropathy should be confirmed by nerve conduction studies and when there is doubt lumbar spine MRI may also be required to exclude spinal canal stenosis. So without knowing the results of such tests it's hard to be sure about the diagnosis, can say only that it is well possible.
As for treating it Gabapentin is a good first choice. I do not know what dosage is he under, if low and not working it can be increased, can go up to 2400 m/d (though I usually do not go over 1800). If it still doesn't work (or dose increase is not tolerated) than the other option are antidepressants used for neuropathic pain such as Duloxetine. It is also a first choice drug and in addition it can be combined with Gabapentin.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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