Feet Tingling and burning... what do i do?

[egello]

anyone experience this? since i did predisone while recovering from PCP, my feet has been tingling,, and now after a month later, my feet burns and my lower legs tingle.

last night, it burned so much that i had hard time going to sleep. it could be enhanced by the testosterone or the hiv meds... arghh... this sucks

i feel like a huge weight is all placed on my feet.

what do you guys all do about this?

[Tucsonwoody]

Any chance it could be this?

Peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy results from injury to the peripheral nerves in the body. These nerves carry signals between the central nervous system (the brain and spinal column) and the muscles, skin, and internal organs. When peripheral neuropathy first develops, people often report a tingling or prickling in the toes, although it can also start in the fingers. Over time, the tingling gradually spreads up the feet or hands and worsens into a burning, shooting, and/or throbbing pain. People who have severe peripheral neuropathy may experience extreme pain and may have difficulty walking, sometimes requiring the assistance of a cane or wheelchair to move around.

More info at: http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/1025_6910.shtml

[aztecan]

Sounds like PN to me. That's how mine started, with tingling on the bottom of my feet, then on top, then numbness on the tops of my feet, then tingling in my lower legs.

So far, that's as far as its gone. Mine improved when I stopped taking the statin my doctor prescribed.

Luckily, I must have caught it before it could progress futher. It still acts up once in a while, but not as bad as it was.

Talk to you doctor about this. There are some treatments being employed that may help.

HUGS,

Mark

[allanq]

This definitely sounds like peripheral neuropathy. I don't know if prednisone can cause neuropathy, but there are HIV drugs that definitely do cause it: ddI and d4T (aka Videx and Zerit). Are you on either of these two drugs?

Have you seen your doctor about this? If not, don't delay in seeing him or her. Your doctor can help give you a definite diagnosis and find substitute drugs, if indeed you are taking any that are contributing to the neuropathy. Getting off those drugs as soon as possible will provide relief.

There are a number of medications, such as Neurontin and Elavil, that can provide relief from the pain of neuropathy. They haven't helped me too much, but that's not to say that they won't help you. There's also a drug called Lyrica that was recently approved for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.

I've had neuropathy for over ten years. It was very bad at first, but it's gotten better over the years. I know how painful this is, and I hope you'll find relief soon.

Allan

[Robert]

Hi ello.

LIke the others have said, it sounds like PN.  I also got it recovering from PCP and starting the meds.  LIke Mark, it only went so far....my feet and that's about it.  IT's there everyday.  The worst time is in the morning when I wake up.  When I get out of bed, I can't walk.  I lean into the wall for support then take my first step.  After that, it's fine.

As far as I can tell, there is really no cure.  <sigh>

robert

[egello]

i talked to my doctor about it last time i saw him, but he said that the meds i am on currently shouldn't cause that, and i said ok because it was just tingling sensation.

but since yesterday, it became sorta burning and veiny, harmm,,, whats going on with my body,,, those veins are like Borg's (from start track) tubes that run around their body.

btw, i am on

mepron
androgel
truvada
norvir
rayataz
famvir
fluconozole
azithromycin

could it be that i started working out since mondya? somehow making it worse?

is this fatal?

[Lisa]

Not likely fatal, but you should keep tabs on whether the sensation gets worse, or travels further up your legs. I'm not trying to frighten you, but this was the very sensation that signaled the need to stop taking my first drug coctail. The Zerit caused significant damage. By the time I came off the first coctail, and changed to another, it took several months for the nerve endings to repair.
I can only describe the pain as exquisite.
BE your own advocate, and don't let the doctor blow you off.

[Robert]

That you can exercse so soon after your PCP says wonders about your own strength.  I seriously doubt your PN has anything to do with going to the gym.  I've got the same symptoms as you and I couldn't exericse for 3 years.

Remember, because of HIV you have a compromised immune system.  You are suspectible to a lot more maladies and PN is one of them.  Just keep your fingers crossed that it will never get worse.  That's what I do.

robert

[egello]

do you think that the combo of hiv meds that i am taking is cauing my PN to heighten?

it all started with predisone

this feels so werid and this really sucks,,

yeah, i konw Robert, the doctor said that i am doing very well. btw, i never get or got cold or any sickness before my thrush, pcp and stomach problems, ALL MY LIFE, well except in my smoking days.

during my pcp induced hospital stay, my oxygen intake was at 50 percent... so thats why they gave me predisone.

my current strength level is very high actually, all feeling sorta unanatural, it must be the testosterone, or all the antibiotic and antiviral has killed off some major gunk in my digestive track because my stool has been contstanly firm, long and hard lately, so i am digesting all the food i am taking in fully. I do get these werid extreme fatigue, but right away something else kicks in in my system and gives me this burst of energy. Yeah, its werid.

Regarding working, same thing, as soon as I relax when I start getting bit tired, i get another burst of energy.

I am sorta getting addicted to it almost. This is me who didn't take even advil before I got ill.

Anyways, I am rambling because i am feeling so weird lately, almost too good that its bad? Should I be in bed all sick because thats what i was realy expecting.

oh well

[IzPoz]

Predisone is a steroid that is used to open air passageways, as well as many other things such as treating Bells Palsy.  I would do what the others have suggested and talk to the doctor about what could be causing your PN symptoms.  Speaking second-hand about this, but I watched my late husband go through excruciating pain... so don't let this get too far.  Research your current cocktail and see if any of those could be a possible factor.

I hope you find the cause soon, and I hope it gets better for you.

Be well.

[J.R.E.]

Hello Egello,

When My PN started, the doctor sent me to a neurologist, for a Electromyography & nerve conduction study. that was back in 2004.


NERVE CONDUCTION STUDIES

This is a test of the peripheral nerves in the arms legs and face to determine nerve damage, pinched nerves, entrapped nerves, peripheral neuropathies, etc.

The procedure I had took approx. 30 to 40 minutes. Recording electrodes are placed on your skin and the technician uses a handheld device, to shock the nerve.  The shocks begin at a light level, and are gradually increased to a minimum appropriate level of stimulation. All main sensory and motor nerves are tested.

After the test, they will inform you if some nerve damage has occurred. It was not all that uncomfortable for me to take this test. My PN, was very painful back in early 2004. I still  have some uncomfortable days, but most of the time it is somewhat tolerable. I still live with it everyday, but I am not currently taking anything for it.


I would assume that your doctor, should probably refer you to a neurologist, so that the test I listed above can be done.

 
What are your current numbers Egello ? CD-4 count, Viral load ?


As Robert mentioned: "You are suspectible to a lot more maladies and PN is one of them.  Just keep your fingers crossed that it will never get worse.  That's what I do."




Ray

[AustinWesley]

I agree with what the others have told you.   I had these symptoms off and on for a couple months and I was nearly certain I had PN.   But, then it faded away.

I wasn't horrible in my situation, more anoying.  I didn't bother looking into it further, but I'd fractured one foot years ago and the other one was severely sprained a year ago.   The sprain was actually worse than the break.

Anyways, I wondered if it was likely I'd had some nerve damage from those previous injuries.   I was newly diagnosed when I had these symptoms of burning and tingling feet, especially at nite when I was trying to get to sleep.   I had a lot of symptoms when I went through that seroconversion and my system was fairly run down at the time.

I can't answer your med question, but I can tell ya my symtoms went away after I started feeling more myself.   My doctor said the symtoms I describe sounded to him like PN, but because I was so recently diag. he didn't feel it was HIV related.

Anyways, I know it kind of freaked me out at the time, but gone now so I'm not gona worry bout it.

On a semi related topic, my mom claims that the Fish Oil she's taking helped her arthritis in her feet and legs.   I've been sort of taking it here and there so anyone have any thoughts on that?

[Londonguy]

Ah crap I'm worried.  My right foot is tingling after 3 days on my meds.  Am I worrying too soon about PN?  At first I thought I had pins and needles in my foot but it lasted for about half an hour.  Then it went away, now a few hours later it's tingling again.  It's not painful, just annoying.  I read the 3TC in Kivexa can sometimes cause this.  I'm trying not to get too concerned but I take it this is something I should be keeping an eye on?  And it was all going so well....

[AustinWesley]

Hey London,

I'm not on meds, but pehaps others might best answer your med related questions.

I had this problem over a month and a half out of the blue.    I guess PN is something common in people with HIV.   

I think there are some newer drugs out now that are supposed to actually work at repairing nerve damage.   I was gona do a clinical trial for one, but then it just vanished.

I wouldn't panic over it, but would definitely check in with your doc. to see if that's a common side effect and perhaps make and apt. with a neurologist to check it out if it continues.

Wesley

[Ihavehope]

I had problems walking because I felt my feet numb in November and my knees also hurt alot. It lasted for almost a month and thought it was going to be permanent. At that time I didn't know I was poz but that is the reason why I decided to get tested. The pain and numbness went away on it's own. I started to eat healthier and took my multivitamains in November so maybe that helps.

[shepsmom]

Are you a diabetic? Prednisone and/or cortsone can cause a spike in blood sugar levels. Maybe you have adult onset diabetes. Have your sugar checked asap.

[egello]

i am not diabetic and once the testosterone shot level went out of my system, the food pain isn't as strong.

i think predisone in Dec. must have damaged some nerves because the foot tingling / pain really started back then...

[Nico]

Egello,
Suggest you see the doc and a neurologist for tests.  I got PN on '03 taking D4t (Zerit).  My feet and fingers burned like when your leg or arm falls asleep, but it was all the time. 

My doc pulled me off it, although it was kicking my HIV, and changed me over to Trizivir/Norvir/Reyataz.  I still have problems 3 1/2 years later.  I take hydrocodone when needed and the least amount necessary.  I was offered this week to apply to a clinical study for PN. 

Well, there is quite a bit of paperwork and the jist is applying Capsasian patches to the affected areas.  That is the short version.  I am not sure after reading all the fine print, I will do it, but the pain is not fun as you know. 

See if your doc will prescribe a light narcotic to help take the edge off.  I know how this feels and even worse when I travel and walk Hartfields Airport each week.

Hope you feel better.

Roger

[shepsmom]

Just read about a study in todays paper-smoking pot 3 times a day made the control groups pn better