Nueropothy....no cause?

So I finally had a doctor tell me I have neuropothy in my feet.
Before I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis and tarsal tunnel syndrome. I had surgery on both of my feet. When it did not work, the doctor gave up. Went to my pcp, she sent me to a neurologist who said I can't help you I have no idea. Did not even try anything! Finally went to a pain doctor with unbearable pain, and he prescribed gabapentin which works wonders. He sent me to a neurologist who did the nerve conduction test, but when that came back normal, she said oh you are too young to have neuropothy so I have no idea why you are having pain. Went back to my pain doctor, now all he can do is prescribe gabapentin.
Well I recently had bloodwork done which sent me over the the cancer center. The doctor there was the one to tell me yup you for sure have neuropothy, no idea why no one will tell you this. But of course there is no answer as to why I have it. Thankfully he did not think I had cancer he thinks my platelets were high because of all the pain I am in. Anyways, has anyone else been diagnosed with neuropothy but seem to have no cause? I am not diabetic. But this seems to be getting worse. I am going to UT Soutwestern next because they are medical researchers and I am hoping they will give me the time of day to figure out what is going on. I can't stand the pain anymore, I still have to work! And it seems to be spreading. Ugh.

Porcelain:
From your post it seems that you encountered a failure among your physicians in giving you adequate time to listen to your narrative of neuropathic pain and then offer plausible causes and an understanding of different treatment options. Medical care is increasingly reduced to a 10-15 minute office visit with a prescription for a new medication and the standard closing comment as the physician walks out of the door to “make a follow-up for 4 weeks with the receptionist.”

I agree with Susie that your surgical interventions for plantar fasciitis and tarsal tunnel syndrome can be a possible cause that has contributed to the peripheral neuropathy that you are experiencing. Surgery itself can be a trauma that inflicts damage to delicate peripheral nerve fibers.

Another possible cause for the neuropathy lies in the prior diagnosis of tarsal tunnel syndrome itself. Tarsal tunnel syndrome of the feet is the parallel cousin to carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrists. Peripheral nerves become compressed by the narrow spaces between the tarsal bones of the foot. The posterior tibialis nerve is especially vulnerable to a compression injury.

There are simple things that you can do at home to help quiet the intensity of neuropathic pain in the feet. Key to quieting abberant nerve firing is providing purposeful sensory input into the affected sensory nerves. You can think of neuropathy as an overhead live electrical wire that has been severed by a falling tree during a thunderstorm, the live wire sparking like fireworks. Providing purposeful input into the sparking nerves quiets the erratic electrical impulses. For example:
1. Wrap your feet in a warm towel, similar to bundling or swaddling a crying baby. Secure the warm towel wrap with plastic wrap for a conforming fit and keep on place for 10-15 minutes.
2. Purchase a pair of elastic compression knee high socks, with a low pressure gradient of 8-10 Hg. A gentle, constant pressure/compression soothes erratic nerve impulses.
3. Get a deep, plastic dish pan or tub that is long enough to place your foot into comfortable. Fill the tub with 3-4 inches of children’s sandbox sand or raw white rice grains. Place your foot into the tub and kneed the sand or rice with your intrinsic foot muscles, working your toes and forefoot through the textured sand or rice. Different texture provide unique stimuli into the sensory nerves and serves to calm the erratic efferent nerve output that is neuropathic pain. You can also use the same technique using a dish tub of cool water alternating with a dish tub of warm water. Alternating warm water immersion for 2 minutes with cool water immersion for one minute. The alternating vasodilation and vasoconstriction quiets erratic nerve impulses.
4. Walk across cool grass in your bare feet.
5. Regular walking. Weight bearing quiets overly zealous nerve impulses.

There are several prescription topical creams/ointments that are available by compounding pharmacies for neuropathic pain. These compounded creams usually contain a mixture of lidocaine + gabapentine + a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent (NSAID). My mother has a lower leg neuropathy due to nerve injury during a knee replacement procedure. She finds good benefit with a compounded cream. Ask your pharmacist for available formulations available through your local pharmacy (most likely, you would need a MD written prescription for the particular compounded cream/ointment).

Idiopathic neuropathy is the term used to describe sensory nerve pain of uncertain origin. Type in “idiopathic neuropathy” into your internet browser to better understand the condition and ways that you can ease the discomforts. There is hope.
Karen

yes, all of the above, and alcie right, mri cervical spine can show much, compressions, etc, just had two, I have diabetes with mild nuropathy in legs, however the brain sends the signals. awaiting results. my feet are generally fine, have my moments though. pre diabetes can be an early indicator as well.