Need help--New with UC and Neuropathy Issue

I have UC since May, 2014. I was doing well on ASACOL in remission since July, 2014. I developed pins and needles and neuropathy in scalp, feet and legs in January, 2015. Weird feeling like something is biting you or pinched cold feeling. It is painful like something is zapping you. Even hard to describe what I am feeling. Neurologist did CAT scan, X-Rays of spine and Brain MRI, Nerve and Muscle study and they all came normal. He thinks small nerve neuropathy or side effect of ASACOL or Fibermylagia. GI doctor changed the med to Azathiprine 50mg (I am 92lb) and will increase slowly. I am on this med for 2 wks and saw blood today and having pain in the tail bone area. Little upset stomach too. Left a message for GI. Have to up the dose.
How long I should wait to see whether I had a side effect of ASACOL or not? Any ideas? I am still suffering with Nueropathy and taking Gabapendine for last couple of months.
I am in MA. I am calling around to get skin biopsy done to determine small nerve nueropathy and only two hospitals do that test. Does anyone has this condition? I do not want to be special, you know...

If you have Fibro, that's a separate issue....but can be exacerbated by salicylates from what I've read.
I wouldn't say that your neuropathy is caused by Asacol, however.

Have you had vitamin D and B vitamins bloodwork checked? What's your latest bloodwork results on anything?

Make sure you get copies of absolutely ALL testing results you've had done.

q

All blood work came normal. All x-rays (Spine, cervical and lumber) and MRI (Brain) are normal too. Neurologist suspects "Small Fiber Neuropathy". He is not sure about Fibro. Made appointment with Neuromuscular doctor in Mass General. I do see GI in Bringham and Women's.
Can another disease develop so quickly? I am diagnosed with UC last year in April and I am dealing with Nueropathy since Dec. 2014. Until UC diagnosis, I was very healthy..ate right, exercise etc. Never took any medicines besides antibiotic when I went to India in 2012. From what I read "SFN" is very painful too and have no cure. I have not learned in and outs of UC yet either. Scared about living with challenges.

Some folks with neuropathy need much higher dose of gabapentin, which can be taken at bedtime (or 8pm) to avoid side effects of brain fog. So 300 x 3 sounds like it's not enough....

Hope you feel better soon.

I get peripheral neuropathy from Mezavant (5-ASA). I also get it from other products containing salicylates, such as Slippery Elm and Pepto-bismol (bis muth subsalicylate). It was bad enough that I would stop taking the 5-ASA - until UC symptoms returned. I would then resume the meds until the pain once again became unbearable, and so on. I was seriously considering having my colon removed as the only possible choice. Fortunately I tried Curcumin, which put me into remission for four years.

That's over now, which is why I'm back browsing these pages. Looks like I'll be shopping around for a new herbal anti-inflammatory. Good luck, shortwoman. I'm hoping you find something that works for you. I don't advise anybody to try my way, as it doesn't work for everybody - in fact not even for me anymore!

Slippery Elm worked like a charm, every bit as good as the Mezavant. Unfortunately it hurts so bad I can't take it.