Q: I'm a person with peripheral neuropathy. I have tolerated the condition for two years, but now I have a hard time walking without pain.
Can you provide any advice and information?
A: Neuropathy means "nerve illness." The "periphery" of peripheral neuropathy indicates that the nerves are not in the brain or spinal cord; they're nerves, mostly in the legs or arms, that carry messages from the brain to muscles that make the muscles move. A disturbance of these motor nerves leads to muscle weakness. Or they're nerves from the skin and sensory organs that tell the brain how the body feels. A defect in these sensory nerves leads to pain or numbness.
Leg pain -- burning, shocking, stabbing or aching -- is a common neuropathy sign. One or more of the sensory nerves to your leg is on the blink. If a motor nerve is involved, it makes it difficult for a person to lift his foot off the ground when taking a step -- foot drop.
Diabetes, deficiency of vitamin B-12, hereditary conditions and a misguided attack on nerves by the immune system are some of the causes of neuropathy.
Many of the medicines to treat sensory neuropathy were originally designed for other purposes, but they have been found to have pain-easing properties as well. The seizure-control medicines Lyrica and Neurontin can deaden neuropathic pain, as can antidepressants such as amitriptyline and Effexor. Lidocaine is a pain-
numbing agent that comes in a patch applied directly to the skin.
Call the Neuropathy Association at 1-888-763-2287 or visit www.
neuropathy.org. The association will keep you current on any breakthroughs in treatment.
Q: I was hospitalized for cellulitis of my leg. I am now home but getting IV antibiotics at a clinic. My leg is swollen, aches and is red. I asked how I got the problem and what it is, but the explanation wasn't satisfactory. Please tell me how I contracted this.
A: Cellulitis is an infection of skin cells and the tissues beneath the skin. The staph and strep bacteria are the germs most often involved. They're all over the place. They enter the skin cells through a break in the skin; the break can be so small that it goes unnoticed.
The infection spreads rapidly. The skin turns red and feels hot. The leg (or arm or whatever) swells and is very painful.
Antibiotics are the cure. While you are home, keep your leg elevated to reduce the swelling. Time, along with the antibiotics, will eventually rid you of symptoms.
Dr. Donohue answers letters only in his North America Syndicate column but provides an order form of available health newsletters. Write him at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, Fla. 32853-6475.