[ul]
[li]toes are numb but I can still feel them[/li][li]rubbing the top of the foot hurts and feels numb, some swelling[/li][li]soles of feet feel like I’ve been caned, hurts to walk and put pressure on them (not the arches)[/li][li]burning sensation[/li][li]varying degrees, sometimes okay, sometimes goes halfway up my legs[/li][li]severe cramping (also happens in my hands)[/li][/ul]
I told my doctor (this is my new one after I fired my old one) and she had no idea, but asked if I was experiencing numbness anywhere else. I wasn’t at the time. Now my fingertips are numb, and so are my lips.
Which kind of doctor should I be talking to about this?
Did she not order any tests at all? Ultrasound? Blood count? Blood sugar? Electrolytes? Thyroid levels? Vascular study? Neuro exam? Really, it sounds like it’s still in the GP (General Practitioner, or Family Doctor) realm until it can be narrowed down just a little bit.
When a doctor doesn’t seem to want to do anything about my problems, I generally ask her, “So what should I be looking out for? What symptoms should you know about, and when should I be concerned?”
I guess, if you’re otherwise happy with her and don’t want to press the issue, a podiatrist is as good as anyone else to start with. Podiatrists often see people without a referral. But since it’s progressed to involve your lips, it’s clearly not just a podiatry issue. But perhaps she’ll be more cooperative about steering you in the right direction.
Personally, I’d want to see a neurologist first, but most of them require a referral from your Primary Care Provider and tests to do done before they even visit with you.
No. Now if the toe was swollen, Goutbusters would’ve worked …
NOT a podiatrist. NOT NOT NOT.
Start off calling back your GP and informing her of the new symptoms. Neurologist sounds right but a revisit with a good neuro exam, making sure you have no unusual exposures or other signs that would suggest some other specific cause, by your GP will likely be able to happen more quickly and is indicated. Agreed that it sounds like a peripheral neuropathy and that DM is a common cause of that. But there is a long list.
I will do this. All of this came out after I’d had all my bloodwork done (first visit), twice (second visit; they were surprised at some of my results), and I do have some other issues, but the feet and numbness weren’t in the lab results and the fingertips and lips weren’t a symptom at the time. I specifically asked about diabetes and was told I was not diabetic or prediabetic, but that I was “borderline”.
Yeah I was pretty sure a podiatrist wasn’t the right answer, but orthopedic surgeon, osteopath, chiropractic, etc., were recommended, and I didn’t know who to call. What is an osteopath?
My mother has neuropathy in her feet and can barely tolerate the soles of her feet even touching the floor. I’m not that bad yet, but then, my mother doesn’t have numb fingertips and lips either. Oh, the tip of my tongue too. But I can still taste and feel.
The feet over the course of many months. I wasn’t even aware something was wrong until it started getting worse. Then the fingertips, lips, and tongue, all within about a week recently. Also, to others, there is no lack of circulation.
Thanks. I was wondering about Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome, the least uncommon hereditary neuropathy. I don’t know enough about it, or other neuropathies, to say how the timing fits, and I am not qualified to make that diagnosis, but it will be something that will get considered by the neurologist when you get there.
An osteopath (I realize I missed answering that) is a physician who trained at an osteopathic school rather than at a more traditional medical school and thus has “D.O.” after his/her name rather than “M.D.” - in practicality no other difference in today’s world. The osteopathic schools used to spend a bunch of energy on musculoskeletal diagnosis and manipulation and were certainly more primary care focused but they’re pretty much identical to traditional medical schools now and create graduates who go into primary care and specialities just like other medical schools. An osteopath is not a particular specialist.
Stay the hell away from chiropractors; most of what they do is quackery and nothing they do would help with what you’re describing. The problem with orthos and the like is they always seem to want to operate. Get a diagnosis first from a neurologist.
Thank you everyone, I will see if I can consult a neurologist. That’s what I needed to know. I can’t afford going to doctor after doctor. Nothing is spreading, yet. Just the fingertips, lips, tip of the tongue, in addition to the foot issues, which are all maintaining. No worse, no better.
Edit: and yes; chiropractors are crap. One tried to cure my asthma as a kid and when it wasn’t working, the “doc” said it was because my mother didn’t believe enough.
