Focus On Neuropathy 2013

Springtime is neuropathy time, at least as far as many neuropathy organisations are concerned. Many choose May to focus on neuropathy issues in their conferences, or on special weeks/days and it may be worth keeping an eye out for the results of the two mentioned here. The first is a conference organised by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and is a conference mainly for professionals. The results and outcomes may well have a direct bearing on developments in our disease in the future. The second is the annual neuropathy awareness week, organised by the neuropathy association (probably the largest such association in the world). Following this site in the next couple of months, will provide many useful articles about many aspects of neuropathy in 2013.

About NeuPSIG 2013

The Special Interest Group on Neuropathic Pain (NeuPSIG), of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), is proud to announce its fourth international meeting. For more information on NeuPSIG please visit www.neupsig.org

The first three NeuPSIG meetings were held in Madrid, Spain, in 2004 , Germany in 2007 and Athens, Greece, in 2010. Since then, there have been many exciting new developments in science and in patient care. Updates on present evidence-based research and medicine will be covered by world-renowned experts. There will be ample time for discussion during the workshops.

http://www2.kenes.com/neuropathic/pages/home.aspx
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LET’S FIGHT FOR A FUTURE WITHOUT NEUROPATHY DURING OUR “2013 NEUROPATHY AWARENESS WEEK” CAMPAIGN

More than 20,000,000--or 1 in 15--Americans are afflicted by neuropathy, and many of them do not even know they have it. Even though it is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and one of the most common chronic neurological diseases, neuropathy is often misunderstood, misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed, and inadequately treated. However, early diagnosis and treatment is critical to preventing and slowing the progression of neuropathy.

Since 1995, The Neuropathy Association has been working to change the public’s perception of neuropathy and help patients, health care providers, and the public at large understood the true scope of this debilitating disease. And since 2005, The Neuropathy Association has annually designated the third week of May as Neuropathy Awareness Week on the federal government’s calendar of National Health Observances.

We recognize that neuropathy is a 24/7/365 battle for more than 20,000,000 people in the U.S.…until we find better treatments and cures for neuropathy, every week is Neuropathy Awareness Week, every day is Neuropathy Awareness Day. And, so our mission is 24/7/365; but during Neuropathy Awareness Week, we push ourselves and our community—patients, caregivers, and professionals—to help us take neuropathy awareness to the next level. Awareness and understanding of this disease—and its impact—are the drivers for allocating more funding for neuropathy research, developing more programs for the neuropathy community, and, ultimately, finding more therapies and cures.

During Neuropathy Awareness Week, let’s fight neuropathy together by:

- recognizing the early symptoms and signs of neuropathy;

- getting an early and accurate diagnosis and treatments by working with expert health
care professionals to prevent and/or minimize progression of neuropathy and its complications; and


- helping the public learn about neuropathy and its risk factors.

Visit www.neuropathy.org in the coming weeks for information on Neuropathy Awareness Week events, media opportunities, and other ways to get involved!

http://www.neuropathy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Neuropathy_Week

Neuropathic Pain Whats Going On

Today's excellent post from painblogr.org (see link below) looks at the nature of pain and may well help you understand what's happening to you when you suffer from nerve pain. It's a confusing area (every neuropathy patient will testify to that) but this article explains the basics of pain in such a way that the reader can go:'ok, so that's what's happening inside my brain'. Believe me, every consultation with a doctor or specialist will be a lot clearer if you've already absorbed this basic information. Worth a read.

Explainer: what is pain and what is happening when we feel it?
Lorimer Moseley Posted on: November 19, 2015

“If someone has a pain in his hand […] one does not comfort the hand, but the sufferer.” – Philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1953

What is pain? It might seem like an easy question. The answer, however, depends on who you ask.

Some say pain is a warning signal that something is damaged, but what about pain-free major trauma? Some say pain is the body’s way of telling you something is wrong, but what about phantom limb pain, where the painful body part is not even there?

Pain scientists are reasonably agreed that pain is an unpleasant feeling in our body that makes us want to stop and change our behaviour. We no longer think of pain as a measure of tissue damage – it doesn’t actually work that way even in highly controlled experiments. We now think of pain as a complex and highly sophisticated protective mechanism.
How does pain work?

Our body contains specialised nerves that detect potentially dangerous changes in temperature, chemical balance or pressure. These “danger detectors” (or “nociceptors”) send alerts to the brain, but they cannot send pain to the brain because all pain is made by the brain.

When you’re injured, the brain makes an educated guess which part of the body is in danger and produces the pain there. Pain is not actually coming from the wrist you broke, or the ankle you sprained. Pain is the result of the brain evaluating information, including danger data from the danger detection system, cognitive data such as expectations, previous exposure, cultural and social norms and beliefs, and other sensory data such as what you see, hear and otherwise sense.

The brain produces pain. Where in the body the brain produces the pain is a “best guess scenario”, based on all the incoming data and stored information. Usually the brain gets it right, but sometimes it doesn’t. An example is referred pain in your leg when it is your back that might need the protecting.

It is pain that tells us not to do things – for example, not to lift with an injured hand, or not to walk with an injured foot. It is pain, too, that tells us to do things – see a physio, visit a GP, sit still and rest.

We now know that pain can be “turned on” or “turned up” by anything that provides the brain with credible evidence that the body is in danger and needs protecting.

All in your head?

So is pain all about the brain and not at all about the body? No, these “danger detectors” are distributed across almost all of our body tissues and act as the eyes of the brain.

When there is a sudden change in tissue environment – for example, it heats up, gets acidic (cyclists, imagine the lactic acid burn at the end of a sprint), is squashed, squeezed, pulled or pinched – these danger detectors are our first line of defence.

They alert the brain and mobilise inflammatory mechanisms that increase blood flow and cause the release of healing molecules from nearby tissue, thus triggering the repair process.

Local anaesthetic renders these danger detectors useless, so danger messages are not triggered. As such, we can be pain-free despite major tissue trauma, such as being cut into for an operation. Just because pain comes from the brain, it doesn’t mean it’s all in your head.

Inflammation, on the other hand, renders these danger detectors more sensitive, so they respond to situations that are not actually dangerous. For example, when you move an inflamed joint, it hurts a long way before the tissues of the joint are actually stressed.

Danger messages travel to the brain and are highly processed along the way, with the brain itself taking part in the processing. The danger transmission neurones that run up the spinal cord to the brain are under real-time control from the brain, increasing and decreasing their sensitivity according to what the brain suggests would be helpful.

So, if the brain’s evaluation of all available information leads it to conclude that things are truly dangerous, then the danger transmission system becomes more sensitive (called descending facilitation). If the brain concludes things are not truly dangerous, then the danger transmission system becomes less sensitive (called descending inhibition).

Danger evaluation in the brain is mindbogglingly complex. Many brain regions are involved, some more commonly that others, but the exact mix of brain regions varies between individuals and, in fact, between moments within individuals.

To understand how pain emerges into consciousness requires us to understand how consciousness itself emerges, and that is proving to be very tricky.

To understand how pain works in real-life people with real-life pain, we can apply a reasonably easy principle: any credible evidence that the body is in danger and protective behaviour would be helpful will increase the likelihood and intensity of pain. Any credible evidence that the body is safe will decrease the likelihood and intensity of pain. It is as simple and as difficult as that. 

Implications

To reduce pain, we need to reduce credible evidence of danger and increase credible evidence of safety. Danger detectors can be turned off by local anaesthetic, and we can also stimulate the body’s own danger-reduction pathways and mechanisms. This can be done by anything that is associated with safety – most obviously accurate understanding of how pain really works, exercise, active coping strategies, safe people and places.

A very effective way to reduce pain is to make something else seem more important to the brain – this is called distraction. Only being unconscious or dead provide greater pain relief than distraction.

In chronic pain the sensitivity of the hardware (the biological structures) increases so the relationship between pain and the true need for protection becomes distorted: we become over-protected by pain.

This is one significant reason there is no quick fix for nearly all persistent pains. Recovery requires a journey of patience, persistence, courage and good coaching. The best interventions focus on slowly training our body and brain to be less protective.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article here.

The article is the first in our series on Pain. Further articles will explore who pain affects, how we describe and experience pain across cultures and genders, and the effect of chronic pain on the economy.

Lorimer Moseley, is Professor of Clinical Neurosciences and Foundation Chair in Physiotherapy, University of South Australia

http://painblogr.org/explainer-what-is-pain-and-what-is-happening-when-we-feel-it

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES ACTING ON FINGERS

ACTEA SPICATA 3X- Rheumatism of the finger joints. The joints swell after a little exertion

AGARICUS MUS 30- Fingers becomes weak, unable to hold things properly and the things fall unconsciously

APIS MEL. 30- Numbness of the hands and tips of the fingers

ARGENTUM METALLICUM 30- Paralysis of fingers due to paralysis of the forearm

BERBERIS VULGARIUS 30- Neuralgia under the finger nails with swelling of the finger joints

BORAX 3X- Itching on the back of finger joints. Feeling of stinging in the fingers

CAULOPHYLLUM 3X- Changing pain in fingers and toes . Stiffness of the joints and fingers. Cutting pains on closing the hands

CINA 30-Boring of fingers in the nostrils

ELAPS COR 30- Skin peels off on the tip of fingers

GRAPHITES 30- Cracks and fissures on the ends of the fingers and between toes

HYPERICUM PERF. 3X- Injuries and crushing of fingers

LAUROCERASUS 30- Swelling of fingers which usually occurs in heart and lung diseases., clubbed fingers

LEDUM PAL 10M- This remedy relieves the pain from getting  a foreign body under the fingers nails almost instantly

NATRUM MURIATICUM 30- Fingers cannot hold things.Dryness and cracking about finger nails.  Numbness and tingling in the fingers. Skin peels off partly at the root of the finger nail. Skin around nails dry and cracked

PETROLEUM 30-Cracks at the tips of the fingers and on the back of hands

PROPHYLAMINUM Q- Tingling and numbness of fingers. Rheumatism, a needle held, feels too heavy. 10-15 drops in half a glass of water, a teaspoonful dose every 2 hours

RHUS TOXICODENDRON 30-Loss of power in  forearms and fingers. Crawling sensation in the tip of fingers

SARSAPARILLA 30- Burning on the sides of the fingers and toes. Ulceration around ends of the fingers. Deep cracks in the fingers and toes

SILICEA 30- Tip of the fingers are dry. The patient has to moisten them often by licking. Cracks at the ends

THUJA OCCIDENTALIS 30- Tip of the fingers toughened , feel dead. Writers cramps in fingers

The War On Illegal Medications

Today's post from the always excellent pain-topics.org (see link below) talks about the world-wide closing down of internet medication sales sites thanks to an FDA and Interpol initiative. It's especially important for people living with neuropathy, who have searched for treatments and 'cures' across the Net because they're just not available via the normal system. Desperation does that to people but it's important to know that the amount of fake medicines via online sites is staggering. Buying drugs in this manner can really put your health at risk; either because the drugs are worthless, or are too strong and remember, many of these internet pharmacies are run by unscrupulous people who are just after your money. For people with severe neuropathy, the temptation to order strong pain killers online because of the new restrictions via chemists and doctors can be very strong but it is very dangerous.

FDA Trounces Illegal Online Pharmacies
Posted by SB. Leavitt, MA, PhDFriday, June 28, 2013


According to a news release [here], the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in partnership with international regulatory and law enforcement agencies from 99 participating countries, took action against more than 9,600 websites that illegally sell potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription medicines to consumers. These actions include the issuance of regulatory warnings, and seizure of offending websites and more than $41-million worth of illegal medicines worldwide.

The action occurred as part of the 6th annual International Internet Week of Action (IIWA), a global cooperative effort to combat the online sale and distribution of potentially counterfeit and illegal medical products. As part of this year’s international effort — called “Operation Pangea VI” — the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, in coordination with the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado, seized and shut down 1,677 illegal pharmacy websites during June 18-25, 2013.

Many of those websites appeared to be operating as a part of an organized criminal network that falsely purported its websites to be “Canadian Pharmacies.” These websites displayed fake licenses and certifications to convince U.S. consumers to purchase drugs they advertised as “brand name” and “FDA approved.” The drugs confiscated as part of Operation Pangea were not from Canada, and were neither brand name nor FDA approved. These websites also used certain major U.S. pharmacy retailer names to trick consumers into believing an affiliation existed with these retailers.

The FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations Cybercrime Investigations Unit banner is now displayed on seized websites to help consumers identify them as illegal. Here are some examples:
> http://www.canadianhealthandcaremall.com/
> http://www.walgreens-store.com
> http://www.c-v-s-pharmacy.com

During Operation Pangea VI, the largest Internet-based action of its kind, the FDA targeted websites selling unapproved and potentially dangerous prescription medicines that could pose significant public health risks. Products purchased from the websites targeted during Operation Pangea also bypassed existing safety controls required by the FDA, and the protections provided when used under a doctor’s care.

The goal of Pangea VI, which involved law enforcement, customs, and regulatory authorities from 99 countries, was to identify the makers and distributors of illegal drug products and medical devices and remove those products from the supply chain. Some of the medicines that were sold illegally by the targeted websites included: Avandaryl (glimepiride and rosiglitazone), “Generic Celebrex,” “Levitra Super Force” and “Viagra Super Force,” Clozaril (clozapine), and many others sold as pain relievers, sleep aids, hormone replacement therapies, antidepressants, etc.

In addition to health risks, these illegitimate pharmacies pose non-health-related risks to consumers, including credit card fraud, identity theft, or computer viruses. The FDA encourages consumers to report suspected criminal activity at www.fda.gov/oci. The FDA provides consumers with information to identify an illegal pharmacy website and advice on how to find a safe online pharmacy through BeSafeRx: Know Your Online Pharmacy, plus there is important information for consumers in this regard at Pain-Topics.org [here].

COMMENTARY: The above news release tells the story — and, we would add, “Bravo!” It is time that the worldwide plague of illegitimate online pharmacies is recognized as a form of international terrorism — a growing threat to public health and safety.

Of particular concern for the pain field, the spate of alleged analgesics — including bogus opioids in many cases — proffered by these unscrupulous website operators can be harmful to unwary consumers and it also floods communities with illicit drugs that may be misused and abused. Since the origins of these fugitive drugs are often unknown, they may be erroneously assumed to be diverted from legitimate prescribing and distribution channels; thus tarnishing the reputations of law-abiding prescribers, pharmacies, and wholesalers — as well as patients with pain.

Taking action against nearly 10,000 felonious websites worldwide, as happened this month, sounds impressive; yet, this is a proverbial “drop in the bucket,” since a single offending operation may have hundreds of interconnected sites. It is unfortunate that government funds and resources must be dedicated to chasing down and trouncing these online operations, but it is tax-payer money well spent. The FDA should be commended for these actions in helping to safeguard the public and, in particular, the pain community.

http://updates.pain-topics.org/2013/06/fda-trounces-illegal-online-pharmacies.html

Dr Oz On Neuropathy Vid

Today's short video is a cut from a Dr. Mehmet Oz programme in which he explains neuropathy and especially diabetic neuropathy both simply and well. Worth a view over your coffee; it may give you some information you don't already have.


Peripheral neuropathy and hair loss
ABC video 1 April 2014

Dr. Oz answers audience questions regarding pain due to peripheral neuropathy and hair loss.




 http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=8351268

Happy Holidays Dont let Xmas get on your nerves!

Tingle Bells, Tingle Bells...

Today, all this blog wishes for those living with neuropathic problems of any sort and for whatever cause, is a relaxed and symptom-free day. Try to let all the stress wash over your head and keep the pills close at hand...and if the family and guests don't like it...

Xmas greetings from Dave R and www.neuropathyandhiv.blogspot.com

Concentrating On Your Own Neuropathic Problem Vid

Today's short video post from the useful beatingneuropathy.tv (see link below) series by Dr John Hayes, talks about how important it is to resist the temptations of medical advertising and concentrate on what really is good for you and treating your problem. We are flooded with remedies for this and that and are often tempted to try this one or the other but then we don't stop and end up taking countless pills a day without remembering the original reason why. Almost everything you put in your mouth to try to help with neuropathy symptoms should be discussed with your doctor and remember, if supplements and the rest don't work, don't continue to take them. Concentrate on what really is good for you and really addresses your problem and follow your doctor or specialist's advice.


Episode 29 – Focusing on Health!Posted by John Hayes Jr Thursday, October 10th, 2013

Dr. Hayes talks about how easy it is to get wrapped up in diagnoses and prescriptions–don’t focus on what you have, focus on your overall health!




http://beatingneuropathy.tv/2013/10/episode-28/

FIRST WHO REPORT ON SUICIDE PREVENTION

More than 800 000 people die by suicide every year – around one person every 40 seconds, according to WHO's first global report on suicide prevention, published today. Some 75% of suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.

Pesticide poisoning, hanging and firearms are among the most common methods of suicide globally. Evidence from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United States and a number of European countries reveals that limiting access to these means can help prevent people dying by suicide. Another key to reducing deaths by suicide is a commitment by national governments to the establishment and implementation of a coordinated plan of action. Currently, only 28 countries are known to have national suicide prevention strategies.

Suicide is a global phenomenon

Suicide occurs all over the world and can take place at almost any age. Globally, suicide rates are highest in people aged 70 years and over. In some countries, however, the highest rates are found among the young. Notably, suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-29 year-olds globally.

“This report is a call for action to address a large public health problem which has been shrouded in taboo for far too long” said Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO.

Generally, more men die by suicide than women. In richer countries, three times as many men die by suicide than women. Men aged 50 years and over are particularly vulnerable.

In low- and middle-income countries, young adults and elderly women have higher rates of suicide than their counterparts in high-income countries. Women over 70 years old are more than twice as likely to die by suicide than women aged 15-29 years.

Suicides are preventable

Reducing access to means of suicide is one way to reduce deaths. Other effective measures include responsible reporting of suicide in the media, such as avoiding language that sensationalizes suicide and avoiding explicit description of methods used, and early identification and management of mental and substance use disorders in communities and by health workers in particular.

Follow-up care by health workers through regular contact, including by phone or home visits, for people who have attempted suicide, together with provision of community support, are essential, because people who have already attempted suicide are at the greatest risk of trying again.

 “No matter where a country currently stands in suicide prevention”, said Dr Alexandra Fleischmann, Scientist in the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO, “effective measures can be taken, even just starting at local level and on a small-scale”.

WHO recommends countries involve a range of government departments in developing a comprehensive coordinated response. High-level commitment is needed not just within the health sector, but also within education, employment, social welfare and judicial departments.

“This report, the first WHO publication of its kind, presents a comprehensive overview of suicide, suicide attempts and successful suicide prevention efforts worldwide. We know what works. Now is the time to act,” said Dr Shekhar Saxena, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO.

The report’s launch comes just a week before World Suicide Prevention Day, observed on 10 September every year. The Day provides an opportunity for joint action to raise awareness about suicide and suicide prevention around the world.

Working towards a global target

In the WHO Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020, WHO Member States have committed themselves to work towards the global target of reducing the suicide rate in countries by 10% by 2020. WHO’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme, launched in 2008, includes suicide prevention as a priority and provides evidence-based technical guidance to expand service provision in countries.

MOTHERS BEHAVIOR HAS STRONG EFFECT ON COCAINE EXPOSED CHILDREN

It is not only prenatal drug exposure, but also conditions related to drug use that can influence negative behavior in children, according to a new study from the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions.

In examining the long-term effects of cocaine use during pregnancy in a sample of low-income, cocaine-exposed and non-exposed families, researchers found that a mother's harshness toward her child during mother-child interactions at 2 years of age is one of the strongest predictors of problem behaviors in kindergarten, such as fighting, aggression and defiance.

Rina Das Eiden, PhD, the study's principal investigator, is conducting a multi-year study on the direct and indirect effects of prenatal drug use, following more than 200 mother and child pairs. It is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Maternal harshness, such as threats of physical discipline, can be influenced by drug use. Animal studies have shown that prenatal cocaine use can affect parenting by lowering the bonding hormones mothers usually experience after birth, resulting in less emotional engagement with the child.

"Although prenatal cocaine exposure clearly can have negative health effects on children, the behavior problems may not only be due to what happens in the womb, but also to the effects of cocaine use on the mother," Eiden says. "Higher maternal harshness in cocaine-using mothers could also be due to other unmeasured variables, such as the mothers' own childhood experiences.

"Women who use cocaine have a harder time helping their children learn to self-regulate their behavior in the preschool years, which can lead to more negative behavior in kindergarten," she says.

Other risks factors shown to negatively affect behavior of all children in this low-income sample are a higher likelihood of hunger and living in communities that regularly experience violence.

Eiden says parenting interventions in high-risk family situations while children are young may help reduce maternal harshness and promote self-control in children.

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Falling On The Stairs A Neuropathy Problem

Today's post from webmd.boots.com (see link below) looks at how risky having neuropathy in feet and legs can be if you have to climb stairs frequently. As is so often the case, it is addressed at diabetic neuropathy sufferers but whatever the cause of your neuropathic problems, this will apply to you to. It's a short article but an interesting one. Worth a read.

Diabetic neuropathy increases stair falls risk
By Nicky Broyd WebMD UK Health News 17th September 2014 - Medically Reviewed by Dr Keith David Barnard

  New UK research suggests that people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a complication of diabetes that affects the nerves in the limbs, often sway more during stair climbing and are, therefore, more likely to fall.

The researchers, from Manchester, acknowledge that while it would be impractical to suggest patients with DPN avoid stairs completely, they are at higher risk of having a fall and should take measures to keep themselves safe.

They say: "Avoiding particularly steep and/or long flights of stairs may be advisable, especially if an elevator is available as an alternative. Using a handrail on stairs if available could also help patients with DPN prevent falls."
Stairs

Patients with DPN are known to be unsteady on their feet and to have an increased risk of falling. Whilst some studies have found increased postural sway during quiet standing and walking on level ground in patients with DPN, no data exists on measures of balance when using the stairs.

Since walking on stairs is one of the most dangerous daily activities in terms of fall risk, this study, which has been conducted by researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester, investigated the underlying mechanisms of unsteadiness in patients with DPN during stair ascent and descent.

Measuring sway

Motion and pressure data were collected for 22 diabetes patients with DPN (average age 57) and 40 diabetes patients without DPN (average age also 57), plus 32 healthy people without diabetes (average age 50 years). All patients were from Manchester or the surrounding area.

Movement was measured using a 3D motion analysis system from reflective markers placed on the body to calculate whole-body centre-of-mass.

The centre-of-pressure under the feet was measured using sensitive pads mounted into the middle four steps of a seven step staircase, which participants ascended and descended at least three times.

The ability of a person to maintain balance was quantified by assessing the separation between the centre-of-mass and centre-of-pressure.

Findings

The authors conclude: " Diabetes patients with peripheral neuropathy display greater extremes in magnitude of medial-lateral sway during stair ascent and descent as well as displaying higher variability during stair ascent and descent. This indicates that patients with DPN have difficulty regulating control of balance during this challenging task.

"A larger and more variable medial-lateral sway means that patients with DPN are more likely to lose control of balance and experience a fall during what is known to be an activity —using stairs —where the risk of falls is already very high."

The findings have been presented at this year’s annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, Austria.
Future interventions

The Manchester research team is carrying out more investigations to identify and further understand factors that may contribute to unsteadiness and in turn the increased risk of falls.

They add: "Many issues that affect balance in patients with DPN stem from deterioration of muscle size and function, so whilst it is not currently possible to positively improve the sensory deterioration, we have been looking at elements that we can positively influence, such as strength training and interventions to help vision focus and avoidance of obstacles. We are investigating the impact of such interventions and how they might translate to improvements in gait and balance control."

http://www.webmd.boots.com/diabetes/news/20140917/diabetic-neuropathy-stair-falls-risk

Can Gluten Bring On Neuropathy

Today's post from health.harvard.edu (see link below) is another one linking gluten to neuropathic problems. It seems that nobody can make their minds up as to whether gluten really does have an effect on the nervous system. Some swear by a gluten free diet (not easy) and others dismiss the evidence as being circumstantial at best. It seems that in some people gluten triggers a reaction in the immune system that can lead to nerve damage. The only way to be sure is to try cutting down on your gluten intake and see whether this makes a difference to your symptoms but that's no easy task. Discussing the issue with your doctor is also advisable and certainly taking advice when it comes to implementing a gluten-free diet. 
 

Itching rash or tingling toes: Is gluten the cause?
Kay Cahill Allison, Former Editor, Harvard Health Posted September 21, 2011,  

I love bread, pasta, and many other foods made with wheat. Luckily, I can eat them all without having to worry about gluten. But I have to admit that the growing public awareness of gluten and the problems it can cause has got me thinking.

Gluten is an umbrella term for the proteins gliadin (in wheat), secalin (in rye), and hordein (in barley). Bakers know it as the substance that makes dough resilient and stretchy. In some people, gluten triggers an immune reaction and causes inflammation of the lining of the small intestine, which can eventually interfere with the absorption of nutrients from food. This is called celiac disease. Some of the more common symptoms of celiac disease are: 

Gas
Bloating
Abdominal cramps
Diarrhea
Foul-smelling stools
Fatigue
Weight loss
Skin rash

Some people have no apparent symptoms or their symptoms are so subtle that they never mention them to their doctor. As a result, celiac disease may be misdiagnosed or go undiagnosed for years.

A growing number of people who don’t have celiac disease suffer many of its symptoms. They are classified as “gluten sensitive” or “gluten intolerant.” You can read more about gluten sensitivity in the free online excerpt of “Food Allergy, Intolerance, and Sensitivity,” a new Special Health Report from Harvard Health Publications.

My dad developed the tingling, painful condition known as peripheral neuropathy late in his life. The cause was never clearly identified. While researching the topic of gluten sensitivity for “Food Allergy, Intolerance, and Sensitivity,” I read a research paper in the journal Neurology that said peripheral neuropathy can be a symptom of gluten sensitivity. It made me wonder if my father’s condition was linked to an undiagnosed gluten sensitivity. Digging further into the medical literature, I saw that a wide range of seemingly unrelated symptoms can be triggered by exposure to gluten and that a gluten-free diet can sometimes be an effective remedy. In one study published in the Archives of Dermatology, dermatologists found that going gluten-free can help relieve the itchy, red skin blisters of dermatitis herpetiformis. Clearly, gluten-related symptoms this diverse are hard to pin down.

I will never know whether my Dad might have benefited from a gluten-free diet because he passed away a few years ago. But it’s good to know that at least some people are being helped by the growing awareness of the problems gluten can cause.

More complete information on food allergies and reactions, including information on diagnosing and treating gluten-related conditions, is available in the new Harvard Medical School report, “Food Allergy, Intolerance and Sensitivity.” You can read an excerpt or purchase the report at www.health.harvard.edu.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/itching-rash-or-tingling-toes-is-gluten-the-cause-201109213384

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