DH has recently with polyneuropathy. It is a condition of the nerves and muscles. We have been going around and around to find our why he has pains in hands, arms, feet and legs. Next stop is to see a neurologist. The doctor who diagnosed him said he does not know what causes this. His blood work was fine. Dr said it was not caused by AD. I was wondering if anyone had experience with this.
Has he been a heavy drinker over the years? My brother developed polyneuropathy in his later years, and the doctor said that might be the cause. I don't know how much my brother drank, but it was at least a couple of drinks each day, probably more in certain situations.
maryd, I know we put our faith in what doctors tell us, but when it comes to AD, they are sometimes in error. Most doctors are not aware of the many problems and symptoms that the AD brain waves can cause. Be sure that the neuro is an AD specialist if possible.
You will find that many AD patients develop these pains and tinglings in their arms, hands, legs and feet and some don't even realize what it is...they just start walking around or standing because the "tingling and/or pain" is lessened. This is one of the problems with those "wires" in the brain of an AD patient. (I have tried to describe the AD brain as a tangle of wire clotheshangers that sometimes makes the right connection and sometimes doesn't - but can disconnect and reconnect quickly or sometimes never again)...
I don't know what stage your husband is in, but some of our early discussions have discussed the leg and feet pain especially, and several have "restless leg syndrome" which is also a very painful sensation - especially in the evening and during the night. It sometimes starts in the afternoon and doesn't let up even when asleep...There is medication that will take away the pain, but some tingling will probably remain in the AD patient. It really bothers us when we can't allieviate their suffering....
I hope that you are able to get your husband some relief.
My DH complained of pain in his knees for years. Drs. attributed it to previous injuries, arthritis, and his weight. During the 6 months after Dx with VaD I had him to Orthopedic specialists for his knees, his hips, and his shoulders. The only things found were signs of the previous knee injuries and the very beginnings of arthritis--not enough to explain the pain. His new Psychiatrist attributed it to side effects of a new med. and changed it. Pain persisted. I talked to our PCP and plain out told him as far as I was concerned any more, the why didn't matter as much as the fact HE'S IN PAIN. Let's treat that. OTC meds weren't doing the job well enough. He was put on Tramadol 4 x a day. That worked for a long time (2007-end of 2009). He started ex[periencing some break through pain and the Der. added an Rx for Naproxen to augment the Tramadol. When Hospice came aboard they switched him to Vicodin. From Jan. 2010 to the present he takes 1 four times a day. On very rare occasions he has a 5thone--usually on a day witrh unusually high activity or major weather changes. This is neuropathy--pain involving the nerves and muscles. I am no MD but it makes sense to my untrained mind that damage to the wiring from whatever causes results in this problem. It seems to me that the nerve damage from Dementia could easily extend to such collateral damage. After all we also see visual isssues without eye damage; hearing without ear damage; mobility issues without injuries; and speech impairiments without other identifiable cause.
I don't have Alzheimer's, diabetes, rarely drink, etc etc .... I was diagnoses with several Neuropathies’ at age 31. (and they still don't know the causes) It is painful and I too hope your husband is able to find some relief.
I don't know if there is there is a correlation to Alzheimer's, but Carosi's theory makes sense to me. Lynn has had restless leg syndrome since we met. Oddly enough, it no longer troubles him.