Lipedema Awareness: Small Fiber Neuropathy?

You may have experienced Paresthesia (aka. pins and needles) - it is a common experience when you lay funny or cross your legs too long etc., it happens because of pressure on a nerve, it feels tingly and numb and when the pressure on the pinched nerve is released it goes away.

With Lipedema you can also experience random sharp pains (different sensation to pins and needles); it feels like a bee sting, or someone taking a pin or needle and sticking you with it in various places on your body (mine is mostly in my legs).

I believe this is also nerve related, and recently came across “small fiber neuropathy” as a potential cause. More research to do.

This pain happened a lot when my symptoms were at their worse, but since we started training in 2013 and moved to a clean eating style that frequency has dissipated, it still happens but much less. 

At my worst I also would have numbness in the outer edges of my feet, and the pins and needles on top of the (Electric-shock level pain randomly throughout the day) is what WebMD describes the pain as (listed as one of the symptoms on their page about small fiber neuropathy).

The WebMD list also included other symptoms we share about in our group… like cramping, sweating, gastrointestinal issues, etc.

One of the questions I’d like to address with our Lipedema medical community at the next Lipedema Patient Roundtable (hosted by Lympha Press) on June 15, 2022 at 8pm EDT. Click here to register.

JUNE IS LIPEDEMA AWARENESS MONTH, please spread awareness, so those with the condition can get diagnosed before they are late stage 3 #lipolymphedema like me. Thank you.