Excruciating pain in lower extremities, chest and back this is pain in skin feels like I am on fire sharp stabbing pain and feels like shocking pain My PCP started me on Neurontin has helped a little. I am a diabetic. what is the difference between Diabetic Neuropathy and Fibromyalgia?
Hi, Thanks for writing in. As per medical literature, Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that occurs in patients with diabetes. Though it can occur anywhere in the body, but diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in your legs and feet. Depending on the affected nerves, symptoms of diabetic neuropathy can range from pain and numbness in your limbs to problems with your digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart. For some people, these symptoms are mild and not much of a concern while for others, diabetic neuropathy can be painful, disabling and even fatal. Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. It might be that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals and there are no specific features like those seen in diabetic neuropathy.