I have swelling and severe pain and burning in my toes (for 18 months). Gout and diabetes have been ruled out. An EMG over a year ago said it was not neuropathy. A friend was told by her oncologist to take B6 to ease neuropathy-like pain during chemo treatment. Is this a possible solution for me?
Hi there, welcome to Chat Doctor. Thank you for your question. Swelling with pain and burning over toes can be most commonly caused by conditions like Diabetes and Gout, which have been ruled out in your situation. Neuropathy is a generic term used for a set of conditions which can result in the symptoms u have. Most commonly such systemic conditions like diabetes or vitamin deficiencies would cause symptoms on both lower limbs.EMG in isolation would be insufficient to rule out all kinds of neuropathy. Additional tests like blood tests for vitamins, nerve conduction studies for nerves would help in ruling them out. If your symptoms are only one-sided, regional causes like pressure on nerve at certain points of your limb need to be ruled out. Narrowing of blood vessels in your limbs can also lead to such symptoms. Any injury in the past can also present with pain and swelling now. In addition, there are certain medications which can cause similar symptoms as a side effect. I would suggest you to meet your physician for further evaluation and follow up with a neurologist. Since smoking is associated with and can exacerbate all kinds of neuropathy, you should consider quitting it, if you do smoke. Hope this answers your query, Thank you. With best regards.  Chat Doctor.