In the prime of life, Michael, in his thirties, led an uneventful life until a Covid-19 vaccination radically disrupted his daily routine.
Since then, he has been battling a rare, invisible, but devastating disease: small fiber neuropathy. Before 2021, Michael had never experienced any serious health problems . Active, athletic, and professionally fulfilled, he had no idea that a simple preventative measure, a Covid-19 vaccination, would be the turning point. In the weeks following his injection, he began to experience strange pains, burning sensations, and tingling in his limbs, for no apparent reason . This was accompanied by extreme fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and a feeling of alienation from his own body.
A disease that is difficult to diagnose
After months of medical uncertainty, incomplete assessments, and consultations that went unanswered, the diagnosis finally came: small fiber neuropathy . This neurological condition affects the peripheral nerve fibers responsible for pain, touch, and temperature. It's a complex pathology, often invisible on imaging or conventional examinations , and one that some doctors still struggle to recognize, prolonging the suffering of patients.
A social life reduced to nothing
Since the onset of his symptoms, Michael's life has spiraled into a kind of insidious isolation . Unable to maintain stable employment and having lost touch with the activities he once enjoyed, he has gradually withdrawn into himself. "My body betrays me every day," he confides. His pain is sometimes so intense that it prevents him from walking, dressing normally, or even sleeping. In a world where disability is too often judged by appearances, Michael feels misunderstood.
A voice that is still too rarely heard.
Like him, other people with this disease report feeling abandoned by the medical and institutional systems . Some have seen their suffering minimized, or even attributed to stress or psychosomatic disorders. Yet, research is accelerating on small fiber neuropathy , particularly in patients who developed the first symptoms following an infection or vaccination. But cases remain rare and causality difficult to formally establish , which fuels doubt and uncertainty.
The need for listening and recognition
Michael isn't asking for controversy, just recognition, a listening ear, and appropriate support . Today, he and other patients are campaigning for better management of this condition and for healthcare professionals to receive better training in its detection. "I just want this pain to be taken seriously," he says.
This reality raises questions without calling vaccination into question.
While Michael links the onset of his illness to the Covid-19 vaccination, he doesn't reject science or vaccination itself . "I remain convinced that the vaccine saved lives. But we must also have the courage to listen to those for whom it didn't go well," he says. His message isn't to create fear, but to demand justice for a forgotten minority.
