Neuropathy pain in my left foot and lower left legs
Hello everyone. I have been suffering from pain in my left foot and lower left leg pain since 2008. I was diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis in 2010 and had a lumbar laminectomy with little relief. The pain persisted and in 2015 I had a second lumbar laminectomy. Is anyone suffering with this type of moderate pain?
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I weaned off morphine sulfate contin, to see if Cymbalta was doing anything on its own. The burning pain, unfortunately, became intolerable, so I started back on morphine sulfate, up to 15mg tid. Whenever I raise the dosage, the pain gets much better for a week or two, then I increase it again, and so on, until I get to the dosage that maintains a tolerable level of pain. I put Lidocaine cream on my feet at bedtime, so I can get to sleep. I sometimes put it on at other times to reduce the pain. Problem is, it's incredibly expensive, so I use it sparingly, and only when I need it. It numbs the area you apply it to. I've tried every medication available for peripheral neuropathy, and none has helped. I'm going to talk with a doctor about spinal cord stimulator. Yesterday, the pain specialist told me that medical Marijuana could help. I've tried it 3 times now, and it really does reduce the pain, for 4 or 5 hours. Since I take morphine sulfate and at bedtime Klonopin, I shouldn't take or need a very high dose of Marijuana. Now I have to find a doctor who will give me a green card. The pain doctor said it can take quite awhile to get it.
One other thing the pain doctor recommended was the pain psychologist, which I'm going to look into. I hope each of you are helped in some way through your interaction with the group. I have, and one way has been to hear that others are having similar symptoms to mine. I don't feel so alone and like a freak.
I could have written the exact same things you wrote. Life does bring us surprises from time to time.
Sadly, it didn't help me either. My legs swelled up so badly I couldn't bend my knees. I understand, however, that for those people who can take it it works well.