Whats my future?
I am 76 years old. Have PN in feet and legs for a number of years. Have tried several "cures and symptom relievers" which, as we all know, don't help much. PCP and Neurologist won't much say about my future. Whats ahead?
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John try trigeminal neuralgia, looks like it’s also known as tic douloureux. Or Delarue.
Hi, Ed (@njed). I’ll write a bit more later, but just now, I’m awaiting the arrival of one of my homecare nurses. Yes, giving up the cabin was tough, and my partner and I, too, will create a few alternatives in the coming months. Something I have to be on guard for: Is making a life change due to my PN or sepsis? Honestly? Most, if not all, of my recent life changes are due to my sepsis. Sepsis has truly been a blight on my life, far more than my PN ever was. Fortunately, my doctors tell me that I will get over my sepsis (at least my foot wound will heal), and I should be able to restore a good deal of the life I’m currently setting aside. PN, unlike sepsis, is for keeps. Things I’ve set aside because of my PN will probably have to remain set aside. // A bit more later, Ed. Here’s wishing you a fine day and a fine weekend! –Ray (@ray666)
NJ Ed | @njed | Reading over what I said earlier about MY sepsis, not MY neuropathy, being the Great Kill Joy of my life, I see that I had said what I had intended to say. What I might have gone on to say––to emphasize––is MY sepsis and MY neuropathy. I have come to see that the two terms are vast umbrellas beneath which reside multitudes of sepsis variations and neuropathy variations. My sepsis is no more a match for the next person’s sepsis than my neuropathy (idiopathic polyneuropathy: no pain, no dizziness, but lots of balance and gait woes) is a match for the next person’s neuropathy. That’s something I have to remember whenever I’m speaking with another PN sufferer. Whereas I may have no pain or dizziness, she may suffer excruciating pain. I must be cautious in tossing about terms like neuropathy and sepsis. // How’s the weather where you are, Ed? It’s a coolish day here today, unlike the days recently. My partner and I sure wish we had that cabin to flee to. ––Ray (@ray666)
@ray666 - Being tangled up with the normal struggles of PN and the sepsis situation is a double whammy both involving feet. The sepsis is the real issue at hand right now and from your posts, looks like you will win the war. Might take time but major health issues take time. The PN will be there when the sepsis is gone, and I hope you can recover real soon. At our age, we often face multiple health issues simultaneously which makes it difficult but perhaps not unusual. Keep improving, keep moving.
Good morning, Ed (@njed)
I can always rely on you to understand what I’m trying to say, even when my words are an absolute trainwreck of sense. I hadn’t noted––but you have, and now I do, too––that both my maladies have their battlefield headquarters in my feet: my PN is personified by weakened sensory activity, and my sepsis by an 8”x1”x1” wound of the sort you might expect had your foot been struck by broadsword. (I shouldn’t be writing this before breakfast.)
You’re so right, too, when you say that we shouldn’t expect our illnesses and injuries to arrive one-by-one at our age. To paraphrase Hamlet’s uncle Claudius: “When aches and pains come to those of us of a ‘certain age’, they come not single woes but in battalions.”
Generally, however, we always have the options you cite, such as “Keep improving, keep moving.” Why don’t we exercise those options, Ed? What do you say?
Have a glorious weekend!
Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)
@ray666 - Love the Shakespeare quote...how I wish I knew his works well enough to pull quotes when they are so apopos! In fact, a few days ago I was thinking how much fun it would be to take a course on his works now that I'm of an age to actually appreciate them.
Have a good (if warm) Sunday ~
Barb
@ray666 - Rqy ---- the very first neuro doc I went to around 2014 or 2015 was actually a 70 year old neurosurgeon as I have L-3 to S-1 issues and I figured he'd fix me up, get rid of the numbness and like a tooth issue, it would be gone in a few days. Yea...right! He said my back has issues but not causing the neuropathy. He did refer to me a neurologist familiar with neuropathy. But as I had my hand on the door to his office ready to leave, he said let me give you one piece of advice. He said keep moving. Won't forget it and he was right.
I use Botox for piriformis syndrome along with dystonis (severe muscle spams). My neurologist did them. The muscles in my calf, shoulders and neck.
The neurologist Botox’s the muscles in the front and back of my neck. Makes it easier to talk, swallow and eat.
A wise piece of advice. Yes, keep moving if at all possible. I have difficulty moving with the pain that has returned with a vengeance. I am determined to ride my bike each day possible in our development. Yes, my pain will ramp up, but it will settle down. I will continue until I can't any more.I am 76 right now. Did not expect to be in such a condition in my "golden years". Unfortunately, these are more like "heavy metal years"...silver in my hair, gold in my teeth, and lead in my bottom and feet.