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Pain as therapy for neuropathy?
I know, the title of this thread doesn't sound like it makes any sense does it? With all of the garbage that I've got going on in my life, osteoarthritis, undiagnosed neuropathy in my feet, lactose intolerance, digestive issues, and a few other "quirks", I've been called a medical mystery, or a conundrum by multiple doctors over the past 20 years.
I'm living in chronic pain 24/7, 365 days a year, but there is something that actually helps, temporarily, stop the nerve pain in my feet, getting tattooed. I've been getting tattooed for the past 25 years, and I realized about 6 or 7 years ago that every time I had some work done, the nerve pain in my feet would disappear for 2 or 3 days.
I began to notice that I was aware of the pain in my feet starting to go away while I was being worked on. After I was done being tattooed for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, my nerve pain was gone. It's 'frickn awesome, I can walk without pain in my feet and lower legs just like a normal person does.
Sometimes this would last 3 or 4 days, or only for a day or 2, but I didn't care, my nerve pain was gone. However, when the pain did come back, it was more intense that it normally was for a couple of days.
I've asked my regular doctor, my neurologist, my orthopedist, and my neurosurgeon if they've ever heard this before, and they all had no idea how or why this would happen. I'm just a medical mystery. I can't tell you how frustrated I am, my doctors have no answers, and nothing is getting any better.
Has anyone out there ever heard a story like this before, or have a reason as to why this happens to me?
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I don't know if this the correct site, but I will ask anyway!
My Neuropathy is getting worse!
Does anyone know what the best topical cream or gel to help? My feet give me some discomfort during the day, but not like at night.
When I go to bed and read a book or the paper they sharpness of pain in my toes is almost unbearable!
Most of my pain is in the upper ends of my toes! Have never had them hurt this bad!
Any recommendations on what any of you have found to work?
I am a 78 year old male! I already take Oxycodone for my headaches from Late Stage Lyme disease.
I keep a few extra and some nights when it is really bad I will take one. It helps a little! I would prefer doing some cream or gel!
Thanks for any help any body knows!
Sundance aka RB
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2 ReactionsWhy would the relief last for days? Any theories. Do the nerves have to reorganize to conduct the pain.
I have no idea, the nerve pain was gone for 1 1/2 days to as long as 4 days. It might have something to do where on myself the tattoo work was done.
The last few years have been mostly on my chest and abdomen.
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1 ReactionI don't know what your stomach issues are but my gastro guy recommended that I check out the Fodmap Diet for my IBS-D and it actually works. There are lists of food that are either high in Fodmaps or low in Fodmaps. It is worth a try. No supplements or pills to take but simply follow the suggested foods on the low Fodmap list and see if you have relief. For instance, sweet potatoes are fine but only 1/2 of one. Same with squash - recommended is a golf ball size to eat. For years, when I had a stomach problem I would drink ginger ale only but turns out all carbonated drinks are a big "no no". It is worth a try - google Fodmap Diet and print out the lists of do's and don'ts.
These are everyday foods not something strange like tofu. Well tofu is strange in my world. I have had more relief than I could ever get from any pill now that I follow the Fodmap diet. Just thought that I would share a simple change in diet that might help you with those issues. I don't have any advice about your pain. Sorry
to say except does your local hospital have a Pain Management Clinic. I find that because that is what they deal with, they are the best people to talk to regarding pain. I have been on Lyrica now for more than a year and my pain has subsided. I still have neuropathy but at least I am not doubled over with pain. I try to take the small wins for what they are and not expect that I will ever feel as good as I did 5 years ago. It is hard to accept that thought but any win right now is a win nonetheless.
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1 Reaction@sundancerdb78 have you tried stretching your back, legs and feet before laying down to sleep? I have found that if I don’t stretch my legs, stand up and down on my tippy toes 30 times, use a stretch band for my upper back and arms my nerves drive me crazy at night if I don’t. Just because you lay down doesn’t mean your spine stops sending out signals. And if you were sitting watching TV before bed resting again you need to wake up those muscles and work them a little bit. We were not designed to be stationary.
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1 ReactionThanks for the suggestions! I talked to my pharmacist yesterday about a topical cream. She did suggest "LYRICA" MEDICATION for pain. Can anyone help me to know about it?
Thanks,
Sundance78 aka RB
I think tattoing involves some electrical stimulation to the sking. That being said, you may think about getting an Oxiline TENS unit to use. I have been getting electrotherapy and red light therapy at Select Health and have had six sessions at two per week. I use the TENS unit at home on the other days. You want to put the electrodes on the bottoms of your feet and on either side of your lower back to stimulate the femoral nerve from back to toes. I also put electrodes on the palms of my hands and top vertabrae just below my neck. I seem to be getting good results from this. I recommend OPC3 from Shop.com and Medi-Nox Pro ordered from their website.
I haven't tried any creams for pain relief, but ibuprofen helps a lot, especially before bed at night. My best...
Yes, Lyrica has made my leg stop the searing, burning intense pain down to soreness at times which keep heat on them. I started at a low dose 75mg 3x day for about 3 month and it started the severe pain again so I went up to 100mg 3x a day the pain is controlled. I can't believe the difference I feel. Definitely worth a try
Pam
Thanks!'RB
Yes, I have been taking Lyrica for the last 1 1/2 yrs. It was prescribed to take 300mg. twice a day but I don't like the side effects of dizziness so I am now taking 200 mg. during the day and 300 mg. at night. It does stop the nerve pain. When it was prescribed by the doctor at the pain management clinic, I asked him about addiction and he gave me a long winded story about a study that they did with monkeys. I didn't really understand the story but I think he was trying to tell me that when the monkeys were given a choice between percocet or lyrica, they chose percocet. Still it is addictive. The off brand name is pregabalin and if you google it, you will find that it specifically works for nerve pain. It is not prescribed for broken bones etc. I don't know, the dizziness that I experience on it is troubling as apart from the nerve pain, the dizziness contributes to being unsteady on my feet. At this point, I think it is a choice...pain vs. unsteadiness. I just do not want to fall and that is a major concern for me. I use a walker when I first get up in the morning and a cane sometimes during the day. I do think that you should find the nearest pain management clinic near you to hear your options. They are usually attached to hospitals. They deal only in pain and different methods of dealing with it. They aren't going to diagnose you or have any answers about your health in general. I think most doctors do not want you to be in pain 24/7. They want you to be able to get some sleep and sleep is not easy when you are in pain. If you can locate a pain management clinic and need a referral, I believe that your primary care doctor will do that for you. Good luck and I hope that you are able to get some relief. Pain changes everything in a person and I don't think any doctor wants us to be in pain 24/7.