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Osteoarthritis pain as well as neuropathy in my feet.
I just became aware of the site a couple of days ago with some prodding from my wife, thankfully. I've been retired and on permanent disability since July of 2015. This meant walking away from my job after close to 17 years with my employer, and it also meant that we had to sell our home and move in with our son and his family.
I'm suffering with severe pain in my knees, hips, and lower back due to Osteoarthritis. I also have arthritis in my right elbow, as well as my neck. Between October of 2011 and November of 2018, I had surgery a dozen times on my knees, elbow, and my neck.
I had to have spinal fusion surgery on my neck on 2 different occasions, and have had surgery of my left knee a total of 4 times, where they only did a partial replacement.
Long story short, I'm living with chronic pain due to the osteoarthritis, as well as Idiopathic Poly Neuropathy in my feet and lower legs, which compounds my current existence.
I've seen several neurologists, as well as 2 neurosurgeons, and have had every test they have to determine the cause of my neuropathy, and everything came back "normal". ( No, I'm not diabetic, not even close. )
Everyday is same, pain and numbness in varying degrees of intensity, depending on the weather(we live in the PNW) and how much physical activity, if any, that I do. It's very draining physically, as well as mentally. I've been taking 2 anti-depressents for several years now, along with 7 other prescription drugs for pain, nerve pain, gout prevention, blood pressure, and swelling in my feet.
I'm not sure how much longer I'm willing to live like this. I'll be 66 next month, and it's already been a decade of chronic pain and numbness affecting just about every aspect of my life.
I've very lucky to have been married to my awesome wife for almost 43 years, and we have 2 kids who now are married with families of their own. We've got 4 awesome grandkids from the ages of almost 17, almost 13, 8, and 5 years old. Unbelievable how fast they're growing up.
Does this sound like anyone else's current situation in their lives? What do you do to deal with your chronic pain? Does anything help with the neuropathy other than massive doses of Gabapentin?
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Neuropathy really bad especially feet.
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1 ReactionALA is alpha lipoic acid.
ALA may be a reference to Alpha Lipoic Acid.
I went to lymphedema Clinic for two months for neuropathy in both lower legs. It definitely helped, those treatments removed the swelling and much redness. At the end of the treatment series my insurance paid for the leggings that are plugged into a machine. They do the work of the lymphedema clinic. Once you zip up the legging and turn on the pump, air gradually inflates the leggings and pushes blood gently back toward your heart.
I use these leggings at home now an hour at a time a few times a week. Major difference in discomfort from neuropathy. The cardiologist told me to definitely not use support hose of any kind. He recommended the leggings for my legs instead. I have a clean bill of health for my heart. I am 87 yrs. old.
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3 ReactionsAfter reading this I feel your pain in so many ways.I was diagnosed at 44 that I had arthritis and I shrugged it off thinking alrite.As time went on I was in need of knee replacements (1999) and they woulnt do them because I was to young.Now 21 years later I am the proud recipient of two blown kness, arthritis and and condiction in your spine called dish or Forestiers disease where your spine fuses and causes neuropathy.To this date I cant walk 50' my legs and feet burn, are inflamed and now causing muscle atrophy to the extent that you cannot stand.Neuronton,amytriptaline,lyrica,Gabapenton,norytriptaline, and Cymbalt did nothing for me so the drs ( after all excuses) determined that beer was the culprit.Although I do have several on weekends my aic is better that most and my sugar is well below the levels of cause.All of the drs used up their exsperience and could not make a civil decision and of course they all use a program that 2/3 of drs use call open evidence which is Ai generated.To this day walking is almost at a standstill and my back is rapidly fusing all with nohelp or meds
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2 ReactionsI am sorry that you are going through this. Send you love and hugs.
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1 Reaction@I too have a lymph pump that I use 3 - 45 minute sessions per day and I swear by it.I also have poly neuropathy cause by pinched nerves it my back and the machi e helps with that too.I agree that those compression socks dont work and are too constrictive.Over time I used compression tubes that worked but also left my legs marked and swolled.The pump system I have is for both legs and a set of trunks to better disapate the fluid back into your system.But be aware you will need to be close to a bathroom.Speedy health to ya1learningalot23
@applejack112
Can you get a lymph pump??
Yes mam I have a great lymph pump made by tactile medical in Minnesota. It includes both raps for your legs and a set of trunks to push the fluids back into your system for dispoal@bealillie
I sympathize with anyone who is dealing with foot pain. I had my 2nd Achilles tendon surgery (the first one didn't hold) and now I have severe neuropathy in my left foot. The bottom of my foot is numb but with horrible neuropathy pain throughout. I used to walk everywhere. I've hiked in the Rocky Mountains, the Himalayas, the Alps. Now I can barely walk to the mailbox. This has completely upended my life. This isn't what I envisioned my retirement to be. I'm 71 and I don't know what to do. My doctors just shrug their shoulders and say it happens sometimes. Ugh.
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