Living with Neuropathy - Welcome to the group

I’m so glad to have found this group. I broke my back 15 years ago, 8 surgeries later and two implants of nerve stimulator, the second one with 16 leads in my spinal column I’m still in relentless chronic pain. I’m prone to falls, my balance is severely affected. I’m the object of what they call failed fusion surgery, of which I had two. 15 months ago I had a bad fall in the shower and sustained a severe brain trauma. Coma scale 4 for a week. Subdural hematoma, filled half of my brain. Emergency surgery, followed by another to replace the 4 inch hole in my skull with an acrylic plate.
I’m aware that I’m a walking, talking miracle. However, the headaches are debilitating, sensitivity to noise and bright light, instances of slurred speech and memory loss, more balance issues and my back pain is worse than ever. My quality of life sucks and sometimes I wonder if it’s worth trying to carry on. I’m but a shell of who I used to be.
I am useless to my family. Just a subject of constant worry for them. I used to write, but I forget words all the time, it takes me forever to write even this because I know what I want to say but it takes forever to put together a sentence which makes sense. I was condsidered intelligent and eloquent, was fluent in three languages.
I am on Neurontin but can’t take opiates because I developed an addiction. So I’m left to over the counter stuff, which actually works on my headaches if I alternate between ibuprofen, Tylenol, and naproxen. It does nothing for the relentless back pain. I feel I’m at the end of my tolerance and although my family is supportive I know they are tired.
Any advice?

I’m so glad to have found this group. I broke my back 15 years ago, 8 surgeries later and two implants of nerve stimulator, the second one with 16 leads in my spinal column I’m still in relentless chronic pain. I’m prone to falls, my balance is severely affected. I’m the object of what they call failed fusion surgery, of which I had two. 15 months ago I had a bad fall in the shower and sustained a severe brain trauma. Coma scale 4 for a week. Subdural hematoma, filled half of my brain. Emergency surgery, followed by another to replace the 4 inch hole in my skull with an acrylic plate.
I’m aware that I’m a walking, talking miracle. However, the headaches are debilitating, sensitivity to noise and bright light, instances of slurred speech and memory loss, more balance issues and my back pain is worse than ever. My quality of life sucks and sometimes I wonder if it’s worth trying to carry on. I’m but a shell of who I used to be.
I am useless to my family. Just a subject of constant worry for them. I used to write, but I forget words all the time, it takes me forever to write even this because I know what I want to say but it takes forever to put together a sentence which makes sense. I was condsidered intelligent and eloquent, was fluent in three languages.
I am on Neurontin but can’t take opiates because I developed an addiction. So I’m left to over the counter stuff, which actually works on my headaches if I alternate between ibuprofen, Tylenol, and naproxen. It does nothing for the relentless back pain. I feel I’m at the end of my tolerance and although my family is supportive I know they are tired.
Any advice?

I’m so glad to have found this group. I broke my back 15 years ago, 8 surgeries later and two implants of nerve stimulator, the second one with 16 leads in my spinal column I’m still in relentless chronic pain. I’m prone to falls, my balance is severely affected. I’m the object of what they call failed fusion surgery, of which I had two. 15 months ago I had a bad fall in the shower and sustained a severe brain trauma. Coma scale 4 for a week. Subdural hematoma, filled half of my brain. Emergency surgery, followed by another to replace the 4 inch hole in my skull with an acrylic plate.
I’m aware that I’m a walking, talking miracle. However, the headaches are debilitating, sensitivity to noise and bright light, instances of slurred speech and memory loss, more balance issues and my back pain is worse than ever. My quality of life sucks and sometimes I wonder if it’s worth trying to carry on. I’m but a shell of who I used to be.
I am useless to my family. Just a subject of constant worry for them. I used to write, but I forget words all the time, it takes me forever to write even this because I know what I want to say but it takes forever to put together a sentence which makes sense. I was condsidered intelligent and eloquent, was fluent in three languages.
I am on Neurontin but can’t take opiates because I developed an addiction. So I’m left to over the counter stuff, which actually works on my headaches if I alternate between ibuprofen, Tylenol, and naproxen. It does nothing for the relentless back pain. I feel I’m at the end of my tolerance and although my family is supportive I know they are tired.
Any advice?

Is anyone familiar with Norman Doidge and his research work with neuroplasticity? Pretty interesting stuff and may provide some hope for some chronic pain patients. I ordered his book "The Brain's Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity" and I'm hoping if nothing else it will be an interesting read. He has a lot of videos on YouTube if you search on his name + YouTube.

John

I’m so glad to have found this group. I broke my back 15 years ago, 8 surgeries later and two implants of nerve stimulator, the second one with 16 leads in my spinal column I’m still in relentless chronic pain. I’m prone to falls, my balance is severely affected. I’m the object of what they call failed fusion surgery, of which I had two. 15 months ago I had a bad fall in the shower and sustained a severe brain trauma. Coma scale 4 for a week. Subdural hematoma, filled half of my brain. Emergency surgery, followed by another to replace the 4 inch hole in my skull with an acrylic plate.
I’m aware that I’m a walking, talking miracle. However, the headaches are debilitating, sensitivity to noise and bright light, instances of slurred speech and memory loss, more balance issues and my back pain is worse than ever. My quality of life sucks and sometimes I wonder if it’s worth trying to carry on. I’m but a shell of who I used to be.
I am useless to my family. Just a subject of constant worry for them. I used to write, but I forget words all the time, it takes me forever to write even this because I know what I want to say but it takes forever to put together a sentence which makes sense. I was condsidered intelligent and eloquent, was fluent in three languages.
I am on Neurontin but can’t take opiates because I developed an addiction. So I’m left to over the counter stuff, which actually works on my headaches if I alternate between ibuprofen, Tylenol, and naproxen. It does nothing for the relentless back pain. I feel I’m at the end of my tolerance and although my family is supportive I know they are tired.
Any advice?

I’m so glad to have found this group. I broke my back 15 years ago, 8 surgeries later and two implants of nerve stimulator, the second one with 16 leads in my spinal column I’m still in relentless chronic pain. I’m prone to falls, my balance is severely affected. I’m the object of what they call failed fusion surgery, of which I had two. 15 months ago I had a bad fall in the shower and sustained a severe brain trauma. Coma scale 4 for a week. Subdural hematoma, filled half of my brain. Emergency surgery, followed by another to replace the 4 inch hole in my skull with an acrylic plate.
I’m aware that I’m a walking, talking miracle. However, the headaches are debilitating, sensitivity to noise and bright light, instances of slurred speech and memory loss, more balance issues and my back pain is worse than ever. My quality of life sucks and sometimes I wonder if it’s worth trying to carry on. I’m but a shell of who I used to be.
I am useless to my family. Just a subject of constant worry for them. I used to write, but I forget words all the time, it takes me forever to write even this because I know what I want to say but it takes forever to put together a sentence which makes sense. I was condsidered intelligent and eloquent, was fluent in three languages.
I am on Neurontin but can’t take opiates because I developed an addiction. So I’m left to over the counter stuff, which actually works on my headaches if I alternate between ibuprofen, Tylenol, and naproxen. It does nothing for the relentless back pain. I feel I’m at the end of my tolerance and although my family is supportive I know they are tired.
Any advice?

Is anyone familiar with Norman Doidge and his research work with neuroplasticity? Pretty interesting stuff and may provide some hope for some chronic pain patients. I ordered his book "The Brain's Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity" and I'm hoping if nothing else it will be an interesting read. He has a lot of videos on YouTube if you search on his name + YouTube.

John

Is anyone familiar with Norman Doidge and his research work with neuroplasticity? Pretty interesting stuff and may provide some hope for some chronic pain patients. I ordered his book "The Brain's Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity" and I'm hoping if nothing else it will be an interesting read. He has a lot of videos on YouTube if you search on his name + YouTube.

John