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Living with Neuropathy - Welcome to the group
Neuropathy | Last Active: Oct 27 5:51pm | Replies (6152)Comment receiving replies
I've had SFPN for more than ten years, first with tingling in my feet, then numbness and around 5 years ago the burning pain kicked in. I have some good doctors, but no medication has helped significantly with the pain. I shouldn't say none of them helped. Lyrica was starting to give me some pain relief, but before I made it up to the full dosage my body reacted dramatically - incoherent, memory loss, couldn't complete a sentence - went to the ER and was admitted for a few days. Bummer. A spinal cord stimulator implant in June of 2017 relieved 75% of the pain. It was wonderful to experience the near absence of pain. Along with morphine sulfate contin, it made life easier for a year. The effectiveness of the stimulator decreased after the first year, and meant that I have to have the settings adjusted every 3 months. I still have a lot of pain, but I believe it would be much worse without medication and the stimulator.
Driving is painful. Thank God for cruise control! It allows me to move my feet around, searching for a position of comfort, which only lasts for a few minutes. Standing still seems to hurt a little more than walking, but lying in bed or the recliner with my feet up is the worst. A day in town for a doctor appointment (4 days this week) and some shopping becomes painful before very long. I browse through stores much more quickly these days.
And now I'm starting to feel the signs of autonomic neuropathy. I didn't need that added to my list of ailments. I often read references here to the interweaving of physical problems and mental health. I found a therapist, and had my first session with him today, after 6+ months of not being able to see one. I've been treated for major depression since 2002, but I didn't start seeing a therapist until I was in deep trouble, down farther and farther into a black hole, and attempting suicide. I can vouch for the fact that pain and depression often feed off each other and the effect is cumulative.
I'm certainly helped by all of the good people here in Connect. I've learned a lot about a wide variety of subjects, from aftercare for a toenail removal to surviving major organ transplants. I'm thankful for the encouragement and support that's been offered to me. It's made my life more bearable.
Jim
Replies to "@adrianna143 I've had SFPN for more than ten years, first with tingling in my feet, then..."
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I got a spinal cord stimulator seven years ago and it helped a lot at first, but as time went on, the relief changed even with the settings being changed many times. High doses of gabapentin works for me. It doesn’t take all the pain away, but I have no side effects from this drug. When I first became paralyzed, I was also put on Tramadol. I hated it because it could be addictive and I got off it after about two years. I dislike going to so many doctors and spending hours in the waiting room with my legs dangling down. The burning pain gets worse this way and by the time I finally get into the exam room, I am hurting a lot. Then when the doctor asks me what my pain level is, I answer ten and he just jots it down but does nothing to relieve my pain. I know how frustrating this is for everyone. Six months ago, I was also diagnosed with kidney failure. Holy smoke, not something else! Two weeks ago, I was back in the hospital with a new blockage in my heart. I had bypass surgery ten years ago and I have six new blockages now. I have a bunch of stents that are blocked up too. But I just soldier on. I won’t be defeated! I know what you mean about that black hole of depression because I have been there in the distant past and have learned never to get there again. Whenever I see it on the horizon, I get my mind to a better place by distraction to something uplifting. I taught myself how to change my mood by changing my environment. Sometimes I would go to a store and be with a bunch of strangers. I would not fall apart or cry in public and it helped me to think about something else. Sometimes I used to play happy music on my stereo or watch a sweet movie. I haven’t fallen into that black hole for many years. I know how to avoid it now. I fought it for many years, more years than I care to admit.