@dwbfootball Well, I 'try' do be pessimistic. I went from doing everything for everyone at work (this being running around getting 15,000 steps daily at work for 50hrs a week), and doing all the cooking, cleaning, laundry and yardwork at home to not working at all and having to have family and friends help out around the house. I try not to feel helpless. I had to drop my calorie intake from 3000 calories a day to under 2000, just so I don't gain weight. I only weigh 135lbs, so it's easy for me to get around on my walker and knee wheeler. And of course I tried everything I could find on Amazon (they love me.. lol), but nothing helped in the slightest, none of the topical creams or ointments, no herbal supplements or gagets aimed at neuropathy. No physical therapy, I do my own exercises when I can. Resistant bands, ankle weights, tens unit to try and stimulate the dead nerves in my leg. Does it help? Who knows, but I try and motivate myself and not get depressed. I also have a few pain pills left over from my surgery for the 'bad days', and I just break one in half. All we can do is take it day by day and help educate others not to jump right into back surgery like the rest of us did.