What I really don't get is even as good as any pain relievers may be (hydro, CBD, THC) they each bring certain types of relief but none allow my legs the speed or mobility they used to have. Not even a miniscule fraction of normalcy. Explain this to me. Even if they are numb and virtually pain free I still can only shuffle along and they don't want to carry me period. I dont know. I ask all of you for your experiences in hopes I can understand real life happenings. I understand the medical science in all of this but dont know if I should pursue more aggressive treatment like plasmapherisis or IVIG.

@rwinney I've had a placard for a few years now. Even so, the handicap spaces are often full. They can save a big percentage of the number of steps I have in me.

@rwinney Have you been tested for autonomic neuropathy? The neuro specialist at Oregon Health Sciences Hospital confirmed the diagnosis of small fiber polyneuropathy that the local neurologist had already diagnosed. But they observed the early stages of autonomic neuropathy, which could likely explain a number of problems I have. Sometimes I lose my balance, when I stand up or turn left or right when I'm just beginning to move, diplopia, swallowing problems, reflux, tinnitus, sudden loss of knee muscles that puts me on the ground, ED, sudden urinary urgency, and feeling off balance when I'm walking and look at the ground in front of me or when I walk up or down the aisle at church. The floor tapers like a theater. And because of the taper, when I stand it puts the pressure on the balls of my feet, so I stay seated because the worst pain is in the balls of my feet. When I stand up and turn to go up the aisle I have to make myself pause and hang on to the back of my chair. I failed to be careful one time and suddenly sat down in someone's lap. Oops!

For me, it's important to know what's happening in my body. If I can understand it, it seems to reduce the stress and fear.

Jim