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I am having a very hard time right now and have been. I have neuropathy, lymphedema, osteoarthritis. You all know, those painful ailments. Also fibromyalgia which I tend to forget until I tell the doctor I am so much pain and he reminds me. What is doing what I don't know. The pain and swelling in both ankles and feet is causing me to cave. Both my ankles and top of my feet feel like all the skin has been rubbed raw and alcohol poured on them. The water in the pool I go to for physical therapy burns them so bad I could cry. There are deep lines in my ankles just from sitting. Proping my legs and feet up does not help. I had been taking 600 mg of Gabapentin before bed. I thought maybe cutting it down to 200mg twice a day may help. No difference and I still don't sleep. I take 50 mg of amitripliline (elavil) at night supposedly for neuropathy pain. I still do not sleep through the night or 2 hours at a time. I take 37.5 Effexor in the morning for depression. Still depressed. I was laying down a while ago, but could not rest. I got up and could barely put my feet on the floor because of the swelling and pain. I just took a percocet which I am perscribed, 3 a day. I usually only take a half, but I just took a whole one. I feel a little relief after taking that and rubbing epsom salt foot gel on my feet and ankles. My sister had sent me a tube of that to see if it helps. This is the first time using it. Can't hurt. She purchased it in the dollar store near her and actually feels cool. My ankles and top of my feet were hot to the touch. The numbness is so bad that when I went to put the gel on I reached to my leg to pull the socks I did not have on, off. Right now my ankles and feet are pulsating and pain again. Any suggestions, recommendations? Not much sense in calling a doctor. They are not seeing patients unless it is very necessary. My doctor is aware of my problems and not sure he will do anymore after talking to me on the computer. I understand where the doctor's are coming from at this time. I needed to share my feelings right now. I thank anyone with any response, recommendation or suggestion. I also take a fluid pill in the morning and potassium.
Replies to "I am having a very hard time right now and have been. I have neuropathy, lymphedema,..."
I am taking 2 of 300mg of gabapintin. at night It is a drug to help nerves heal. It is also for anti-seizure. This maker is called Neuriton. The Makers of a stronger gabipentin is called Horizon. It makes 600mg pills which 2 are frequently for restless leg syndrome. A third maker is for shingles. All are Gapipintin is the same but in different doses. It is typically not a pain pill. Did your Physician tell you why you were given the drug?
You Mention lymphedema. I have lymphedema on my left side. I had 21 lymph nodes in my abdomen removed when I had a tumor removed. I have been wrapping and compressing that leg from toes to crotch for about 4 years now. The leg does not swell as it is compressed 23 and 1/2 hours per day every day. If I didn't compress the leg it would swell and it would burst and I would have horrible wounds. Do you wrap or compress to prevent swelling?
The combination of having neuropathy resulting from my chemotherapy and having to compress because of lymphedema can cause great pain. I receive palliative care as a post cancer patient in the form of an intrathecal pain pump surgically implanted in my abdomen with a catheter running up my spine dumping tiny amounts of narcotics directly into my spinal fluid. Drugs delivered in this fashion are something like 100 to 300 times more effective than drugs taken orally. I receive 4 ml mg Dilaudid per 24 hours. I don't have the side effects that you would have taking 200 to 300 mg of Narcotics orally. I do have to return to the doctor every 9 to 12 weeks so he can remove the old medication which becomes ineffective and replace it with fresh medication via a needle inserted into a nipple on the pump through my skin. A person cannot abuse drugs delivered in this manner. You have no access to these drugs except via a small remote called a bolus which allows you to deliver 10 small doses over 24 hours when pain gets worse. That allows me another 9/10 of a milligram of Dilaudid every day.
If you have lymphedema I don't think there is an alternative to wrapping or compression. I was taught how to rap and how to get the right garments by a series of physical therapists. I began by wrapping with five layers of different materials until the leg was reduced to normal size. Then I started wearing a compression garment made by the Jodst company. During the time that I am not compressed I have to perform massage for my toes all the way up to my collarbone to encourage the lymphatic fluid to make the journey that it can't make because of the missing lymph nodes. This takes 10 to 15 minutes with my wife handling the toes to the waist and I handling the waste of the collarbone. Unfortunately Medicare and my extra insurance cover none of these garments or bandages. Many insurance companies do and mine did before I went on Medicare.
If you are going to purchase these garments don't allow your clinic where the PT Works to measure your leg and order your garments for you unless insurance pays for them. You have to find an independent fitter to measure you and then you go online to a company called Compression Guru and order your garments there. The difference is paying about $1,000 or paying $374 for a garment which should last at least 6 months.
People get lymphedema for many different reasons. Whatever the cause, compression is the answer. If you develop brown spots on your lower leg, that also requires compression and I have that condition and any number of doctors saw these spots and said nothing. It was a physical therapist who said, "You need to compress that leg as well, you have deep vein thrombosis". All in all if your legs feet or ankles swell you need to find out why and you need to prevent that from happening or it can lead too much more serious consequences. I hope this is helpful and I hope you can find a good PT. Love & blessings.
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Hey there @summertime4 . My heart feels your pain and I'm real sorry to hear of your struggles. Might something as simple as ice help, even to numb for a while? Have you tried medical marijuana? Is it legal in your state?