Hi @mikeg0822 No worries about a long message. Talking it out is good. I understand not wanting to take nerve medication due to side effects. Good for you! If you can avoid, I say avoid.

Interesting about the difference of opinions regarding supplements and herbs. Two totally different doctor perspectives. I'm curious, does insurance cover your functional medicine doctor? Do you buy products from your functional medicine doctor? Are they to treat ongoing symptoms or have you been given antibiotics for Bartonella. I'm not too familiar with the form of Lyme disease. How are your symptoms overall from it?

I attended the Mayo Clinic Pain Rehabilitation Center for a chronic pain syndrome called Central Sensitization. It's a central nervous system and peripheral sensory input system disorder which sort of an umbrellas other diagnoses like neuropathy, migraine, IBS, sleep disorders, etc. When I went into the program, I was taking 21 pills alone of daily herbs and supplements, by my own choice, to try and help with neuropathy mainly. I hated swallowing every bit of them, too. Part of Mayo's PRC program is to help people wean off opioids and other non-medically necessary meds. I knew going in that was the deal, which I wanted, but what surprised me was the fact that I actually met with a Mayo pharmacist team after they researched everything I was taking in regard to why and determined what was medically proven to help versus not. Let me tell you, I walked out of there a happy girl and essentially stopped taking everything. I received printed out proof of the research as well.

At the end of the day, you have to do what's best for you and if that means explore and try, so be it. There are always different opinions out there as to what help, what works...it gets confusing as crap!

It's great that you're still working and moderating through difficult days. I hope your employer is understanding and works with you. As a physical therapist you have empathy for your patients and understand moderation and modification. I would think that helps you navigate your own needs. So glad you run! What a good way to stay active and get an endorphin rush, and beef up the serotonin.

I think we all wonder, "why is this happening to me?" It's a natural feeling, but at some point it has to turn into, "ok, so this happened to me." Everyone goes through those stages in their own time. Some find acceptance and move on to a better place emotionally, and some wallow in the "why me" and are held captive. You are young and it must be hard. I felt young at 41 when my health began changing and asked the same question. I've recently been posting with a mom of a 17 year old who has CRPS and can't complete her senior year of high school. Why any of us?

Have you connected with other members in the Neuropathy conversations on Connect? Here is one that might be helpful as members share tips about burning feet, tingling and more -
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tingling-from-small-fiber-neurapathy/
Hang in there, Mike, you're doing better than you think. On those difficult days, you may have to gut it out and positive self-talk your way through them one day at a time knowing a better day will come. Keep the faith and keep hope alive that you will recover nerve function.