Podiatrist procedure made it worse?

@stevebern - Is the pain from the toe area where the toenail was removed or is it everywhere a section was cut off due to a blister or contusion?

Everywhere… but where he did the work, it doesn’t hurt.

It’s just like the usual pain in my feet, the entire foot, just ramped up on pain.

(And how weird is it that you can be numb and in pain at the same time? The way I describe it is, it’s like the surface is numb, but the interior, the inside is in pain. Often with little metal springs buried inside that are trying to burrow their way out, as they are shocked with electricity and heated to a molten temperature.)

It sounds like the procedure was pretty traumatic & the pain may be temporary. Perhaps they could give you something for a few days to ease the discomfort. I made the mistake of having vein ablation last February & I'm still suffering with all the nerves they banged into. Your description of the pain is spot on. I describe it as wearing a shoe that's one size too small, with fire ants trapped in your scratchy wool socks & walking around in the blazing Florida sun for an hour. In August. Talk to your podiatrist and get some answers.

I describe my foot neuropathy as walking barefoot on crushed stone. But lately it is getting worse and sometimes it has gone from severely wierd and uncomfortable to actual pain! God help us all...

Mine started almost 7 years ago as pins & needles, and a sensitivity to first socks, then shoes and has progressed to enough pain that I had to stop working last year.

They don't know what caused it, and there's nothing I can do... but one thing I would do, knowing now what I do:

I would travel to every item on my bucket list, walk the english fields and see the sights of the world... because I sure can't do that now.

Mine started at about the same time with RLS symptoms (diagnosed w/ neuropathy 6 years ago). Calf muscles twitching, hideous calf/foot cramps wrecking my sleep every night. Solution I read on neuropathy sites: "be sure to eat well & get 8 hours of sleep". It would be funny if it wasn't so cruel.

Sorry for your pain. I think it is common for pain to go up right after a treatment or a routine maintenance of the foot. For example, when my podiatrist cuts my toenails, it is painful and the next few day the nerves seem inflamed too. This also happens when I have acupuncture. There is no gentle way to handle a foot with neuropathy. Hope this helps and one day they cure our pains.

Thanks for your experience, Julkun. I’ve never had anything done to them before… I don’t even like to touch them myself.

One day seems like a long way away, but I always hope for it.

I actually don’t come to the available forums very often, it just seems so helpless to think of that ‘one day’, but it is so helpful to know there are others who feel this, who understand. As empathetic as my wife and kids are, I know they can’t understand… and I hate complaining because there’s nothing they can do about it.

So, it often feels like I’m alone in a bubble of pain and despair, but I am so thankful for this thoughtful and understanding forum.

Re. Hate to complain, no one can understand the pain who hasn’t felt so it’s good to hear someone who can empathize about trying to tell even your partner….

Hi Steve.
I had both large toenails removed and lived happily ever after with no issues . It looks clean and good but the neuropathy symptoms like the stabbing now and then and the intense numbness are still there.
. I massage my feet with CeraVe cream at night and in the morning also I soak my feet nightly in hot water with a couple of ounces of Epsom salt.
Also, use it before bedtime 20 minutes of infrared light shoes and the same in the morning.
I do workout at the gym every day for one hour.
I am 84, walking with a cane for balance and life is as good as I allowed it to be.
Pace.