Osteoarthritis pain as well as neuropathy in my feet.

Posted by mrmacabre @mrmacabre, Jan 30 2:56pm

I just became aware of the site a couple of days ago with some prodding from my wife, thankfully. I've been retired and on permanent disability since July of 2015. This meant walking away from my job after close to 17 years with my employer, and it also meant that we had to sell our home and move in with our son and his family.

I'm suffering with severe pain in my knees, hips, and lower back due to Osteoarthritis. I also have arthritis in my right elbow, as well as my neck. Between October of 2011 and November of 2018, I had surgery a dozen times on my knees, elbow, and my neck.
I had to have spinal fusion surgery on my neck on 2 different occasions, and have had surgery of my left knee a total of 4 times, where they only did a partial replacement.

Long story short, I'm living with chronic pain due to the osteoarthritis, as well as Idiopathic Poly Neuropathy in my feet and lower legs, which compounds my current existence.
I've seen several neurologists, as well as 2 neurosurgeons, and have had every test they have to determine the cause of my neuropathy, and everything came back "normal". ( No, I'm not diabetic, not even close. )

Everyday is same, pain and numbness in varying degrees of intensity, depending on the weather(we live in the PNW) and how much physical activity, if any, that I do. It's very draining physically, as well as mentally. I've been taking 2 anti-depressents for several years now, along with 7 other prescription drugs for pain, nerve pain, gout prevention, blood pressure, and swelling in my feet.

I'm not sure how much longer I'm willing to live like this. I'll be 66 next month, and it's already been a decade of chronic pain and numbness affecting just about every aspect of my life.
I've very lucky to have been married to my awesome wife for almost 43 years, and we have 2 kids who now are married with families of their own. We've got 4 awesome grandkids from the ages of almost 17, almost 13, 8, and 5 years old. Unbelievable how fast they're growing up.
Does this sound like anyone else's current situation in their lives? What do you do to deal with your chronic pain? Does anything help with the neuropathy other than massive doses of Gabapentin?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

mrmacabre | @mrmacabre | Feb 11 4:15pm

In reply to @wendyhobbie "Unfortunately, pain management at 70 is every waking moment…" + (show)

I agree 100%.

bobweller | @bobweller | Feb 12 9:10am

You might like this suggestion but I found medical marijuana helps my pain at night. I use it primarily at night to help relax and go to sleep. However, my state has medical marijuana program and just passed another law to legalize it. I still get my medical marijuana card each year since it provides for all products at all levels of strength. You don't need to go overboard. Sometimes the oral products like gummies or chocolates with both cdb and thc in them. Good luck. Some doctors don't like this too so be aware.

1kay2 | @1kay2 | Feb 12 7:42pm

I certainly empathy feel for you. I try anything to avoid surgery. Pain can make life so unpleasant. you are very happy to have family to take you in. I am alone and it is sometimes unbearable. I rely on the Lord for my strength.

lindag65 | @lindag65 | Feb 12 10:01pm

I’m really sorry to hear all that you’ve been going through. It sounds like an incredibly tough journey, and I can feel the weight of it just from reading your story. Chronic pain is such a relentless thing—it’s hard to describe to others unless they’ve been through it themselves, but it affects every part of life. It’s not just the physical pain, but the mental and emotional toll that comes with it too. I can totally relate to that feeling of being drained, both physically and mentally.

I’ve been dealing with chronic pain as well, and I know how exhausting it can be, especially when you don’t see much relief. Over time, you end up trying a lot of different things just to make it through the day. One thing that has helped me, though, is using a heating pad with far infrared technology. I know it might sound like another “try this, try that” kind of thing, but honestly, it’s been a bit of a game changer for me. The heat really gets deep into the muscles and joints, and I find that it helps with the soreness and stiffness that comes with long-term pain.

I get that you’re already juggling a lot with your medications, but sometimes, adding something like this can be a small, extra bit of comfort without adding more pills to the mix. It’s not a cure-all, but I’ve found it gives me some relief in between everything else. It doesn’t take the pain away completely, but it does ease it, even if just for a little while, and that’s something.

I really hope you find something that works for you, something that helps take the edge off. I know it’s easy to feel like you’ve tried everything, but it sounds like you’ve got the kind of resilience that can keep you looking for new ways to ease your pain, and that alone is worth something. You’ve got a beautiful family and an amazing support system—that counts for so much. Hang in there, and I truly hope you find some relief soon.