Unbearable Neuropathy

Posted by louise@lou @suzed, May 27, 2023

The peripheral neuropathy which is largely on bottom of foot is extremely hard to walk on with the inflamed pain. Pregabalin doesn't help, nor lidocaine patches. And since I'm walking abnormally, foot is ruined even further.
I find myself unable to do simple tasks with the chronic pain of PN. I suggested to my pain specialist seeing a neurologist, but he informed me we have to get the pain under control first. That hasn't HAPPENED. At a loss what to do.

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@gina5009

It sounds like your arch supports may have reached their limits. I remember being at ReHab and having the therapist suddenly deciding to check my balance (this was when I was about 70). He indicated it was pretty good (for my age). I am now 92. I am very careful in how I turn. Slowly, and carefully. I can be off balance in the blink of an eye. Something about the quick turn. I do take Pregabolin for TMJ and recently had an episode that concerned me enough to call the neurologist (I never do this). I was watching TV and suddenly realized I had been (asleep) for some time. No rememberance of being tired. Did I sleep or did I pass out? Suggestion, reduce Pregabolin, and check with Cardiolgist. I now take only one Pregabolin and no further problems. So sometimes, there just is no way to know what is causing the problem and we have to become our own Sherlock Holmes. Good Luck. Signed Dr. Watson
Gina5009

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Hello, Dr. Watson! LOL Ah, yes, quick turns. They are a problem for me too. I notice it every day first thing in the morning when I go down the path to fetch our morning paper, which is ordinarily lying on the sidewalk. As I reach the end of the, I make a point to come to a full stop, then look both ways (which can require turning my whole body) to be sure there are no joggers or dog-walkers coming fast my way. The unexpected arrival of a jogger or dog-walker is all it takes for me to lose my balance. If someone is coming, I stay where I am so that I can offer a cheery "Good morning!" without falling on my tush. LOL. ––Ray (@ray666)

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@ray666

Hello, Dr. Watson! LOL Ah, yes, quick turns. They are a problem for me too. I notice it every day first thing in the morning when I go down the path to fetch our morning paper, which is ordinarily lying on the sidewalk. As I reach the end of the, I make a point to come to a full stop, then look both ways (which can require turning my whole body) to be sure there are no joggers or dog-walkers coming fast my way. The unexpected arrival of a jogger or dog-walker is all it takes for me to lose my balance. If someone is coming, I stay where I am so that I can offer a cheery "Good morning!" without falling on my tush. LOL. ––Ray (@ray666)

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Sounds reasonable to me. I was standing at my counter today getting some coffee pods. Decided to move over to the sink. As I began to move, my sliders, didn't slide and I began to fall. Fortunately I had a good hold on the sink counter and missed this fall. It could have been bad, because it was on my right side, which has a shoulder replacement. Thank goodness, someone was watching over me. Just another day in the exciting life of seniors.
Gina5009

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I would like to talk more about this issue to better understand why and hows of it all. I'm a 67yo who now uses a cane and in pain and swelling, I don't understand this. I have to change my lifestyle. I feel like I've aged ten years and I look like that. Everyday is a challenge. I'm under a doctor's care. I use a cane because I have to. If anyone else knows what I'm saying please let me know. Thanks for your support.

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@leer67

I would like to talk more about this issue to better understand why and hows of it all. I'm a 67yo who now uses a cane and in pain and swelling, I don't understand this. I have to change my lifestyle. I feel like I've aged ten years and I look like that. Everyday is a challenge. I'm under a doctor's care. I use a cane because I have to. If anyone else knows what I'm saying please let me know. Thanks for your support.

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@leer67 sounds like you have decided to “wear my shoes”.
I understand those thoughts and the feelings you expressed. I would guess that many of us on here can relate.
Ten years ago when I was 64, I was 50 pounds slimmer, had a personal trainer at the gym, and felt marvelous.
Now, as you alluded to, our lives have changed and we don’t want to be that old sick person in the mirror.
Things happen. Good, bad, or indifferent, things happen to all of us as time goes on. I’m stuck with a cane and a walker. However I survived a very rare autoimmune disease a few years ago. I still suffer from fibromyalgia, occipital neuralgia, osteoarthritis, polyneuropathy, and Vasculitis.

What can we do about this new us, and how it makes us feel? We are allowed to mourn our former selves. However, we can’t get stuck there.
We can think about all the good things that remain steady in our lives I guess.

Wishing you a happy weekend!

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@SusanEllen66

@leer67 sounds like you have decided to “wear my shoes”.
I understand those thoughts and the feelings you expressed. I would guess that many of us on here can relate.
Ten years ago when I was 64, I was 50 pounds slimmer, had a personal trainer at the gym, and felt marvelous.
Now, as you alluded to, our lives have changed and we don’t want to be that old sick person in the mirror.
Things happen. Good, bad, or indifferent, things happen to all of us as time goes on. I’m stuck with a cane and a walker. However I survived a very rare autoimmune disease a few years ago. I still suffer from fibromyalgia, occipital neuralgia, osteoarthritis, polyneuropathy, and Vasculitis.

What can we do about this new us, and how it makes us feel? We are allowed to mourn our former selves. However, we can’t get stuck there.
We can think about all the good things that remain steady in our lives I guess.

Wishing you a happy weekend!

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Yes, you are a wise person. I now feel the same after I mourned and beat myself up and focused on dealing with this and how to live and focus on helping me to help myself, even when I don't feel like it. I won't allow myself to give up, so thanks again for your support ✨

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@leer67

I would like to talk more about this issue to better understand why and hows of it all. I'm a 67yo who now uses a cane and in pain and swelling, I don't understand this. I have to change my lifestyle. I feel like I've aged ten years and I look like that. Everyday is a challenge. I'm under a doctor's care. I use a cane because I have to. If anyone else knows what I'm saying please let me know. Thanks for your support.

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I'd like to add my welcome, @leer67. I hope you'll also add your picture to your profile.

I think you might also be interested in this related discussion:
- Unbearable Neuropathy: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/unbearable-neuropathy/

Can you share a bit more? What are you changing in your lifestyle? Are you changing things to improve your health? Or are you referring to how the changes to your mobility are necessitating lifestyle changes? Or both?

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I believe many doctors know or suspect the cause but won't test for the suspected cause because of what will come to the light of day. Heavy metals that include the MRI contrast Gadolinium cause severe neuropathy and doing just a blood test is not enough to detect because those toxins won't stay in the blood very long, those toxins get stored in bones, soft tissue and organs where they do horrible damage. Dirty little secrets.....

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If your insurance allows you to see any MD without a referral, I would suggest going ahead with seeing a neurologist. My primary care doctor said that my allodynia (pain on the skin of my back) was just something I would have to live with, and that seeing a neurologist would not help. I went ahead anyway, and it proved to be very helpful for another issue I didn't even realize was neurological in nature. These guys are specialists.
Good luck to you.

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Go see a Neurologist...but don't let anyone talk you into any more foot surgeries. Do as much research into the real world we live in and educate yourself so you can believe in yourself first. Don't blindly trust someone because they have credentials. There are good and bad in every profession.

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@oatmeal

Go see a Neurologist...but don't let anyone talk you into any more foot surgeries. Do as much research into the real world we live in and educate yourself so you can believe in yourself first. Don't blindly trust someone because they have credentials. There are good and bad in every profession.

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Thank you 💕 My feet are feeling really strange pain and swelling mainly it's my left side is far worse for me. I don't know why. You have been very helpful, started me thing again 💕✨

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