Anyone have Peripheral neuropathy (or know of someone with i

[azsnowman]

What a depressing day....I was diagnosed with Peripheral neuropathy today, one of the most painful things I've EVER had to deal with. I've been suffering for over a year and not ONE doctor picked up on this disease until today. Ya know what really sucks? There's no cure for it!

I had surgery on both my feet, right foot was just done a few months ago and now I come to find out it was unnecessary, that pisses me off more than finding out I have an uncureable disease! I've done some research on this crippling disease today, there are drugs out there that will ease the pain (narcotics, LEGAL narcotics!), antidepresents etc., etc.

It wakes me up EVERY single morning at 0230 and I'll stay in bed till 0300, makes for one heckuva long day I am tired all the time and GROUCHY as an old bear comin out of hibernation...oh what I would give to sleep till 0600-0700 but those days I'm afraid are LONG gone

AH well, gimme Percocet, Hyrdocodone, Oxycodone and a BEER and I'll live! JUST kidding (well, kinda!)

If you do have it or know of someone, what do you take and does it help?

[azsnowman]

I was prescribed Neurontin (600 mgs. for a week, then up to 1200 mgs.), nortriptolyne (sp) and 40 mgs. of Hydrocodone a day.

[breeze]

Dennis, I worked for five years as a nurse for a neurologist. We diagnosed a lot of
peripheral neuropathy. The Neurontin (gabapentin) is an older med, but tried-and-true
to help relieve symptoms for mose people. For others, there are now newer meds on
the market, such as Cymbalta, which is actually an anti-depressant, but is found to
help relieve neuropathic symptoms in many. Then there's Lyrica - it tends to have
less side effects than Cymbalta, but effectively reduces some of the tingling and
burning sensations that can torment one with neuropathy. It can take several weeks
to start feeling some relief from any of these meds. The Neurontin may make you feel
weird, i.e. groggy and spaced-out for a week or two, but hang in there - once it levels
off in your system, you should be able to tell a positive difference.

Get to feeling better!

~Annette~

[artist]

check your pm's

[Squarethecircle]

That sounds like it really sucks. Looked up the symptoms and they're all pretty nasty.

But you'll probably pull through, just keep on moving.

[JonathanBelles]

sorry to hear the the foot surgery was unnecessary especially with all the pain you went through. I hope the pain does ease. Sorry to hear of the diagnosis. Keep us updated.

[Pburgh]

Oh Dennis, that sucks. How did they diagnose it? Let me know if I can help in any way. If you need someone to talk to - I'm here for ya my friend.
Gentle ((HUGS)) Karan/aka Dink

[Cookiely]

My brother in law has peripheral neuropathy. He went into a swimming pool and couldn't feel the sand on the bottom. When he came out his feet were completely abraded and bleeding. He lost part of his foot to gangrene. He was in the hospital last week for an abcess on his toe and they are trying to save his big toe from amputation. Be very careful about any wound that should arise and get it promptly treated. Another friend has it (no diabetes) and her main complaint is falling. Several times she has injured herself falling because her feet are numb. I have a very bad right arm (severed nerve from breast cancer surgery), and the electric pains and insomnia are severe. I've tried various meds but none helped enough to keep me asleep. I'll pray for you.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

I will pray for you. I hope that the medicines make you feel better
and take away the bad symptoms.

[Dionne]

I'm told I have peripheral neuropathy. At least that is what the VA has diagnosed. Mine is the result of a service connected traumatic injury. Double compound fracture tib/fib lower right. The neuropathy was aggravated by years of active alcoholism after Army discharge. Trust me on this one.....you cannot drink and drug this diagnosis away.

Similar to you.....sleep is frequently interrupted with discomfort. So....I just get up....irregardless of the time.

I went as far as to seek professional help in the private sector. Went and saw a high dollar neurologist. The diagnosis was similar, although the doctor was reluctant to tag it as PN due to the nature of the injury. In simple terms.....I've got a bad leg.

The most disturbing aspect of the neuropathy is that there have been ocassions, lasting weeks at a time, when my foot was completely without coordination.

I don't have any feeling.....at least not normal feeling anywhere from the injury on down to my foot. My right shoe always wears out long before the left. I'm always bumping into things with my right foot. You get used to it.

For meds.....I keep a supply of hydrocodone....but rarely use the stuff. My opinion of hydrocodone is that it relieves pain for one hour then makes you incredibly stupid for another three hours. I also keep Coumadin.....which is to prevent a blood clot from forming at the injury site.....which has happened and resulted in a PE. Which is the real bummer.

Don't let it stop you from enjoying life. I've been dealing with it for 37 years. The pain can be managed. But, I hate to tell you....mine seems to be getting worse as the years pass.

My brother in law recently suggested I try Tylenol PM before bedtime. It helps and IMHO is better than narcotics.