[livingwith]

Hi, I’m 23 and I have been diagnosed with neuropathy about two months ago.
The pain is unbeliveable. I can’t sleep, I can’t work, and I can’t do anything. I have no energy at all. I’m depressed and I have been to three different doctors and nobody can tell me what to do to relieve the pain.
I’m taking gabenpentin three times a day. I’m on sleep medication, and I’m only meds for depression. No one in my family has this but me. No one understands th...Read the full article

[MikeM]

Terri- I sympathise with your frustration with the pain, having had similar neuropathy for more than a year. I want to share what seems to work for me. Medications can be useful, so use prescribed meds that relieve pain. I take one low-dose amytryptaline tablet before sleep. It seems to help me get enough rest, which I think is very important to coping with my condition. Unlike you, I am lucky enough to have a job. During the week my job engages my attention thoroughly, and I've noticed I'm worse at weekends. So I conclude that any activity that diverts your attention from the pain is useful (including prayer and meditation if possible). I'm lucky enough to have a hot tub at my apartment, and a thourough soak in that can give some relief to symptoms. Don't give up on your usual activities, even though you are depressed. I love ballrooom dancing, and though I'm restricted compared to what I used to do, I find it uplifting that I can still make progress in dancing (this astonishes me, considering that my pain at night can be excrutiating). Above all, don't give up hope. Research your condition, and share your experience, even on this site!

[imlicious]

Hi Terrry yes I too have neuropathy. Its a nightmare!! I am now 25 yrs old, but I was 22 when I first started having those horrible pains that no doctor could tell me was. I have been on so many meds and I too am on neurontin (gabapetin) three times daily. I cant tell you how releived I was when i first started taking that medicine. Now it takes 3-4 hrs for it to kick in. I find myself eating it like candy b/c the pain always kicks in b4 it does. Im depressed all the time and im crying right now as i type im sad and glad im not the only one. This is something i would not wish anyone to have. Do your legs get so hot they could cook something??? Mine do. Last night they were so hot my b/f could feel the heat coming from them. I wish there were a cure. Also did you ever try to get disability for this?? I hope that one day something will cure us

[nrfarley]

Hi Terri
I'm 57 years old and i have been living with pain since I was 21 I have had 7 knee surgery's and have
many back problems due to my bad knees, I have worked with children with Autisim for the past 17
years which has ment more to me than I can tell. I have sufferd with pain for a long time but when I would see the pain of Autisim some how my pain was not so bad. Two months ago I had a pinched nerve in my back and Bursitis in my right buttocks, I was chasing after one of my autistic kids and fell down and hit my head on the floor. This was not my first fall it was probably my tenth, I whent to a Orthopaedic Dr. and he sent me for a MRI which showed that I had a pinched nerve in my back. The Dr. recomended that I have Epidural blocks so I whent to my pain management DR. and told him of my num feat and legs. He sent me for a NCV test which showed that I have Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy. I have not returned to work since and I miss my kids at school so bad. The day after Thanksgiving are dog died that we had for 15 years. I was so depressed I thought I would not get another dog because i could not keep up with it. But after 2 weeks I decided I did not whant to be home all day alone so my wife and I got a new Beagle puppy. Little did I know that this was the best medicine I could have gotten.The Pain Dr. put me on Lyrica and Baclofen for leg cramps and Oxycodone for when the pain is real bad. I try to walk Brandy every day but some times I have to turn back soon because my legs or ankles will hurt. I miss my work and my kids my wife has been very supportive of me which i'm so thankfull. But let me tell you all sometihng with 36 years of pain most people do not whant to hear aboult it, and if you think your going to get people to listen to your problems they probably won't. Most people today including your family are so wrapt up in there own lives that they don't whant to hear your problems. People have there own problems that thay think are worse. It is sad but true I grew up in the 50's and people were more compassionate back then. Today we have to go to wep post to get people to listen to us. Well here we are, and we will have to make the best of it. So don't give up, keep your mind busy, and if you need some one to talk to, come back here were ready to listen.

Your Pain Buddy Neal

[rcsmalley]

Terry, I am 29 and please look at my post if it helps any. Robert

[grannyq]

I totally understand how you feel! One thing is, deal with the depression. It is a natural byproduct of constant pain. Ask you doctor to prescribe something. The other thing I have found is to find something that distracts you while you keep after your doctor for solution. Since my feet bother me but aren't actually painful, I kinda "stomp" repeatedly to confuse the nerve endings and make it stop for a while. Many I night I get up and do this so that I can eventually get some sleep. I was on 4000 mg of neurontin as well the max dose of Kepra and pain killers, antidepressants and stuff for other issues as well. We switched from the neurontin to Lyrica and I can at least stand it better now. My legs jerk me awake and my feet burn and feel numb at the same time. Body aches, fatigue, tingling hands and arms. Too weird for the doctor to grasp but I have a really good doctor who listens to me. If you don't, it is time to start your search til you find one who will try to understand and not treat you like a hypocondriac. YOU AREN'T. You are suffering and deserve understanding. Find that good doctor no matter how expensive they are- it's worth it to your health and mental well being. But trust me, the anti-depression meds are a must! You need other stuff too, but if you don't get a handle on the depression, it can drive you crazy.