Neuropathy

[livingwith]

I was in Viet Nam during the 60’s and lucky enough to be working with my brother in the Seabees. We were involved with agent orange not knowing what it was or the side effects later on in life.We had work to do and that had to be done.Now later on in life we have sugar,I’m on pills and brother on the needle and also have neuropathy My feet are always burning, cold even when its 90 degrees outside,always feel wet and I put covers on at night it hurts when the covers rub my toes.Many ...Read the full article

[patwhite101]

Hi...
I am a newbie here and my heart aches for you because i too suffer from Neroupathy. Mine was caused by nerve damage from spinal surgery. I have rods and screws in my lumbar spine...L4 & L5 and I also have scar tissue impenging on the nerves. Nothing can be done about the scar tissue....to remove it causes more scaring.
On the 4th. of June I had an SCS implant.(spinal cord stimulator) My pain is in both legs from my knees down into my feet. My foot pain has been savage!! The stimulator is not a cure but a treatment, you trade one sensation(pain) for another sensation(tingling) I will take the tingling any day over the pain!!
The stimulator has reduced my leg pain by 100% and my savage foot pain by 50%!! I was on high doses of narcotics to manage my pain but it did not always work. I still must take narcotics for break thru pain but on a much lower dose!! Woo hoo...I am almost normal again!! I say almost normal coz normal people do not tingle or have a battery in their back that must be recharged every week....then i am good to go another week. The battery is about the size and weight of a silver dollar and will last 10 years. I feel like a wind up toy. LOL
Because of your sugar you may not be able to have the surgery because of slow healing. My incesion for my implant is about 2 & !/2 inches long. Wires are in my spine that must scar into place to keep from slipping.
Before you have the permanent implant you do have a trial to see if the stimulator will help you.
It is worth talking to your Doctor about the stimulator.
As with any surgery thare are risks but for me and a lot of people who suffer with chronic pain, it is well worth the risk. The biggest worry is infection and that is rare and as i said before the lead wires can slip but that can be corrected.
Thare is also a unit called a "Tens" that is an external stimulator that a lot of people swear by. I know very little about it but thare is no surgery involved. Hopefully one of these can help you. Please talk to your Doctor about these two pain treatments.
I understand what you are going thru having gone thru it myself. I hope I have given you and others information that may help you.
BTW....I also found that sleeping with my feet and legs elevated helped my pain a lot. And I must sleep in my socks. It helped me. I am not a diabetic but I have to wear diabetic shoes and socks. I am sure you already wear the diabetic shoes, if not they are worth the money and they are expencive but your insurance will pay for them. I have to pay for mine out of pocket. Ouch!!!
I apologize for such a long post but I hope I have helped you some.
Best of luck to you and may the sun always shine on you.
Patsy