I had three doctors in 1993-5 tell me there was nothing wrong with my feet. The skin color was good and I had a good pulse in both feet. One offered tranquilizers and a referral to a psychiatrist. None did a neurological screening.

I finally got a referral to a neurologist who gave it a name but no treatment and no hope. Naming it meant a lot to me and my wife. The pain was incredible and debilitating back then...from running and backpacking to hobbling in a month with all the fear and unknowns. At its worst, I had no ankle reflex in my right foot and only 25% in my left, really bad balance, and little proprioceptive feedback from my leg muscles. Five years of yoga really helped the reflexes, balance, and muscle sense.

Now we know that chronic pain IS in your head, but not like those arrogant and incompetent docs meant it back then. The issue is, what to do about it. I'm doing much better now with the program at http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...p?t=177&page=2 (items #18, 19, 20) but am still in pain, even though I walk or hike daily without a limp.

I'm lucky and know it. Reading postings like dahlek's breaks my heart.
With generalized autoimmune syndrome, steroids and drugs like methaltrexate (sp?) can only help to a degree before the side effects become life threatening. Good diet, fish oil and other supplements, and exercise through the pain might help and wouldn't hurt. I hope dahlek reads the linked program and gets some ideas that help.

Y'all have a great day with renewed hope and energy. We all care about each other here. If wished were cures, we'd all be feeling fine and be older, wiser, and happier for the PN experience.