foot pain is my biggest problem right now! It's supposed to be Erythromelalgia, a little understood condition where there is a problem with the micro-vascular circulation. In my case it is supposed to come from Polycythemia Vera, a condition I have had perhaps 5 years, in which I have too many red cells and platelets. I have gone 5 years with only phlebotomies and blood thinners, but at this point I am desperate and am starting chemo to cut back the platelets. I am taking Hydrea, which I flunked before due to really bad side effects, but this time I"m trying a half dose. If I can just get those platelets down some there's a chance the foot pain will recede to a dull roar....it wasn't so bad over the past 5 years that I could not walk on my feet, although always there was some pain. This is NOT arthritis.

I am interested that MS people have pain too and that drugs such as Gabapentin and Lyrica help. I cannot take those. I took one Lyrica and found it difficult to breathe, at least I felt I had constriction around my diaphragm, which I don't usually have. I am very drug sensitive.

I am in a wheelchair about 75% of the time the past week, so that is what spurred me to give Chemo another try. There was also talk about giving me Intron-A to whack the platelets.