Originally Posted by Marty7ft2

I am just finding this site. I have had peripheral neuropathy for almost 20 years. I have been on medication on it for the last 10 years. The first 10 years I didn't realize what I had and just dealt with the pain. I was a professional athlete so I had access to pain pills and would take those regularly to get by. But looking back I realize the feelings of walking on glass in the bottoms of my feet every morning were just the beginnings of what I have now.

The cause of my PN has never been determined. I have been through every possible test and seen the best doctors in the world. It is quite frustrating not knowing why something is eating away at your body. I have about 10% feeling left in my feet and my legs are like a jigsaw puzzle as far as feeling is concerned. I have, just in the last 8 months, started to lose the use of both of my ulnar nerves. Meaning that my hands will not be long behind my feet.

I have had tons of medicines. I tried Neurotin and it made me blackout and my whole nervous sytem shut down. I have been on topomax now for 10 years and I swear by that as a nerve pain drug. I also take 400mls of tramadol a day. I take 800mils of alleve a day. I also take 200 mils of Zonisamide every night. I also take 3 advil PM every night to help me sleep.

I have had IVIG treatments, where they supply the body with new antibodies to help fight of new illnesses. This really had no effect.

I have had over 300 sets of blood work done in the last 10 years and never had I had one come back out of the norm on anything. Oh did I mention I am 7'2" and weigh 400 pounds.

Originally Posted by Marty7ft2

my doctor doesn't really think it has anything to do with my height or weight. Or any of the tramas I have suffered as a basketball player ...6 knee operations, two ankle operations, degenerative disk disease, arthritis through my entire body, dislocated left shoulder, torn rotator cuff right shoulder. I have also had Bels Palsy on both sides of my face at different times, both with in a years time. I found out of 3% of people that have Bels ever have it on both sides of their face.

As far as family history, I am adopted so that kind of left that out of the mix.