I was in an ATV accident three years ago next week. I have a brain injury and from that came one thing after another. I had to relearn to walk, talk, read, write, type, drive, still working on cooking, working on math, working on spelling again. I have horrible pain among a zillion other problems.
I used to walk for miles and miles a day, now with the burning, stabbing, pain in my feet I can't wear socks, shoes, only sandals and only for a while. I can't let anyone or anything touch my feet. I can't even sleep with a sheet touching me, I have to hike the blanket up to my knees, I have to keep my feet in ice water about 10 times a day, then put Mineral Ice on my feet at night, it helps slightly, but my feet swell all day and all night and they are cracked and at times bleed, I can't put lotion or oil on them because it is like lighter fluid and the burning worsens. I have gained over 50 pounds because I can't do the things I used to do because of the severe pain in my feet. The doctors keep giving me drugs and all the drugs do is make my brain seizures worse causing a six day headache and doing nothing at all for the pain.
What can I do? I am serious about this next comment, if I can't get the pain to go away I want my feet amputated and have prosthetic ones. I have to go places in wheel chairs at times, or not go at all. I have to keep my feet up like in a recliner at all times or it is even worse. Is there anyone out there who has this problem? I saw on TV a gal who has Erythromyalgia, she has the exact same symptoms as I do. Is there help?

There are central pain syndromes (in the head) and peripheral ones.

Is your pain only in your feet?

What drugs are you on? Do you use a calcium channel blocker?
These are used for blood pressure. And can cause Erythromyelgia.

The cracked and bleeding are a big concern. Have you been evaluated for RSD?

Overuse of the mineral ice may be defatting the skin. Taking essential fatty acids in the diet/by mouth may improve the skin. You may be reacting to something in the Mineral Ice also that is causing some reaction. I'd stop using it for now.

Have you tried lidocaine? There are gels you can apply, or patches. With bleeding skin however, this limits their use.

Do the feet burn more in one place or all over? Do your hands burn too? Most PN's affect other body parts. When localized like this it implies some trigger.

There are metabolic things to help. Thiamine in high doses sometimes helps people with burning. A special form called
benfotiamine is even better.

I would get a serum B12 run to see if you are low. Also a vit D level (you can get them at the same time.) Very low B12 will make nerves act up and cause pain.

Were your feet always like this? Even before the accident?
If so that implies another cause that is overlapping your injury.

Please visit our PN forum, and RSD forums. There are people there getting hyperbaric oxygen at RSD and also at PN there are people trying various interventions to make pain less.
example:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread54186.html

Try to hang on for a while longer...I know it is very hard, in the place where you are at now. Perhaps one of us will be your answer.

welcome to Neuro Talk jonismith, there are many forums here and many helpful kind hearted people here, jump in anywhere and again welcome to NT

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Great to see you have come to be with us. Just let us know if we can be of any help.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene

Hi and Welcome to Neuro Talk. There is lots of information here and a lot of warm hearted people.

Hi and welcome to NeuroTalk! So glad you joined the group! Please let us know if you have questions or need help navigating around the forums.

Hi, Jonismith! Welcome to NeuroTalk!

Have you seen a neurological pain specialist? There may be a better treatment out there for you. Please think long and hard about amputation, a guy I know lost his leg to bone cancer and has phantom pain that he says is as real as the actual pain!