[Stiffy]

Hello, and here is my story

In 2005 I had a very stressful year. My stress comes out in my muscles, and I began to get very stiff all over my body (also exhausted and unable to undwind). Around Christmas that year my hands and feet both became stiff and painful over a period of two days. I went to foot doctors who wanted to treat me for the usual foot issues, which this was not and is not to this day. The hand therapist didn't provide any help.

In March 2006 I started to take benzodiazapines for muscle issues. The result has been a horrible experience with a complete change in my life when I discovered I was dependent (not addicted) on them. I spent 15 months tapering off Klonopin and at 7 months off I have continued symptoms while my body continues to heal.

BUT, though all this my hands and feet did not heal up. I believed it was nerves that caused it the first place, and I still do. All my other stress symptoms were gone by the time I got off the Klonopin, but my hands and feet remain stiff and painful (no weakness, no hot/cold issues, no burning, no real numbness, though going off the K made my hands and feet much worse at the first 4-5 months off the drug--kind of a rebound or just an exacerbation of an existing problem.

I have been to a neuorologist--no nerve damage. I have been to a rheumatologist--no fibro, no CFS, no rheumatoid arthritis, no anything. I have a great deal of trouble walking. I still hope when my nervous system is complete healed from benzo withdrawal the nerves in my hands and feet will heal too.

I am completely healthy except for a low vitamin D due to being housebound during the taper. I guess I also now have osteopenia, but I don't think that would be a factor. B12 is normal, though I have heard I should have further tests that would better identify a B12 deficiency.

Has anyone on this board ever heard of anyhting like this? Could my peripheral nerves still be in some really bad shape (no nerve damage) and be taking 3.5 years to heal. Being off them does not make them better, or I would ahve improved while being so sick during withdrawal.

Thanks for any thoughts. Stiffy