I was walking out of the supermarket, behind my trolley, and I suddenly noticed... nothing. That is, I realized I had zero pain or discomfort. Despite first shopping in another shop for pet food, and then load up on food for us, which is walking/stopping/walking/stopping. Nothing. I even had a bit of a spring in my step after that.

Sure, that doesn't last - although it's about an hour ago and I still feel comfortable - but as we report when we feel bad, it's only fair to also make note of the progress or the better days/moments.

Probably the best I've felt so far, so maybe, even after 5 years, there is still some very small room for improvement. Or, as PN is so baffling, maybe not. ;)

Wide-O. that is great to read - long may it continue :).

Wide-O, thanks for your post. I am having a bad time of it now and came here for hope and reassurance that it can only get better. You gave me that.

Terrible weakness and feeling that my legs are trembling when I stand. The numbness is quite extreme and then comes evening when the burning starts. The pity party, fear and self loathing is a dangerous place for me to be but just for today I will not succumb.

It is a lovely day here. I will try to get out to stumble about for a "walk", but if it is difficult and incites fear and regrets I will not force the issue. Today I must spend the day being kind and nurturing to myself. I would love to escape into the bottle just to forget all my worries just for a day, but I know one day will turn into days, weeks, months or years and so I must never ever go there.

I like a world of "black and white", a world where things make sense and all things can be explained or rationalized. I don't understand why I have made yet another decline with no apparent reason and it frustrates me. Nothing about PN is logical and even doctors have no explanations and offer little incite. I am definitely feeling worse than I ever remember. Somehow today I must get out of my head and try to distract my mind or disconnect my mind from my ailing body.

Thank you for offering me a safe place to vent. I hate to come here to always whine and complain but I can't share with anyone about this. The outside world believes it is my back injury that has caused these crippling effects. Only we know otherwise. :(

Rough day for me, too. Gorgeous weather but I can't take a walk. Every step I take inside the house I am saying, "Ow! Ow! Ouch!" Just a chore to get the laundry done, but at least I did get something accomplished. Hang in there; good days are ahead!

Same. I went to a convenience store for dog food and milk. That was my day.
You also hang in.

SecondChances, I think that we are all here to encourage and support each other.

This is just a thought but maybe your PN is affected by temperature?

It is winter here so is relatively cold. Sometimes my PN flares up a bit in winter but subsides in summer.

As I say, just a thought.

Hang in there guys. Remember I was feeling the absolute worst at 8 months sober.

PN is baffling, and seemingly has no logic. Our bodies are incredibly complicated organisms, and wildly vary. Become your own detective, search for what works, and what hurts.

Medical science is awesome, but has blind spots. With PN the advice is "Maybe, well, um, yeah, eh, ain't it something?" There are many more blind spots (one of them, tinnitus, is my other puzzle, weeks without noticing and then bam, a baffling din under my skull), and maybe this will be fixed one day, maybe not. But you owe it to yourself to a) not despair and b) keep trying things.

Have you tried an anti-inflammatory diet with high dose Omega3 for a few months? Worst thing that could happen is that you get very healthy and learn a lot of new recipes! ;). Seriously, give it a try, it worked for me.

This is just a thought but maybe your PN is affected by temperature?

It is winter here so is relatively cold. Sometimes my PN flares up a bit in winter but subsides in summer.


I too have noticed that cold and damp makes things worse but it is summer here and last few days have been absolutely gorgeous.

Wide-O, I am on a mostly anti inflammatory diet. I discontinued my Omega vitamins months ago when I ran out and wanted to do some research on a safe brand. I had read that some of them contain high mercury levels.

Thanks for your empathy and your suggestions.