Oh yes I was in pain,teeth crushing pain,screaming pain.What did I do
metal from knees to ancle's have a tarsal tunnel con job. Insurance
paid for it then...But so many done to people in pain and elderly,it
helped to make things so much worth..I can even talk about it. But
please don't even consider it... Sue and I know I'm the one
who said yes,hope none of you do..

Sue I am so sorry for all you have gone through and still do. You have a good outlook and I try to remind myself to focus on what I can do and try to leave the rest up to what happens. It is so hard as you know. I will say after so many doc apts and so many opinions even docs being negative about other docs or there ideas for treatment it will take a lot for me to do anything invasive. I know things can always be worse and yes there is a chance it could get better from an invasive treatment but its like winning the lotto and my luck sucks. I will say I feel doc prey on people. I have felt like this from inpatient treatment even before the pain. People are volnerable and want help so they can charge crazy fees for hope. Do you know inpatient treatment a day is 1600 a day. This is not the ritz at all. You share a room,crappy food etc. Sorry to get off a little. Even the holistic doc for pain I saw I felt was trying to be a sales person having me buy off his website. I don't know we have more technology now but I feel the care is different. Before you would call after hours and there would be a number to call now 9 out of 10 times it says call 911.

You are so right Cyclelops--PN is in other parts of the body and even if you have a clue, the doc doesn't. I know it's in other parts of my body and they don't believe me. I know it's in, how do I say this--everywhere. I can lay a heating pad on my tummy, and not feel the heat. I get a UTI and I do not feel the pain until it's really bad, the neuropathy masks it so well. Still, the doctors will say, "Why did you wait so long to come in?" I know it's there, but convincing them is another story! I guess it's the small fiber neuropathy--who knows?

My last visit to the neuro, he shoved his fingers into the nerves in my shoulders and says, "Your shoulders are not in good shape!" Well, they have been on fire since that day, especially the right one (last Friday)! Next visit, in April, I may take a ball bat with me. Why would a doctor, who is suppose to know all about nerves, press so hard on a nerve, that he injures it? The nerve is all bunched up now and I have so much pain, laying on a heating pad every night--I am so angry with him!

I used to use heating pads when I was younger, for my aches and pains.
Then my knee dislocated in 1998 and I went to a chiro who explained that HEAT creates more pain, when nerves are involved. She advised me no longer than 10min with heat. Put an ice pack back there instead.
Also if you have a specific point where the pain is give Salonpas patches a try. I have used them on the back many times and they take the pain away for me in a day or two. I wrenched my shoulder trying to fix a bumper on our boat 3 years ago... and Salonpas saved me. Infact I use them EVERYWHERE esp the feet.
http://www.salonpas.us/salonpas.php
This is the version with the active ingredients-- they are not all the same!
You can stack the small ones -- I used 3 for my shoulder. They are not expensive either. Alot of relief for little money.

To You Mrs D My 91 Yr Old Aunt Agrees,her Dr. Said Yes To
Them And She Is Very Happy...so Thanks For Yor Advice.
Big Hugs Sue

So she tried them? That's great! I'd be miserable without mine.

Darlind no one touches me now on my extreme areas which are my legs. I learned after 10 docs that it sends me back into vicodin every few hour pain. Even after I went to the internist and she touched another area where I am less sensitive I hurt for days. That is the issue it is one thing to not get any help from a doc but to come out worse is not ok. So now they say I want to touch your legs and I say NO I have had all the tests and repeats done so there is no need. They feel the same as other legs. Most comply now. I will not come out worse from trying to get help anymore.
On that note do people feel no only in there severe areas that other parts are very sensitive. I have become so sensitive my whole body. I lift something even small and my back hurts for days. I wish I could return my body and get a new one. I wish they would stop coming up with new plastic surgery stuff for cosmetic issues and start researching more help for people like us.

Thanks, I will definitely see if I can find these patches!!!! I also will not let him touch my neck and shoulders again!!!!

Mrs. D, I was interested to read about the Salonpas patches. My husband has polycystic kidney disease and cannot take any anti-inflammatories for muscle/joint aches and pains. I didn't know if the "salicitate" referred to a form of aspirin that might be absorbed into his body?????? I will check with his doctor before I will let him try them, but I was just curious about the absorption.

It is always a good idea to ask. But there is not much in the patch...just enough to get to the site. I've never had a systemic effect, ie. relief of pain elsewhere with them. And they are small.

When you use a drug orally it gets diluted thru the whole body.
A patch like this will send only a minute amount into the body, while concentrating it locally where the patch is applied. If you apply HEAT like with any patch, you can drive the drug into the blood stream.

The patches work better IMO because when there is inflammation, there is reduced blood circulation too. By using the medication locally you send the med directly to the target, so much less is needed. Some of an orally used drug may never reach the target!

This is why some PTs use dexamethasone in a process called an iontophoresis.
http://www.ptjournal.org/cgi/content/abstract/83/2/161

The principle is similar only much more modest with Salonpas.