Since95, I was on SSRIs for a while in the 90's combined with tricyclics, now a 'no no'. There have been times I wonder how much these drugs caused. I can not touch anything with the least amount of SSRI in it or I get a total autonomic meltdown.

I have no explanation for how I got PN, but I know now I have an autoimmune condition.....of dubious causes.

SSRIs are not the benign drugs they have been played out to be....and they are hidden in compounds for many conditions. I had a Zofran shot for nausea that caused 8 hours of non-dopamine responsive dystonia! Zofran is a type of SSRI. Tramadol has SSRI. Be careful.

I absolutely hate hate hate hate to admit that this hideous drug of ill repute is the only drug that actually gives me a semblance of normalcy in my surgically ripped up feet. The tramadol, even oxycodone, don't do what that white pill does for me. When I try to taper off the Lyrica, my feet begin burning and aching and feeling just flat out crappy. My PN hasn't moved. It stays in my toes. I have no problem sleeping. But...to wake up to that numbness, burning and aching is so depressing. Sleep is so nice....I'm pain free. I used to be so athletic. I ran marathons....at 6'4"! Played hockey with my kids...downhill skiing. 16 Years at Lifetime Fitness. Now....fat...out of shape....but a wife that loves me...and two wonderful adult children. I guess it's okay.

You bet your sweet bibby it's Okay and you hang on to that wife and those 2 children like life support in the middle of the Pacific and your just floating there!!!

Your feelings so accurately characterize what so many of us feel so don't feel bad about blathering...it can be cathartic and we all do it. I have tried to positioned myself around the belief that I don't have to be comfortable to function. That comfort is a desire, not a need. Somehow that gives me strength and determination when I am feeling victimized by this whole thing.

We are all so different and this disease/condition affects us each so differently, what works for one, won't work for another. We can only try to do what makes us the most comfortable, or at least function-able so that we can normalize our lives as best as possible.
I will go to any lengths, within my means, to try to normalize my life. I will not invest in the Brooklyn Bridge on a wild goose chase.
That causes stress, and stress is a BIG factor in my PN flares/episodes.
Early in the game (my initial Dx), I frantically searched for the 'magic bullet' and found that it is, at this point in time, realization and acceptance - that relieves the stress factor, and allows me to normalize- thru my meds & treatment. I've come to 'live with it', until a 'cure' can be found.

wiser words were never spoken.....its hard to get to that point of acceptance and i havent yet though i do realize, but acceptance is vital to coming to terms with the whole thing and living the best life you can.

Most of me accepts that PN is going to be with me for the rest of my life since it came on six years ago. Lucky for me it's never progressed past my knees, although I notice quirky things like I can no longer feel injections in my arms. The "pain" aspect of it hasn't gone past my knees, it's just those occasional flares that cause me to go 4-6 weeks with excruciating pain that I can't accept. I'm just out of a six week cycle, brought on myself trying to wean myself from flexeril, bad mistake, I have to accept that my med cocktail is what keeps me at a tolerable level. It works and that acceptance is what I need to come to terms with, and yes I do occassionally have a pity party and want the old me back, but its a party of one so its over rather quickly.....Coming here has been more beneficial than anything else, we are all in this together!

I just went back to my old post, because I am in a bad way again....and after reading your post, I feel so much like you in your assessment of the PN condition. How in the world did these feet fail me? They worked so well for so many years, and I sure took them for granted.
I mean....I remember taking my socks off after some serious rounds of tennis, or running a marathon, and complaining about blisters!
I only wish I had blisters to complain about. Because, if I had blisters, I would be active again, and my feet would be normal. It is all so said.

I know how you feel =( my neuropthy is getting worse every day, now they have changed it to polyneuropthy and i am between treatments, its so hard to make it through a day when you dont know what to expect. I thought i was alone dealing with the cronci and always worsining pain untill i found this group, it does help but not knowing whats the next step makes it hard to cope. You try to think tomorrow will be better but you just never know..the pain had a mind of its own. Your not alone =)