It is hard to try and stay positive when your dealing with pain and no idea why your suffering and you cant get a decent D;x of what the heck is going on, I have SFN, and I swear its killing me a little bit every day, how can you describe the pain and the weird body symptoms to your loved ones,?, I cant do it, there are no words to describe it, I dont remember when I laughed hard either at somtthing, when you are in pain you are just trying to get to the next minute

Getting back to the old normal self for me is a dream that I cant see coming true, eventually the neuropathy will win out,, and then what,? it surely is no way to live,

Even waking up in hte morning you know its going to be a repeat of the day before, I cant drive anymore so I;m stuck in the house all day with just my dog and a computer and my pain, its no wonder I want to go to bed at 7pm or sooner,, it takes everything out of you just to endure the few hours we get any sleep, and to get up and face another day of this nonsense

Hi Feel the Burn,

The big smelly fish is that your pain is not being adequately addressed/treated. This is something to hash out with your docs (which causes me to wonder, if you can't describe your pain/symptoms to loved ones, how do you describe it to your docs?) With docs, it's not just describing pain as symptoms (which are subjective) but perhaps more importantly, what effects pain is having on your day-to-day life.

I find some good ideas googling: describing pain and adjectives describing pain

We all have to be our own advocates; if they're not doing their job, it may be time to consider whether they're the right doctor(s) for you.

Also, has anyone suggested pain counseling? I know it's not for everyone, but I also know some folks for whom it's made a huge difference.

If conditions were different, I might take it as a personal challenge to give you a big belly-laugh, but since you have a dog, I think that job is likely taken.

Doc

Here IS the first one:
http://painconsortium.nih.gov/pain_scales/index.html

There are many, many more?

When asked? I say right off the bat? 'I DO NOT 'DO' HAPPY FACES'! AT ALL!!
If they ask me for 'more detail'? I reply: Do you want me to bite you? Nuff said. No one's committed me yet!

There are many, many ways to describe PAIN... It's all subjective.
Do check out all the medical jargon for 'pain' to find the best analogies for YOUR PAIN.

Sometimes it's easy? Others more complicated. BUT? Whatever you do? Be consistent about how your pains 'feel' at first? And, if they change, document those changes as best you can...when they change!
Timing of 'events' and symptoms of those 'events' could lead docs off on either diagnosis or 'tangents'. But? If 'tangents'? These are things that can be later excluded from final diagnosis.. AKA 'One more off the list!'
Get even with this! Get your diagnosis and treatment! My heart is with you, I've been there shouting at empty walls on occasion. No one will answer.
I am hoping that you CAN and DO get help! And SOON! Hugs !'s and hope!!!!1 - j

I almost have gotten to the point that I really dont care anymore, Just tired of knocking on doors, I layed in bed the other night thinking how many Doctors we have been sent to and I lost count at 40,, yes 40 over three p0lus years, IVIG, Pulse steroids, RITUXIN, Nothing made a diffference, Rituxin almost killed me,, had a severe reaction to it, my PCP tried a fentanyl patch, anothing reaction, just tired of dealing with chronic infections, and this constant losing battles with the medical community, but I havent given up tottaly yet,, yes my dog gives me laughs, when hes awake,, loves to lay on the floor with his head right up against a electric heater, hes gonna fry his brain someday if he hasent allready

Many years ago I dubbed that "Guinea Pig Complex" ('cuz I've been there, and am again...) Somewhere along the line (and with the help of my current PCP - he's very good with explanations and anecdotes) I came to accept that medicine doesn't have all the answers, and that, "I/we don't know" can be a valid one. There's some peace in that.

Doc

I guess your right Doc,