Jakatak,

I didn't have a neuroma. My PN started as itching that rapidly turned into incredible pain between the metatarsal heads, mainly between the 3rd and 4th toes in both feet. A podiatrist evaluated that I didn't have a neuroma, but he didn't know what was wrong. The pain of that exam was memorable as he deeply probed with his fingers between the metatarsal heads.

In the old forum, I urged you to try everything else before surgery. Surgeons exaggerate their success rate. To many surgeons, greatly increased pain is still a success because the thing was removed cleanly and didn't grow back and you didn't die or loose your foot. Maybe your surgeon botched the surgery, but maybe not. Increased pain and phantom pain is fairly common after nerve resection as patients report in the various forums and blogs. Here's some links:
http://www.myfootshop.com/Discussion...2%3Bt%3D000614
http://www.triplecitizen.com/AT/foot.htm
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/neuro/messages/30626.html
This isn't the whole story. Many other people report complete or partial success and are happy with the results of Morton neuroma removal. Either it was botched, or you idiosyncratically reacted poorly, as some do.

The thing with surgery is you can't take it back. The issue is, what to do now. I would treat it as PN whether it is or not because what helps PN also reduces inflammation and promotes healing in general. That would involve a big commitment from you to do whatever is needed for the rest of your life to live a good life and to get healthier. You'd have to be unstoppable and be willing to try different things and never give up. If a doctor is all doom and gloom, you'd have to find another doctor.

There'll probably be no single magic thing that makes it better. You're probably going to be dealing with this for a while. Who you are and how you approach living with very sore feet is the choice you have now. Part of that would be seeking pain relief, but it would also involve doing what promotes healing, learning to be happy, being on an emotional even keel, and having a rich, active, and rewarding life in spite of the agony. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but it's up to you to get to it.

Your story breaks my heart. To be clear, I'm not blaming you or anybody else for your pain and suffering. What I'm saying is that this is your one life to live. You have choices, pain or not. You can choose happiness, pain or not. You are not the pain, not the disease, not a patient. That's the process in pain management: from patient to person. We each have to find our own way to do that.

You are at rock bottom now. I'm confident you can dig your way up from this misery if that's what you are totally committed to do.

Jakatak
You have had lots of advice from others, all I can offer is that I have been in a dark place thinking that I would never enjoy life, or have a life. I became my pain and could not think of anything else except the pain. I do not know what my diagnosis will be, I am waiting to have a brain and spine MRI so I am facing so fears and uncertainty. I am taking an anti depressant which I am sure is helping me trough this difficult time. LizaJane has made a good suggestion about Cymbalta, which may also help with the pain as well as helping to deal with your feelings of finding the pain so hard to take 24/7. I wish you well and do hope that you will start to feel better about life, David is right that we all only have one life to live and that we have choices. I hope that you will find someway to get better pain relief and will feel more positive about things.
Lupin

The Footshop.com site is one that I have frequented on many occasion. I appreciate the listings you gave me. I do remember you as being so insightful and possess tremendous knowledge. I do have to find a way to cope with this pain. It is so hard to wake up each morning and realize that it isn't going to go away. I can deal with my arthritic knee, and the creaky back. I just have to find the "solution" to my angst.

"I just have to find the "solution" to my angst."

Wow. You just jumped off the cliff, like one of those baby eagles that we've all been looking at will do in a month or so. I know that you will overcome your angst and find a better life if you don't give in to fear, anger, worry, or cynicism.

Your courage has touched, moved, and inspired me to be stronger and wiser in my own efforts. Thank you.

I use it for my leg... my foot issues do not cause so much pain, and I have not tried it there. The PN in my feet is irritating but not terribly painful. I control burning (which is more common in summer) with Biofreeze gel.

I had a chart for placement of the electrodes, and I'll try to find it for you.
No, I don't use it with water, or mag.

It is best with 4 electrodes, and you put them A B B A in a square with the target in the middle.
The PTs at my rehab place said IFc is far superior to TENS etc. It supposedly actually heals.

If you want the website with placement locations, please confirm and I'll look it up for you. (if I still have it, or it is still open).

Now that I've maxed out on Lyrica and Tramadol (also tried Cymbalta) have started weaning off the brain food and will try the Fentanyl Patches next. I got 2 fairly good years on neurotin, then Lyrica and Tramadol, but like everything else the body seems to build up a tolerance. Also the side effects seem to become more pronounced and adding Cymbalta paid no dividend. The Rebuilder was there at the start and well worth the cost (I like toys) and it will help get me off the meds. If you like to experiment you can use the electrodes on the Rebuilder on the nerves in the legs and feet. The foot bath is great while surfing the net. If you have never had neck surgery this is an easy exercise for heavy feeling in the legs. Lay flat on your back in bed, move your head so it is hanging over the side, slowly roll it from side to side, stay relaxed as possible. When you get up and start walking it feels as if 15 pounds has been removed from each leg. Don't overdo this at first as it will make you nauseous.

A lot of people have already posted some helpful advice. To that, I would like to suggest that you get some 11x14 heavy blue ice packs (ColPak by Chattanooga), freeze them, wrap 1 in a hand towel and apply to feet, knees moving to wherever it hurts. I use them at night and move them around where I hurt and swap one out for a colder one. Cold helps nerve pain in a lot of people. I could not make it without these. Get a couple and at least give them a try. You can usually get them locally from Chiropractors, but you can get them cheaper on the Internet.

These do not sweat and make you wet all over like other ice packs. They feel sooo good... They are used in sports medicine.

Also, the kind of shoes and socks can affect your pain. I cannot tolerate anything but all cotton and no tight shoes. I had a huge brown bag full of expensive custom made shoe inserts, which constantly had to be remade, because I could not stand where they touched the bottoms of my feet.

Cathie

YorkieMom. I found your posting about the cold packs absolutely amazing. I cannot use anything cold anywhere on my body.

For instance, years ago, I had spasm in my lower back. I had pinched nerves all over the place, I couldn't move my neck to the right and left, and my left shoulder was driving me crazy. My doctor sent me to rehabilitation and physical therapy.

The first thing they did was put a hot pack and then the electrodes. That was nice. I wouldn't let them rev it up too much because I felt like I would be electrocuted and I wasn't about to do this. Then they gave me this very nice massage. That was just fine.

Then they sent me into a room and had me sit up and they put this ice cold pack on my lower back. I HATED IT. COULDN'T STAND IT AND WHEN I SAID "TAKE THIS DARN THING OFF OF ME, THEY SAID "NO, THIS IS GOOD FOR SPASMS!!!" I just took it off and told them not to use it on me again.
I DON'T LIKE ANYTHING COLD ON MY BODY.

When my feet get cold (like in the winter), I just microwave my microwave bead thing. Then I put my feet on the thing and my feet don't freeze up.

Something about my body does not like cold. I'm absolutely fine when it's 95 degrees. I once went walking all day long when everybody else was dying in the heat and pouring ice water all over them. They took a look at me (using my ipod) and swinging my arms when I power walk and they just shook their heads in amazement as if to say "how on earth can this person walk in this hot weather". I have degenerative joint disease and when it's 95 outside, I DON'T FEEL ANY PAIN. I just take my bottled water and I go walking.

But forget about that when it's 40 or below. I am stiff as a board.

I think I need to move to either Las vegas or New Mexico.
But all my doctors are here so I can't move anywhere.

And congratulate me, I WENT TO THE DENTIST YESTERDAY. I am a severe dental phobic but I found the nicest phobia dentist in NYC. Takes me two hours to get there by Access-a-ride but I wouldn't go to anybody else.
He's a doll. Alan couldn't believe I actually made the appointment to get my teeth cleaned. He knows my phobia. My in-laws met up with me there. They are my support system.
The staff is so nice to me. So now my teeth are nice and clean and I don't have to go back for another 6 months. You have no idea how hard this was for me. But I've decided to get my life back and at almost 60 years old, doing this is one step at a time.

BUT I DID IT. I went to the dentist. Yippee.

Melody

Cold packs work like a miracle for pain and healing. That's why professional athletes use them for slight and serious injury. Once the tissue cools down after the initial shock they actually feel warm. They deaden pain almost 100%. Ice packs also promote healing because the cold reduces swelling and inflammation, and new blood comes to the area when the ice pack is removed.

Don't let the initial shock of the cold stop you. Just endure it for a minute or two. You'll see. It'll make you comfortably numb.

Some procedures and cautions:
- Ice on for 20 minutes, then remove. You can repeat hourly.
- You can alternate with warm for injuries except when swelling is present. If swelling is present, use only cold.
- Be careful about frostbite. If your freezer is below 0 degrees F., double wrap the pack. I like ice cubes and a little water in a doubled zip-lock plastic bag. It is always 32 degrees until all the ice melts and thus cannot cause frostbite. However, as Cathie pointed out, they are drippy. Even without leaks, moisture condenses on them.
- For nerve pain, use cold only. Heat makes PN pain worse.

So, where is heat good? For infection, tissue damage and injury without swelling present. Warm increases blood flow to the area, speeds up the healing process, and helps your white cells and antibodies kill bacteria and clean up the area.

Heat may or may not be good, but cold packs always are.

The one thing I notice...almost universally...with all the wonderful people on this website is the courage that you all possess. My sister had osteogenic sarcoma as a 13 year old...she lost her right leg....she survived...only to get breast cancer at 48...she survived that too....she just lost her job and is barely hanging on to her home.....I...on the other hand...have a beautiful home...a nice paying job....a wonderful wife...and I am ready to end it all. I just don't have the energy to live a life of disability. Now trust me....I'm not asking for 911 or some...get some help...kind of support...I'm just rambling tonight, because I used to be such an athlete....I was always so in shape...My best friend died of lupus...and I never thought I'd be affected by anything...other than a heart attack at 90. I don't want to live a life of pain and sorrow...be miserable...and not be positive for my wife. She is 10 years my junior and in perfect health....she has supported me when I gave up on cycling at the club, because it aggravated my arthitic knee....she supported me on so many things...she shouldn't have to do that...I remember the line from Saturday Night Live...."It's better to look good than feel good". I am a 57 year old male who looks about 40, but am know feeling about 80. In the old days we all checked out at about 50....I think that is probably a good thing. I am so jealous of men my age that are healthy....running...biking...and in wondeful shape......I really do want to check out. Not a pity message...so...you know who you are....please don't rip me.