I always become upset when I see it in print like this, that another is suffering
so much!

I have a thought. Now while this is late in the game ..very late...it is still
worth considering:

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment:
It has been several years since your accident. Have you done anything to try to heal the nerves? Drugs given by doctors do not heal.
One new RX vitamin preparation is Metanx.
Combined with fish oil, you may repair. Since you have feeling..that means the
nerves are not dead, and may heal, but that takes time.

Also do you not say what you have tried... for example...have you tried
Lidoderm patches, or Lidocaine ointments?

Each of us has our own stories and experience with pain. Somewhere here will be something that may help you. (the drug Mexiletine may work for you--it is usually tried in extreme refractory cases).

I can only imagine the pain you are experiencing e as most of us can. Pain really does cloud our thinking and makes all our days and nights gray. I am so sorry you have to endure this, nerve pain is one of the worst, I have have injuries in my life that have damaged nerves and it took a long time for them to heal but they did. During my suffering I too felt like ending it all.

I once touched a lamp that was metal and wet and got stuck to it. I had to pull my dead arm and hand off of it using my whole body. My arm fell limp and had pain after that for a few years. I tried so many things to relieve the pain and got varying degrees of relief but it was such a struggle. I dare not even try to suggest anything because you have probably already tried them. You do need to find a Medical doctor who will help you as so many posters have suggested. I don't use pain meds much myself but of late I hear advertised on T.V. "Pain Management Centers" They say "We will find the source of your pain and if there is a cure we will offer it." I'd give that a shot. They probably have connections with doctors in your area who can help you. Yes, PAIN Sucks. Trying to find a doctor on your own is hard enough when your well and pain free, you need a whole bunch of people who can work on your behalf.

I will be watching this thread. I hope you will find the correct solution to this terrible problem. Your NOT alone.

Electrocuted,
You've been given much sound advice here. I have nothing to offer in addition, except that I feel for you and hope that you really will not do as you've contemplated.
Mrs D's hyperbaric advice seems sound.
I noticed that you are in Harper's Ferry. I've been there many times. Nice little town, but not a whole lot of docs that would be of a specialist nature to try to help you through the pain. Understanding is a necessity when it comes to our docs who are treating us.
May I suggest a few hours drive to either Baltimore, Richmond, or D.C.? There you would have large, major hospital centers that could treat your problems with a myriad of treatments.
Balto. has a good pain clinic run by the anesthesiology dept at Johns Hopkins. I've been there, they're thorough.
Please hang in there.
There is help for your pain, but I think you have to travel a coupla hours
to find it. I recommend the neurology dept, & pain clinic at Johns Hopkins highly.
We're here to help in any way we can. Please come back and tell us how we can help you, or if we already have.

I just noticed the number of "views" for your post here. Quite a few more than the average. I think that is a sign of how many of us who may not be suicidal have still thought of the time when we might be at that point if things keep getting worse.

Thank you for in spite of your pain taking the time and trouble to post. I think there is a high probability that you have helped someone else knowing at the very least they aren't alone.

I would like to echo what others have said, you MUST take care of yourself. Given the limited energy you must have with all the pain, please try to prioritize and try to get the best care you can. That is all we can do. Sometimes that is so tedious and difficult, adding more stress to our already very stressed-out lives but keep the big picture in mind, you MUST keep trying the best you can to take care of yourself by finding responsible medical personnel. Sometimes that search can be frustrating.

But please reach-out wherever you can. Don't give up. Thanks for reaching out here and let us know if there is anything we can do.

I was wondering if anyone had tried you on any Klonopin? I know there are some who don't care for this drug, but I have taken this now for quite some time and it does help with pain. I think it is reasonably inexpensive, but cannot recall exact cost, since insurance pays here.

It is in the Benzodiazepine family, thus can be addictive, although probably not nearly as much as Ativan or Valium. It does help with pain. I take it twice daily. It is difficult to get off of, and must be tapered down slowly. This may or may not be important to you, since it looks like you will need to be on something to give you relief for a while.

I was going to post on this the other day and can't remember where. I don't think I really realized how much it was helping until last week, when I somehow forgot to add it to my 7 day pill dispenser and went without it several days... OUCH!!!

Hope you are making some headway getting some help with this pain.

Cathie

I know too as my insurance doesn't cover the meds you should inform the doc because there are many alternatives that are so much cheaper. They can also give samples too. How are you doing? Texasgeek I think your so right about the views. I have had a really bad few days in pain and it is so hard mentally to get through. I try to stay in the moment and it will pass and not add extra stress. I was wondering what helps other cope? I have had a lot of treatment in coping mechanisms for depression/anorexia but this seems different. Its just so hard when the pain gets to where you can barely think. I wish there was inpatient treatment for this where they help you with the mental and also continue to find the cause and help with treatments.I guess one day at a time and hoping better times ahead. Hugs to all.

Electrocuted, if your having troubles getting on to Disabilty payments, in the Stickies on the front page DanP who is a long time PN'er himself, highly recommends a fellow that knows how to get people through the system, he does not charge anyone.
Here is Dan's post; http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=7278
good luck
Brian

I had a bad foot day today and found that I had to take 13 of my 300mg Lyrica pills before I began to feel some relief. I cope by taking more and more pills, and it still does not always bring complete relief. I know that you don't have much of an appetite when you are in pain. The Lyrica has actually caused me to gain weight. So I have an eating problem opposite of anorexia right now.

I know that they sell them on the streets in Baltimore. I think Klonapin is actually a pill to lower blood pressure for people with hypertension. My neuropathy is a result of nerve damage due to electrocution and is nod diabetes related, so it probably wouldn't work. The Lyrica usually worls IF I take enough of it, but sometimes even it does not reduce the pain, so I DO need to add other medications if I can get some insurance somewhere. I can not afford the $400/ month cobra payments.

worried about the amout of pills you are taking to essentially 'no effect'.
IF IT WERE ME...at this point, given all the run-arounds you've had...I would not pass go, and GO DIRECTLY TO HOPKINS!...Got my drift here?
Either PM me or BobB for their various doc's resources and centers....If you want, I can find and send you lots of Hopkins sites, they are after all the #1 Neuro hospital in this country now... That's not bad?

I seem to recall in the remote recesses of my brain that they have done research there about electro damage from lightning and hi-voltage contact issues...Worth a look see at least.. You aren't improving doing what you are now...and it's certainly worth a phone call or five in my book...Who Knows? They mite have a magic treatment? Think of it this way, could be your 'circuit breakers' are shot-maybe some re-programming? I don't know. But, the route you are on is not the best result in the end, I'm thinking.

HUGs and good thoughts to you good person, you did NOT ask for this, but have to LIVE with it! - j