It is so weird. The last few days I had been working outside again, as the weather is pretty nice. My feet were OK.

Today, I planned to do more work, but my feet really hurt. Cramps, pains, soreness. Not like in the beginning when I first had PN, but very very uncomfortable. I was sure I wasn't up to working in the garden.

I decided to put on my working shoes anyway, and just see how much work the pruning of two trees would be exactly, so I could plan it for tomorrow. Then I started anyway ("maybe do 10 minutes just to have the idea I did something"). Then I broke out my heavier tools and ladder. Then I completely pruned them and cleaned up the debris. Hard work.

By that time the pain was zero.

I have had this happen before several times, and it's almost like Im' "faking" or "wanting attention". But I'm not, I don't even mention it to my wife or anything. I really was in real pain and then I was not. How the hell is this even possible? Blood flow? Oxygen?

My feet should hurt more (like normal people...) after 2 hours of hard work, not less. They feel comfortable now, just slightly numb.

Weird.

Those would be my guess; I experience the same thing often. OTOH, I also have days that start out bad, I try to get active to get my blood moving, and things just keep going downhill.

I think you can still trust your nerves though; when nothing hurts anymore, you'll know you're dead.

Doc

I know what you mean by this. I have been diagnosed with PN for a few years now but have it under control most of the time with the right medication.

I also do not complain about it very often as I do not believe there is much point. This, however, led to the following comment from my own mother.

" There was something on the news the other night about that thing you used to have."

Ouch. (wince!)

That's one for the list.

Doc

I'm sorry for laughing out loud (while cringing) when I read that... but it struck home.

My wife often completely forgets, and in a way I am proud of that.

I am diabetic as well and that and the neuropathy are what I call the out of sight out of mind illness's.

I display no outward symptoms of either and despite pain or discomfort of the neuropathy I rarely complain or show it outwardly.

Because I carry on normally my friends/family forget. I have also found people who are finding out about my conditions for the first time look at me like I am making it up as I show no outward signs.

It's not often I feel sorry for myself but when I do it is hard to find the sympathy I need.

Kudos to those of you who can pretend like you don't have PN or not show it. I wish I could pretend it did not exist. Or simply not show it. Mind over matter does not work for me.

Me neither! Sometimes I wonder what's going to happen to my my feet. The pain I make myself suffer, but the mobility is becoming a big problem. Trying to sleep at night is very difficult so I'm tired most of the time. I use the hot chilli cream and Lyrica. At 84+ I suppose my time is up.