So, nerves are obviously there to sense pain, touch, vibration etc. They send our brain pain signals when something is inflicting damage upon the body. When the nerves are damaged they send incorrect signals.

Presently the soles of my feet burn and ache while sitting here with my feet up. If I walk along the carpet it becomes much worse, but it's hard to imagine that walking on carpet is causing damage to my body.

So if I know that a stimulus shouldn't be detrimental to my body, is it ok to ignore the pain in order to complete a task? (ie something as simple as vacuuming the floor?) Or should I heed the warning of my nerves and take it easy when they are overly excited because the pain is in fact causing harm?

To ignore or listen to the damaged nerves is the question? I'm still new to this, and would like opinions. My assumption is that I should ignore the pain and push through when I know that I'm doing something innocuous. Or should I be listening to the damaged nerves? (within reason of course)

Hi I,

IMO, listen to your body.

As we age, we have to learn to modify our activities and lifestyles. Living/coping with a chronic illness requires modifying our activities & lifestyles a bit more.

We know our nerves are damaged, and we know how long it can take damaged nerves to heal/regrow—if they ever do. Ignoring pain is not like exercising a muscle; the damaged nerve does not become stronger in the long run—it can become further damaged.

Doc

One of the worse things I do to irritate my feet is use the vaccume on my carpets. I thought it was in my head but nope, every single time I vaccume my floor horrid painful flares. I think it is the friction on the carpet, back, forth, back, forth.

Just another reason to hate that vaccume.

Even walking around on carpet too much will cause flares, its the friction of fiber on my feet.

One of my worst triggers is driving or riding in a car....the vibrations set my feet and hands off every time.

If I don't listen to my body it winds up stopping me anyway....because when it wants me to stop and I don't....the ole feet stop working

The soles of both feet stay slightly swollen, especially the pad of each foot....and the skin it so tight on my feet it drives me crazy. Or crazier than I already am Stinging between my toes has been my most recent symptom...nice right ?

Debi from Georgia

I try to remain positive, I have "good days" or "other days". I have tried to remove "bad days" from my vocabulary.

My PN appeared after they woke me up from an induced coma for treatment for legioneers disease 3+ years ago. I started complaining the 1st day they moved me from ICU to a regular room. The Dr's were as confused as I was, they were like Mike you haven't been on your feet for almost 3 weeks we don't know why you are in pain.

At first they thought it was a side effect and would go away in 6 months. After 18 months I sort of realized it wasn't.

I now take 1,200mg of Gralise once a day, is it better than Gabapentin I still don't know. The biggest benefit I see is I don't have that spike in pain during the afternoon when it was time for the 3PM pill. I also take Fish oil and vitamin's B & D.

What I know is:
Shoes & socks are evil, Birkentock clogs or sandals are my friends.
Sometimes blankets hurt.
I try to go the the gym at least 3X a week (never did this before I was sick). I do some light weights and low impact cardio (bike & eliptical). I've started doing a water aerobics class. Even "bad days" I try to go. There are many days I am borderline miserable when I get there and I feel some relief when I am done, just as long as I don't have to put my tennis shoes back on after I shower

I am an almost 60 male, overweight but healthy and will continue to try to be positive and moving foward.

Good Luck & I hope you find something that provides you relief to get through the "other days".

I have had RSD since 2006 of course by now it is full body. Recently thing's have been going on that are very different! For the last 6 month's or so I have been having a lot of change's. My worse one is I have been falling down a lot and not remembering how it happened? All of a sudden I will (not sure how to say this but) come to and will be laying on the floor or where ever I fell the only reason I know something happened is by all the bump's and bruised area's on me? A lot of blood at time's also. I have also noticed that I have been having problem's with dexterity issue's. One example would be when I try to turn page's when I am reading. I have also been having problem's with my short term memory! I saw my Dr. last week and I am going to get a MRI along with another electromyography or (EMG/NCV) So I guess my question is has anyone been thru what I am going thru now? Please let me know I am so scared! Prayer's to all! Breezy55

I found an interesting take on this issue in the Multiple Sclerosis forum. It's under the thread "A Different Kind of Whine," posted by Erika on 4/6/14.

I would agree with you on ignoring the pain, that is how I have kept somewhat sane over the 30 years of burning pain. On the other hand, you don't want to do anything that might agrivate the pain. My burning pain us sometimes worse in the morning before getting out of bed, obviously it hasn't been agrivated by outward stimulus. But if I desire to walk barefoot on a hot beach, that would be poor judgment. Give the pain it's due, but no more...