Quick recap about me. Pn symptoms started 4 months ago as vague foot pain/discomfort which progressed to burning, aching, and allydonia.

Woke up today and feet felt different when they hit the ground. Especially my right big toe. Did a little self examination and it looks like the big toe and ball of foot just under big toe are going numb. Same with left foot.

This steady progression of symptoms in such a short period of time has been difficult to deal with. I was hoping that some of the symptoms were part of the healing process, but with my feet showing new onset signs of numbness I'm losing hope.

Everyday it's a challenge to get out of bed physically and mentally and the PN is zapping my energy to fight it. The pain is so much I almost wish my feet would just go numb so I didn't have deal with the pain anymore, but I know that just means I'm further away from the possibility of getting better.

Im so sorry

I am having that kind of day too. My burning is worse than ever and I tell myself its the healing process that I still believe in and they say if you do get healing it will hurt as nerves heal. The last couple days I notice my little pinky toe is jerking, like, twitching, I can feel it and see it, does not hurt, feels like a twitch or muscle movement. I watched it till it happened again, and I keep telling myself its a sign of healing.

But despair creeps in. I went grocery shopping today and my left foot swelled and burned worse than ever in my life, it always did while doing a 1 to 2 hour trip to walmart but this time I could hardly focus I just threw crap in my cart all I could do was dream of getting home.

In times of crisis despair creeps in but then I try and change my attitude and pray it away and cling to hope of the healing I pray for.

I hope this is the case for both of us. Im sorry your having such a hard time, truly. If nothing else, this last year has taught me true empathy.

I have the same thing going on in both hands and feet, dead numb with electric shocks. It's awful. I'm sorry I can't provide a lot of supportive optimism today but there's always tomorrow.

Hang in there.

Thanks Stacy and Beatle. My wife and mom are the only ones I can vent to in person and I'm sure they are both tired of hearing about my pain and despair. They can't understand my pain and I try not to drag them into my depression or let them see how much I truly am suffering.

It's nice to have a place to vent and share ideas with people who understand. Good luck to us all!!

You can (and should) always vent whenever you need to. It's good therapy. In addition to a good support system at home, it's really important to connect with others on the same path, who know what you are going through and understand your pain.

Yes I really feel a little better after venting. At least emotionally and mentally. I just don't want my family to suffer with me, so I spread out the venting between home and here.

Just wanted to know if you're taking anything for the pain ?

I'm on 1800 mg of gaba and 90 mg of Cymbalta but without the viocdin every 3 hours and Xanax as needed I have no idea what shape I would be in.

I still have numbness on the bottom of all my toes and the balls of both feet. Every once in a while I'll stick a finger nail in those areas just to see....lol...stupid I guess.

Debi from Georgia

One treatment that seemed to help for this was Chinese therapy called Moxibustion, it is a treatment that uses a burning stick of moxi, and the glowing end is brushed over the meridians on each side of the toes, after doing this treatment I would regain the feeling in my toes. They would feel like the foot was waking up. I have not done the treatment in years, having had PN for almost 30 years, but I did help.