I have been thinking alot lately about my condition and, being an individual who has the capability of intelligent reasoning, I have determined that my "condition" is the result of my neuroma surgery. Whether I had neuromas in my feet or not, is no longer an issue for me. I do not have the lancing pain anymore in my feet, but I do have the end result of this type of surgery that does lead to neuropathic type pain. I have read about many others who have had this surgery and said that they also have traded one pain for another. I don't know if I would have had this surgery if I knew what the end result would be. But, I will say that the numbness and occasional aching still doesn't startle me as much as the electrical zaps that I used to get. I've dumped the seizure meds and am looking to find the most comfortable shoes I can wear to not put additional pressure on my surgically repaired feet. I do find that tramadol does appear to help with the pain....much more so than the strong narcotic like vicodin. I also am very aware that this website has assembled many people with medical conditions that make mine seem rather insignificant. Reading about Silverlady and Lizajane right now makes me feel very sad. I probably shouldn't have even posted here in the first place. I wish I would have found a site that would have been more attuned to my less than debilitating condition. I guess, after all this rambling, I am trying to say that I apologize for my dramatization in the earlier post. I stirred up a hornet's nest, and I didn't fully comprehend the extent of my words being so damaging. To all that attempted to give me "good" advice, I thank you. I may occasional read some posts on this site, simply because I find the support so incredibly positive. I just hope I can just adjust to a level of pain that will not go away. I have a crappy back and an arthritic knee that will need replacement within the next 5 years or so...but at 58, I am still mobile. I should be thankful for that. I see people my age sit running and do recreational sports, but, there are those that are not as fortunate as I am, and I should be grateful for that. So, thanks again, and I wish you all the best.

Hi Jack:

This is your fellow Minnesotan. I started reading this Forum because I feared I might be developing PN - much aching and pain in one leg. It turns out that what I have is pinched lumbar nerve/s and recovery from this can be slow.

So I wanted to know just what PN involved, felt like etc. and have learned much from this Forum.

We all have our own individual pain threshold, and no one's pain is any more or any less than the next person's pain. When it hurts, it hurts and no one but the person having it can measure it.

I for one would be very sorry to have you not post and read here anymore.
You have much to contribute and we all learn from each other.

In addition, as a Minnesotan, I would like to thank you for your public service as a parole officer. That alone is enough to cause anyone great pain although probably more emotional and intellectual than physical. I sure can see how having to go to court often would be a real shoe concern. My late husband was a lawyer and he had much to say about one's dress in the courtroom.

So please, dear Jack, don't go! We would miss your contributions.

Shirley H.

Jack,
Neuropathic pain is neuropathic pain. It hurts pretty much equally. We all have empathy with you and most of us have been where you were when you posted the earlier posts. I myself was at one time. It is devastating to find yourself limited. I've lived with this stuff for about 4 years now and yes, it's bad but there is always someone worse than me. I come here for friends and to see if there is anyone with symptoms worse than mine that I can help. I have Small Fiber Sensory PN caused by Sjogren's Syndrome. And I have a lot of other problems too but there is always someone worse than I am.

I think you have a lot to offer. Maybe someone else will show up with symptoms such as yours and you can tell them what you know. Please don't stop posting. It's ok to take a break now and then. Some of us do. But we would hate for you to stop just because you feel you don't fit.

Billye

--even if you did not technically have peripheral neuropathy at the original incarnation of your symptoms, the surgeries certainly have put you in the group, as you have neuropathic pain caused by damage of some sort to peripheral nerves.

There are literally hundreds of KNOWN causes of neuropathy (never mind the "idiopathic" "causes"). The commonality is peripheral nerve damage resulting in symptomolgy. I have TWO different syndromes--an idiopathic body-wide burningly painful small-fiber syndrome, and now, since September, a C6/C7 right-side compressive radiculopathy causing numbness and parasthesia in my right palm/thumb/forefinger/middle finger. Both are technically neuropathies, even though the symptoms are very different (I knew the latter was not part of the former syndrone from the instant it started; it was just fundamentally different in kind--much easier to diagnose).

You've been through a lot, much of it not of your own making, and while no one would ever tell you not to search out other boards and sources related to your own particular etiology, you are certainly bonded to others here in the search for nerve symptom relief. It would be a shame if you didn't engage in the give and take here (the recent brouhaha notwithstanding); you may teach as much as you may learn.

Yes Jack, please do not leave. We all are at different stages of this disease. I read what others post and sometimes I feel bad too. I feel that I whine about something I have no reason to be mentioning. Yet, as Billye says, neuropathy pain is neuropathy pain--we all hurt. We all need each other for support. I am very thankful that my PN is progressing very slowly, yet I still have days where I need a friend to say it will be ok.

Stay with us!

This is from my major protagonist! Thanks

Awww. You're ok. We all have bad patches with the pain. When it seems it will never end and tomorrow doesn't feel welcome, knowing there's more pain to look forward to. The part that's most difficult for me to bear is the pain interfering with my sleep. I have never done well with even mild sleep deprivation.

You say the tramadol works for you? Just tramadol by itself or are you taking something along with it? What are the sides you experience with tramadol? Is it something you have to take and the effect happens over time or is it something that can be taken as needed? I have some tramadol here the surgeon put me on after my CT surgery. I'm thinking the next time I have a bad night I might try it.