That one had puzzled me from the beginning of your first messages too. The way I understood PN (and the people I know or met) it's usually sensory first, motor skill "second", joining in a a later stage. Having only motor skill problems is indeed rare.

On the other hand, I can't explain how I can walk without any visible problems without properly feeling where my feet "are". Try knitting with a sleeping arm for instance.

Of course, not all feeling is gone, and that became clear when they gave me an epidural a few weeks back. Then you really feel how awful it is to have no feeling at all from your legs. It was scary even - although I knew it was just for another 10 minutes. Yet, even though I should not have been able to feel *anything* at that time, I did still feel some tingle from the place that usually hurts most. Part of the whole PN thing is in the brain, not just the physical nerves - is my guess.

(think of people with phantom pains in limbs that were amputated long ago... my buddy in collage had his full leg amputated at 17 after a motorcycle accident, yet he sometimes complained about pain or itches in his toes - which freaked me out at the time! I even thought he was making fun of me.)

And in some way your situation sounds more easily "curable". Fingers crossed!

Edit: I do hope they do the water & electricity thing at separate times.

Interesting. This fits right in what we are discussing.

Sorry for the french, but I'll translate/summarize.

This is the link through Google Translate:

Google Translate

Basically, the comparison is apt. Although tinnitus originates from physical damage - the condition is then caused by the brain reacting to that damage with producing its own sounds. (ringing, hissing, both or one or alternate ears) I have it too, and it's again stress influenced, is sometimes less, then comes back with a vengeance etc.

A mechanical problem (ears/nerves in our extremities) as the cause but the brain adding to the problem (by inventing sound or inventing pain from parts that are not physically actually in pain (!).

They managed to find how this works (finally), for tinnitus at least, and are experimenting with stimulating parts of the brain that could "reset" this.

I'll try to find an original English article later today. The original research can be found here: Auditory-somatosensory Stimulation to Alleviate Tinnitus - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov

I can easily see a similar solution for the PN pains we feel. "My toe feels like it's being clipped off by pliers and then set on fire" says brain. But the toe is perfectly fine (although you should do your nails! ) so the solution is to make the brain "behave", not to "make up problems".

That is great news, Icehouse! You are so inspiring! Here is my update. I had been getting decompression of the spine and laser treatment done several months ago (to the tune of over $6000). I had never had my back or neck "cracked" (adjusted) so I started doing that with a different chiropractor a few weeks ago. I was suspicious that the decompression doctor wouldn't show me my x-rays so I had them done by the second chiropractor. They were confirmed - my lowest (pelvic) vertebrae is basically bone-on-bone. So my neuropathy could be unrelated to my history of alcohol abuse. He said that it would have had to been pretty bad trauma to the spine (if it was an old aging thing, all of my vertebrae would be affected, which they are not) --- and he asked me if I had been in a car accident or something similar, which I have not, ever in my life. I did have an incident of abuse that I won't elaborate on here, back in 2006/2007. It sure was eye-opening, and I addressed it with the abuser, who doesn't recall the incident at all, but at this point I don't care. I am continuing decompression with the first chiro and adjustments with the second chiro, feeling some tingling in my feet, and hopefully something good comes of this. Still faithfully taking the vitamins and hoping for the best, we shall see.

See, I have thought the same thing, even 2nd guessed my self re: the PN thing as you ALL have the pain and I do not. I feel so left out....

But, the the Doc in 2011 said PN and the therapist said PN yesterday while he was scratching his head.....lol

Phantom limb has always intrigued me too. I know a guy in Canada that lost his arm in a snowmobiling accident and the "itching" was just plain irritating...

Talk about an itch you can't scratch!!!

Just point a blowtorch at your feet while hammering your toes, you'd feel much more at ease.

He said it could actually be maddening, and he was a tough cookie. He hated pithy, was a full on punk with the black leather and mohawk etc. He had a crazy sense of humor about his leg, and could pee himself laughing when he fell in the snow. Made jokes about never having trouble with non-matching pairs of socks... You have to be made of strong material to go through life that way when you are so young.

One of these people I wished I had stayed in touch with. I found a recording of us performing for 600 students in 1982 just recently, and wondered how he would be...

That's the whole problem: logic can never solve it. We like to think of ourselves as being logical, rational, individuals, but when it comes to things like addiction, logic flies straight out of the window. You can't "think" yourself sober, even if you'd be Einstein.

But yes, your progress (in the wrong direction) is the most "typical" I would say. But I have no doubt that Icehouse has PN too, just in a different way.

I mean, even things like how tall you are plays a role in getting PN. Or the types of medication you have used in the past, or if you have used antacids a lot (kills B12...), your eating habits, genetics, type of alcohol used...

Lurking is OK. Some people just don't feel comfortable, or afraid for their privacy, or even have trouble admitting to themselves they have a problem in the first place. Or just aren't familiar with the software. (it can be daunting for some). The information is there, it will be read & processed. Some will join in at some stage, some just prefer to keep on reading, and that's OK too. I think that for every active poster, there are 10 to 20 frequent readers. If it helps one single other person who doesn't post here, we are already golden.

Funny of the day:

As I was leaving a friends house last night (he has PN too and 2 new hips) I heard this awful screaming \ wailing coming from the under the coffee table. I look at the ground, then him, and say, "Dude, you're stepping on the cat".

He looks at me with a straight face and says, "Damn neuropathy"

I thought I was going to vomit I was laughing so hard.....

Good one Icehouse. I am the opposite. I often feel like I am stepping on something and I am always looking down but there is nothing there. When I wear shoes and socks it feels as if pebbles are in my shoes or my socks are all bunched up. In that regard my feet are oversensitive.

Last night I went out to a club. I have not felt strong enough to try that and previously I always crashed due to the social pressure and the whole environment. I finally thought myself well enough to attempt but to eliminate any temptation I told my friend in advance that I was on meds and drinking would be a very toxic combo.

I am here to report that I did amazing well and will be going back next Friday. The goal is to someday tear up the dance floor again. It was a great night but the best part was coming home completely sober and realizing "Yay, I DID IT"! Firsts are the hardest so that was huge.

I am so very happy! Only you guys could understand what a huge victory that was for me but there is even more to it. Concerts and music venues were my main source of joy and entertainment and I had walked away from that for a long time. Either I was "on the wagon" for the hundredth time or I could not drink socially so I chose to stay home and get drunk by myself. Last night felt like a rebirth of sorts and I felt more like myself than I have in a very long time. I will stay vigilant and if circumstances are not right for next week I will not go but just now I feel very blessed. It wasn't just watching a band, it was like coming home. As I watched everyone drinking I questioned why I couldn't just be normal and drink like normal people but I have always liked being unique and when people called me "eccentric" I thought that a great compliment.... so I will put a happy spin on my alcoholism and will choose to think myself special.
I am so proud of myself! Thanks for letting me share.

Woohoo! Proud of you SC!!

Chicken Dinner!
I can relate totally. After a spot of decorating yesterday, and while on my way to my friends for tea, I went into a pub along the way, ordered a pint of Blackcurrant, with soda and ice, sat down like a regular, (with people I know), read my paper, bade my farewells, then went along my merry (but sober) way. What a feeling! Totally reinforces the knowledge that I control IT, not the other way round. I know that there will be occasions of temptation, we are all aware that this particular demon is very, very patient. As far as Meds go, I haven't really noticed any difference since starting the Amitryptiline, except for a couple of negative ones. The first has been weight gain. Even though I am trying to eat the right foods, I am eating too much of them.
The other thing, slightly more concerning, are these sudden dizzy spells, lasting a matter of seconds. The kind you might get when standing too quickly, from perhaps, a crouched position. I must speak to the Doc soon.
Keep it up mate, and remember who's in control here.