Whoo hoo!!! Don't you dare feel guilty for your good fortune. That's what this board is all about!! And your good fortune gives other's hope that they too may find a way to heal....at least some if not all the way.

I do understand what you mean though as I feel guilty for feeling better too. But then I remember that that's exactly how and why I found this board. Because I was in so much pain. Our improvements have to make it worthwhile for the others here. That's what it's about.

And 100% I agree. As I posted in my blog, Permanent Nerve Damage, My Butt!

I also take tramadol. The generic with Tylenol. Ultracet is what it's called for non-generic. I only take it when I need it which is 1 sometimes 2 every few days or so. I've learned not to put up with the pain but to stop it before it gets to the point of interfering with my daily activities and my sleep. I've tried the 'tough-it-out' route and it doesn't work for me. I can take a dose and have a couple of mostly pain-free days afterwards. And my pain is nowhere near as severe as most people's pain levels are here. I admit it...I'm a wuss.

I'm so glad you've gone forward to the point of no longer needing the Tramadol. That's a major mile-stone IMO.

Barbara

Brian,
I've got to add my happy wishes here. I hope this continues for you and don't feel the least bit guilty about posting this. It gives all of us hope that someday soon we will all beat the cause of our pain. I'm so very happy for you!

Billye

And providing the right environment means a LOT of things: rest, good food, plenty of vitamins and supplements needed for healing, activity, and some peaceful time.

Gee....wish I could make that environment in my little world! Well, I'm working on it....

Wow, Brian: Way to go.

Woo Hoo. keep it up.

Melody

Hi Daniella, I wish there was a med that repaired the nerves as well as help the severity of the symptoms, if one is lacking vitamins though, that is a differant story.
No one med is for everyone, we all react differently to different drugs, just getting on to the one or sometimes combo that suits the individual, is the hard thing to do, i hope you can.

Hi Liza, yep i agree, the right environment does mean a lot and all that you mentioned, but for me it meant initially to take away that the thing that was assaulting my nerves, that being my prediabetic state, once that was reversed they were in the right environment then to start the slow healing process and of course the B vitamins which i was really lacking, nourished and fed my nerves which played an important part too.

Good on ya matey! No need to feel guilty, I am very happy for you. I hope you have many many more painfree days ahead of you.

Sorry Joan i forgot you asked me a question previously, the surgery itself didn't coincide with any PN improvement, i was going pretty good with my PN well before the surgery, i am having a little celebration now , no beer worst luck but its on the menu in time to come, hopefully

Thnaks. I'm going through the med issue now. I have tried Lyrica,Neurontin,Elavil and now on Cymbalta with nothing. I thought the cymbalta was helping when we increased but tis week has been hell. Med's never help me even when I was taking vicadin. That why I'm going more in the pain management place again cause I have not been to many. I need some relief. I'm so happy for you though.
I wanted to add something on the nutrition front. It is so important. You would be amazed at the difference in people with there mood,anxiety,symptoms,feelings when they go from malnurished to nurished. It is like they change completly. Its amazing. I have been wondering how or if they test for lack of fat in the body. Not on the body because I'm healthy weight and now I eat dietary fats but from so many years of not.I was reading about how people who don't absorb fat that nerve damage can happen so I wonder if it could be similar in someone who for so long was malnurished and lacked that nutrient. I would think since I have had so many blood tests for so many issues they would have but I know not to assume. Just like when people have the b12 issue it takes awhile once the damage is done. If that makes sense?

Brian, congratulations. You are truly an inspiration to me. I can usually go all day without any pills, but by dinner time, when I take my second Lyrica pill I also take 1 or 2 tramadol so my feet don't get too bad before bedtime. If I am working around outside a lot, then I do have to take 1-2 in the afternoon. Between the Lyrica, Tramadol, and Anodyne therapy, I manage this condition of mine fairly well considering.