The first time I was able to walk thru a target store w/o the electric cart was well, better than a pony under the X-mas tree! That you can do it..and get it all done well THAT is a LOT of progress! Go for it good person..keep it up and you will get better..tho sloly and surely but YOU WILL GET there! - j

Daniella, normal walking can be really hard with this PN thing, i used to avoid it as much as i could when PN struck, but i use to love walking before so i thought of just going around to my local pool [all weather pool] and just walk up and down the lanes at your own pace, plenty people do it for all sorts of med problems, i found it best to get there real early in the morning before the swimmers come though, great cardio excercise, good for blood circulation and its non weight bearing so your feet shouldn't hurt you like walking on normal hard surfaces, i made some friends there, the social thing is an extra benefit as well.
I wish you well too
Brian

Thank you all. You cheered me up. Change I hate that is true. I think though for so long my life sucked cause I looked for the easy way out and with the pain there is no easy way out.The move was a hard and I feel I still have the aftermath. I felt like I was back at the torture of the cleveland pain clinic program. You have to keep going to docs,tests,and treatments. I think I have so much fear like probably many of you. I have a hard time staying in the moment. I think when I get more pain control and I am going to see another pain doc cause the one I saw here was I felt not good so onto the other. I do have a reumo apt cause my other leg is getting so bad and my other weird out of it symptoms. I'm going to ask this pain doc for an order for pool therapy as well. I agree I need to get into more social. I feel in a way ashamed of my pain and what it has done to me. I have more friends in Ca then home but only a little have I reached out but I think its time for more. I'm going to meet with my old therapist from here next week and set up some support. I just need to get my pain better managed so I can do more. I want to be young again with "stupid" worries that seem big. If that makes sense. Thank you and your all amazing

I think a lot of us have trouble coping with the pain and uncertainity of our health problems. Perhaps the person who is pointing this out has never had to deal with severe, chronic, unrelenting pain.

I know you told me that the university pain management clinic did not treat people who were also depressed (and anxious?) and I imagine there are plenty of people on this forum, myself included who are pretty anxious a lot of the time-maybe depressed too. With constant pain, it is difficult to look away, laugh, and just blow it off... I could be wrong here, but I find it hard to understand how the university can take this position... Most people who go to a pain management clinic are not exactly cases where an aspirin will give relief...

You are doing a good job of trying to get yourself in a position where you can have a normal life again.

Keep up the good work!

Cathie

A pain clinic that does not treat people who are depressed and/or anxious...... Anyone with chronic pain problems severe enough to seek out a pain clinic would have to be brain dead not to be depressed and anxious. Go figure.

Daniella,
I am proud you are my friend and proud of how far you have come. It's not easy for any of us with this rotten pain. Other's don't understand it so it makes life difficult for us who have it.
I know it's so hard for you to get around but I also know you are trying and that's what's important.....it's baby steps......and one foot at a time.
I hope you are able to find a good dr. who will help you get the pain under control.
Just hang in there.....it'll happen soon!

I think a reason I'm hesitant if I went back about that pain clinic is and forgive me if I told you guys this but when I was at the Cleveland Clinic pain program which is a lot about mental the psych said that this pain issue is similar to my ed issue in the past about being a victim. It really upsetted me and I said that this was different. I can't will myself to be better like the ed. I can't fix the pain like the ed but he said its similar. Will see I have a pain clinic apt here that does not have a psych eval in a week and a half so maybe this doc will help my pain. I do feel my mental outlook if not in constant pain and new things happening always with symptoms would be better. I'm very wishy washy. One minute want to be in MI another in CA. A lot does go with the levels of symptoms and also that I miss my mom. I feel real mean to leaving. I will also say through this I'm still in recovery though symptoms are better from severe eating disorder,ocd,anxiety,depression. There was a time in my life I would wash my hands till they bled for ex or was so underweight my hair fell out and that is not a part of my life but still its like any addiction recovery you have to fight and that takes a mentl toll so of course between working through these issues and the pain I'm not going to be all happy go lucky. Just trying to be rational and calm. Thanks guys you always give me hope.

We can only hope that the psych who implied that your pain was a psych problem will someday be inflicted with a pain disorder..... Surely ther is a special place in hell for doctors who dismiss pain symptoms in this manner.

that you are not only coping well, but far beyond well! You are learning your limits and at the same time pushing your own envelope out to a bigger shape! And you are being very adventurous in pushing it to a possible move even... Far more adventurous than me in reality...so keep it up.

As for pain clinics? That first one being 'wary' of folks who have emotional issues sounds short-sighted to me. Why because their track record of claimed 'success rates' eliminates the very people who need the help the most. That is undermining their fundamental mission statement as a non-profit...in my book...and all subsequent research and results will be faulted. I mean, who doesn't have 'emotional issues' with the pain we have? DUH?

Try another one? Worth a shot any how? You just might find a place that has a method or philosophy that works for you....each of these places have one, or many...it's like finding shoes that FIT tho...there are lots of variables for us with all our problems. I had found a PT place that was working for me, then they changed corporation mangagements and staff changed...wasn't as effective nor did it work so well. So on to a new search the next time I need it! [REALLY Hope I don't need?] Maybe the second or third try will be the 'charm'...we all need to keep up the hope that it can and DOES sometimes happen for the better.. There are some here, such as Brian and David who have and are succeeding...that they've not abandoned us is proof that some can recover AND care! - j

ps: Dakota is right - if that psych had a week with what we have to deal with -would be a total basket case for sure! We are stronger, better and smarter by the following of our own instincts...We do not conform to a model, because our disease/condition doesn't seem to! Therefore we have no choice but to be 'unconventional' in our own thinkings.