[CGEE]

I’ve had severe burning and stabbing pain in my toes and soles of both feet since January, 2007 and desperately need help. I am a 58 year old woman of average health/weight. I am non-diabetic but I have had rheumatoid arthritis since 1996 - am taking Celebrex (400mg) - and have had herniated discs years ago. My GP did some bloodwork which came back normal and I started taking Neurotin (300mg) and then took Lyrica and neither helped me. I then started going to a podiatrist who put me on B-12 and folic acid for my feet and he referred me to a neurologist. I then saw my first neurologist who did an EMG and nerve conduction test which were negative – he first had me take Cymbalta and when it didn’t work then Elavil which hasn’t worked and gives me side effects of a “hangover” and headache and he also recommended I soak and put lotion on my feet which I had been doing all along. He told me that I had peripheral neuropathy but it was only mild and that I would be better off when my feet went numb – basically just to live with it and “it would be better when it gets worse.” I saw a second neurologist and he told me the same thing as the first and to stay on the Elavil for a couple more months. I’m waiting for my bloodwork to come back from him and he also said I didn’t need another EMG.

The severe pain/burning is only in my feet and ankles right now but I can’t get any help from the doctors I’ve seen so I feel it’s just going to get worse. I can’t hardly walk now and get very little sleep so I desperately need help with this. If anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it.