I understand and I hope you find a doc who will listen. I am glad you have good support. That is so nice you have a service dog. I'm sure that is a great bond. I know for me before my back and not saying you of course ask your doc but I have to push through my leg pain. If not they said I will really have issues with atrophy. Now I have a back problem so have not been able to do as much and it gets me super down. I also understand the mental side. You have an amazing out look I need to learn from you. Mine tends to suck.Many thoughts and healthy wishes.

Sevice dogs are fabulous....

My son has a service cat...seriously. Official service cat. It is just called a service animal.

Wounded Iraq war vet...

This is a good cat......I took care of him while son was deployed....the cat got so lonesome he lost a ton of fur....I thought he was sick, spent a fortune on lab testing and a do anything at all cost approach....You can't tell your kid his cat perished, while his boots are in Baghdad....you don't tell your deployed person much other than things are great and you miss them.....the cat was fine, physically. He lost his fur from stress. It grew back after my son came home. He was declared an official service animal.

I can't say what the stress did to me....but let's say it probably was not a good thing. Of course, my son had to go the whole year before he had his 'incident' with the IED. My hair, alas, has NOT grown back, nor turned back to its former color.

I have three labs...all they are good for is keeping me warm, keeping me company and keeping the EMS away if I ever need them.... They do obey commands, but they don't cook or do laundry...I love them anyway.

I suppose that is all I can ask.

Daniella I'm sorry that you struggle with your outlook on life. It's often said attitude is a state of mind and it's so true. I can be all POed about my pain, evergrowing disabilities and bodily fuctions that no longer work and my complaints about doctors, but I choose not to. It's my choice, and you can do it too. Find something in you day, your life and your world. Being able to think and type it into the computer is quite a blessing in itself. There are lots of people who can't do that. As it said be for that I watch people walking by and say to myself "I once was able to do that", but the good thing is I still have my mobility and the list goes on and on. Your list does too and I hope they are visible to you. We all deal with a great deal, still we can handle even more. Looking to hear from you.

Cyclelops I'm sorry your son was wounded in Iraq. I have so much admiration for our sons and daughters in uniform. It's great he made it home. Our returning Veterans have a great deal to handle. I'm a Vietnam Veteran and I war is hell. Whether you carry a weapon, drive a truck or cook in the messhall, the stress can be just miserable. Service cat, rat, horse, dog or whatever, if it helps him ~ Wonderful. I agree with you loving dogs and a little humor goes a long way in one happiness. Keep Smiling.

Jamie Marie (we it looks like I'm having an up day)

Thanks you have an amazing outlook. I am working on it and my mom is helping me focus on the positives. Its like retraining the brain. You know what I saw on tv is a little monkey service animal. So amazing. Pets are very theraputic. I almost went to a center back when in my ed that had horse therapy. My mom wanted to take our dog to old age homes but he is too wild but super loving.

My motto is: "I have PN but PN does not have me." A cliche? Yeah, but it's sustained me for over 20 years with this PN crud and I'm still percolating along.