My PN pain is about where it was several months ago. No worse but no better either other than the RLS type symptoms have abated. I'm still taking generic ultracet but I'm getting ready to ask my doc about perhaps adding another drug that I can alternate with. It's getting to the point with the Ultracet that I need to take two tabs for the same amount of pain that one tab used to work well for. I take one almost every night several hours before bed. I don't want to have to keep upping the dose. I'd appreciate any suggestions for a drug that I could take for several nights and then switch back to the Ultracet for several nights and just keep alternating.

The other thing going on is I'm beginning to have joint pain in my left big toe. In the ball joint, the joint called the 'ball of the foot'. It feels swollen and it does seem a bit bigger than my right. Course that could be normal side to side size differences. I never really paid attention to that kind of thing until this started. The ball joint aches and throbs deep in the joint. When it's really bad I can't stand *any* pressure on it. Not even a sheet. Can't stand to have it touched or anything. I have had issues with this joint some in the past and it seemed to be gout-like symptoms. This is now becoming chronic pain, that is: I experience this pain almost every day now.

I'm still taking the Methylcobalamine, the B-complex, and the Slow-mag (which I also take to counteract the effects on my bowels from the Ultracet. Works great! ). I need to be more strict about the fish oil and the Vit-E but overall I'm doing ok.

I'm getting ready to make an appt to see my doctor, who has changed because my NP I was seeing decided to leave and I wasn't told until I had to get a refill on a script and called and was told, "Whoops! Your doctor no longer works here!" Lovely. Anyway, I need to get my cholesterol rechecked too. Yuk. But, no matter what my reading is, no statins!!!!

I've had a lot of stress to deal with in the past months, since Aug. My youngest child, 13, has PTSD and possibly Borderline Personality Disorder. She's currently on her third psych hospitalization and will go directly from there to a long term care facility, the exact one to be decided in the next few days. The stress has certainly played a big part in my pain. Considering all though I'm still doing well and as some of you may remember, I stopped taking Effexor XR over 6 months ago and I'm doing well. Even with this added stress. So there is *some* good news to report as well.

When I see the doc this time around I'm going to ask for a referral to a neuro that deals with PN. I want answers. I'm one of the idiot-pathetic diagnosis and that's just not good enough anymore. I want to attempt to find the cause of my PN. With a more concrete diagnosis I feel treatments will be more effective since they'll actually be aimed at something. Up til now all that's been done is symptomatic: Dealing with the pain symptoms.

It's been great to be back here reading again. I'm so sorry that some of you are having more and more crap to deal with. It makes me feel grateful for my pitiful little problems.

ETA: Another symptom or thing that's started recently: At night when I lay on my left side I get this very weird sensation in the area just below my hip that extends down into the groin area. Tingling, tickling, burning, creepy-crawly sensations. If my other half happens to put his arm there or I put my hand there it goes away. The feeling is very disconcerting and I don't know if it's related to the PN or not. Also, I've been having issues with my hands again. I told my other half it was either the carpal tunnel syndrome returning or the PN might be spreading. Any ideas, anyone?

Have you had a work up for autoimmune issues lately? The big toe thing does sound like gout but it could be rheumatoid arthritis. It sounds as if you are overdue for some testing. And perhaps a new neuro might be a good idea.

Good to see you back.

Billye

The sesamoid bones in the ball of the foot can crack, move and slip around.
This causes pain typically. A simple x-ray of the foot will reveal this.
I think this is the most common cause of pain in the foot. Sometimes a steroid injection here can do wonders.

Secondly, there can be a spur under the toenail...this hurts quite a bit too.
Will show up on the same foot X-rays.

Gout also presents here, or pseudogout...but there would be redness and considerable swelling compared to the sesamoid/spur causes.

I'd go to a podiatrist first, or at least an orthopedic doctor.

Hello. Long time and I am sorry you have so much going on. I am sorry about your child and as someone who has been residential many times I know the stress this can cause on the whole family. I hope you all can do family therapy because I think it will help you and your child cope.If I can help on that front please pm me. I have experience in that front and really it can help your child so much. I used to have ocd so bad for ex my hands would blead from the washing and now I really don't have any ocd behaviors. It took time even after residential but it was a good starting place.
As for you pain I have sometimes where a fan blowing feels like a beating. Mine is similar to rsd they say and that is a symptom.Can you take a sleep med in combo with that med? I am sorry I don't have more to offer.

first stop! It was my own Pod. who thot the neuro that first treated me wasn't up on what even HE was seeing! Saved my life...
Also, IF you've broken a sesamoid...I have experienced both orthopod and Podiatrist interventions...The Pod. was a] far more knowledgable about the foot and what to do/or not and b] could wrap up that afflicted foot ten times better!
I learned the hard way that the anti-seizure meds such as neurontin Lyrica and all are notorious calcium depleters...therefore we are more prone to easy fractures. More so for those who are post-menopause, and thus calcium supplements are critical to trying to keep 'whole'.
Remember also, that fractures, per-se, do not show up on x-rays UNTIL calcium starts to replace and heal any gaps. Breaks are a different thing tho, and are more clear cut usually.
BOO to having to break in a new doctor? Sigh?!!!!!
As for the new 'sensations'? Is it where you already have some signs of PN? If so, please play your mind to believe these are signs of healing! They feel just the same only less well, coordinated? The healing [which I mite just be experiencing myself] is less organized than the destructions, but it too is freaky-TOTALLY FREAKY! Whatever I feel in the way of changes, I attribute to healing...less is known about this part...and probably will always be that way.
Oh Mrs D? Those toe-nails are a total PAIN! I've got ingrowns that the docs refuse to cut out...fear of infection and all, and when they act up, they do make themselves known!

Hugs Jarratt and all others!!!!!!!!! - j

a spur under the toenail of the big toe is different from an ingrown.

Spurs form from pressure from the top of tight shoes, pushing down on
the toes. It forms right under the nail in the middle.

The pain is sharp, and goes away when you take shoes off.
Sometimes it might bleed under the nail, but not always.

Some very good advice here. Yes, the gout thing has been considered. But my previous doctor never seemed to want to deal with issues. Just throw meds at symptoms. For instance, when I asked her and showed the big toe thing she threw Endo-something at me. I was to take in a way similar to how you take steroids. I didn't take the stuff. It was guaranteed to tear my stomach up and I don't like it when she throws meds at things without knowing exactly what's being treated. It's like shooting at the dark. You can't see the target let alone know what the target is.

Don't think it's a spur. It's not in that area. The pain I mean and it's not like that kind of pain you described, MrsD. I've never been one to wear tight shoes. Can't wear any kind of heel either and haven't been able to for many years. My feet, right across the ball area, would get so sore from just a few hours of wearing heels (even the so called 'flats' with the tiny half-inch or less heel) that I couldn't walk well or without pain for several days afterwards. I'm at a bit of a disadvantage in that being adopted I know very little of my family medical history. So gout, arthritis and other things like that are a big unknown.

My previous doc didn't even bother to x-ray the ball area. How's that for common sense?

A number of years ago I had what I believe was a gout attack. The ball of my left foot, the same one giving me trouble now, swelled up and was so painful no matter what I took for the pain...I couldn't even touch it. I wanted to rip the toe off it hurt so badly. What's going on now feels like the same pain only muted compared to that attack. And so far no redness and swelling like what I saw that one time.

And the last blood work done for auto-immune was aimed specifically at the PN diagnosis, looking for specific things known to be associated with PN. So that's due as well I believe. Thanks, Billye.

It's just when one has PN and things start happening like this one tends to panic. "OMG! It's spreading!!" Sigh. And not having a diagnosis lends itself to this panic cause I don't know what to expect...or not.

My other half did point out to me a little while ago that the thing with my hands....if it was 'just' the carpal tunnel it would be odd to see it happening in both hands at the same time to the same degree in both. I hadn't thought of that aspect of it til he mentioned that. Sigh, that scares me.