[jarrett622]

There is a connection with PN pain in that many of the reasons for the PN pain are the same as for the PLP.

http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/en/pain/mi...medicine2.html

*This* article is what had me doing research because I couldn't remember exactly what the cause of phantom limb pain is.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/03/19...apy/index.html

Oddly enough, a mirror placed next to the missing limb 'tricked' the brain into thinking the limb was still there. Yeah, weird. But hey, if it works....!!!

[mrsD]

Thanks for posting it!

[dahlek]

That is exactly the avenue I'd explored during the worst of my own PN Pains! It was so bad and went on so long that I really was ready to say: TAKE IT ALL OFF!.... but for the consequences. I have to admit that I am glad I hesitated.

That resource is one that is a keeper! Please put it up in the 'stickies'?

As for the 'chronicness' of it all. You should know that I AM/HAVE been seeing some sensation improvements -only with massive IG therapy and other interventions...but there are improvements.. small but to ME? significant after five years of 'deadness'. SO. Things CAN happen. Pert mind-set; part-therapies; and part supplements I THINK? Thank you all for this help. I just hope and all that things continue to improve. CIDP is known to have 'relapses'. I surely do NOT want to have one - tho I believe I will have no control should it happen again. I surely hope not!
I've never given up HOPE. At times I truly wanted to. I'm not sure I can say now that I'm outta the woods. I am realistic enough to know that I am probably not? BUT..... I do know some good things are happening...little things, but things that can and do add up to better things. To everyone here who has helped inform me, educate me and challenge me? THANK YOU!
's - j

PS? I'm no way outta the woods yet. Not by a long shot...But every little step in the rite direction is just THAT.. In the rite direction!

[nide44]

Interesting article.
I sent it to my son, who is an 18 mos post,
spinal cord injury (C-5), quadriplegic.
It has an interesting, alternative point of view.

[jarrett622]

I understand about the hope part. The other night I didn't sleep at all. Not for a minute. During that day my feet were fine which usually means I don't need to take a tramadol...so I didn't. As soon as I attempted to go to sleep it started. And it was a different kind of pain in an area I'd not previously had issues with - on the top of my left foot. Very odd kind of pain/tingling. When I'd stretch my toes upward I'd get this pain/tugging sensation in the big toenail. Anyway, I got up the first time and took some Ibuprofen. Didn't want to take a tramadol then because they keep me wide awake. And the object was to be able to sleep. The second time I got back up at 4:00 and took a tramadol. Then I was up for the day. Sigh. During that space of time between getting up the first and second time it really hit me that this is a chronic condition and may never get any better than it currently is. That was depressing. Intellectually I know it's chronic but this was a gut-level knowing, if that makes sense. But I'd hoped for a miracle with the vitamins and such and that's not happening and may not happen. *But*! The pain is much less than it was before starting the vitamins and supplements. So I can't lose hope either.

And then you post or someone else who has things *so* much more dire than I do and it helps put things back into perspective for me. So thanks for that.

It does get tiresome though being in physical distress all the time does it not? Sigh.

And you're right, relapses are hell. But I wonder, if your treatments are doing what they should does that lessen the chance of a relapse? I sure hope so, for you.

One painful step at a time.

BTW: How do I do that as a stickie? Or do I add it to one of the threads already a stickie?

ETA: I posted it in the stickies already there:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread177.html

Hope that was ok.

[Monica de Lara]

Thank you for the article, it is really interesting. It led me to wonder: how can we "trick" our brains???

[jarrett622]

Originally Posted by Monica de Lara

Thank you for the article, it is really interesting. It led me to wonder: how can we "trick" our brains???

Exactly what I was thinking and wondering! Oh, if only there was a way to do it!!!