[kreink]

Hi all, my name is Kevin, I am 35, and a school teacher. I am only recently coming to understand what a disaster PN is. Mine is from Diabetes that I only recently learned I had.

Long story short, the PN in my feet is both sensory and motor and I have gotten to the point where it is really affecting my ability to walk, my ability to work, and my relationships.

I am comming to grips with it, but it is frustrating. I take 3600mg of Gabapentin and 90 mg of Cymbalta wich helps make the pain manageable but often it seems it makes my feet so numb that my balance and walking become terrible. I often find I can only make it through the work day and then I crash at night and suffer. I hate to admit that I have begun smoking again but pain and anxiety have beaten my will power. Some nights I just want to cut my feet off.

The motor difficulties are getting bad enough that I have begun using a cane and next week I will get fitted for an AFO on my left foot. My biggest fear is that eventually the motor problems will intensify in my right foot and I will be looking at the prospect of not walking. I am single and deal with this largely by myself, I have family but that is another mess entirely. I get encouragement and support mainly through friendships at church.


Thanks for reading, I hope I can find support here and learn more about how to manage as well as help encourage others.

God bless.