For me, sleep is my salvation. My feet actually don't flair up when I am sleeping. However, the minute I plop these painful paddles on the floor, the fun begins. It gets so dog gone old. Achy, icky, tender, burning, scrunching...just flat out....I hate it. Some days...I have to wear the Birks....other days, I can actually wear the fancy dress shoes. Sitting...the burning begins.....slam down a bunch of narcotics...with just a dash of seizure meds, and the cocktail actually gives the appearance of a touch of normalcy. But....oh brother. Why do I have to walk on these weird feeling tarsal/metatarsal collection of dung! Okay,....I feel better now. Until the 72 pills wear off.

WOW jakatak - you said: What are these 72 pills and how frequently do you take 'em and exactly what are each/all of them prescribed for?

That was tongue in cheek. But, taking 3 prescription drugs a day does get old.

I hear ya! I am supposed to walk every day . . .

Does that mean from the table to the bathroom to the kitchen to the . . . ????

When I do get out and go for a "walk" I pay for it with at least an hour of cramping, shooting pain, burning and tingling, and "dead" feet! I hate not being able to sit still to read, or even type on the laptop . . . and it takes me a long time to get them settled down for sleep.

I do walk everyday - for 1 to 1½ miles - thanks to the fact that I found pain control using the Fentanyl Transdermal System (generic Duragesic Patch) which constantly controls my pain for up to 48 hours. Untreated my pain is 7 to 9+ and treated it's 2 - 4. I have a 21 year history with PN and it's constant pain and that pain has been controlled as described since early 2002...and my pain doesn't increase after walking - or anything else. Works for me!

Dan I always remind myself of you cause you found a treatment that works. You are a reminder of hope especially now that I am going to be more aggressive in my treatment. The prescription meds if they worked I would be thrilled. What ever can help one have a better quality of life in my eyes. As of now still trying to find what works I try to find the balance of pushing myself as much as I can but not to he point where I can't take it. On the better days I try to do something fun for ex with my mom so that it helps me cope mentally to have lifted spirits if that makes sense. Hang in there and I hope you feel better

LOL....I am also so sick of pills, & IV's, & doctors !

I hear ya! I take 5 blood pressure pills a day. The doctors have really struggled to get a grip on my hypertension which I inherited from my grandmother. I also take three gabapentins a day for my neuropathy, and some vicodin when needed. Like so many here I am sick of health problems, pills, pain and doctors! I know everyone here understands.

/big hug! I totally sympathize with how madening the pain from Neuropathy can be. I have been dealing with similar pain in my feet. Many times the pain meds do absolutly nothing to alleviate it. I feel like just force of will makes me get up and do things and many times I dont have the will!

Seems like learning to cope is a process and I am by no means an expert, but this is what I am finding helps me.

1. Excercise - I know it hurts, sometimes I feel like I want to cry when I go for a walk, but its far worse to let myself sit at home and be miserable. Just getting outside helps me reaffirm that I am not going to let this disease shrink my world. I live in a third floor condo, and not a day goes by that I dont think about selling it and moving into someplace that is wheel chair accessible or at least that doesnt have steps.

2. Humor - I keep DVD's of my favorite shows handy, or sometimes I will just watch wierd things on Youtube if only to make me laugh. IDK, it helps me cope.

3. Distraction - I have to keep games, puzzles, the laptop all handy and have the TV on or the radio or both lol. Multitasking helps me.

4. Regular routine - and not overdoing it when I feel good. If I am learning anything, it is patience. I walk around slower. I take breaks to sit down more frequently. Etc. I am learning to just be patient with my body and not push it. I am walking with a cane and leg brace now wich is always frustrating but on days when I decide not to use my cane because its too much hassle to try and juggle things that take two hands I feel way worse than If I ask for help from a coworker or student.

Everyone's situation is different, there are many days when I feel I am alone, or like I am useless, or that it will never get better so why bother. You are not alone, I know it sounds cliche to say hang in there, but... Hang in there

/hug

So, I'm in the bathroom this morning, getting ready for work. I open the medicine cabinet, and actually burst out laughing.
6 years ago, the only med I took, was for depression/anxiety. (I still do, and I won't survive without my lexapro).
Now...my medicine cabinet looks like the top row at the pharmacy at Cub Foods.
Good God!!! There are pills for BP...pills for cholesterol...pills for depression...pill (3 of 'em) for my crappy feet.
Geeez....I need a suitcase for my drugs when I go to New York!!!