Help! New, Not sure if I have PN
 

Hey Everyone,

I'm a 28 year old male. I'm single, live alone, healthy (despite what appears to be PN), and prior to this year felt as though I was on the fast track to building a happy life with an eventual partner and family.

Unfortunately those goals seem to have gone out the window, as over the last year I've struggled with considerable pain and equal anxiety as I've been unable to get any kind of clear guidance from various medical professionals regarding my continued issues.

That's what has me here.

First, let me explain how it all began. In January of last year a man broke into my home while I was sleeping. I woke up, approached him and was immediately attacked by him. I'm a big guy, so I fought him (successfully) out of my house and onto the street in front of my home. My then live-in girlfriend called the police, who showed up shortly and arrested the individual. I was only in my pajamas, so I had no shoes on and suffered considerable damage to my poor feet! They were bashed and bruised, and I had a displaced fracture of a pinky toe. I also had a considerable amount of blood from that individual make it's way into my mouth (I'm not a violent person but I will say I at least delivered that jerk a serious beating!).

I took a few weeks off from my regular exercise routine, but things seemed fine after a few weeks so I jumped back into the swing of things. My doctor advised that I could've been exposed to blood borne illnesses (scary stuff, HIV and Hep C), so I followed her advice about being safe with my girlfriend in the meantime and went through the appropriate testing. I ultimately tested negative up to 6 months after the encounter -- which is apparently a larger than necessary "window" to ascertain that I hadn't contracted anything. About two weeks after the injury I also started to suffer from tingling in my toes (predominately my right foot), as well as pain in the ball of my foot, which is exacerbated while walking.

Fast forward a year later and my foot pain remains. It's worst in my right, but definitely exists in my left as well. It's worse when walking or standing, but occasionally even hits while resting. It feels simply like pain in the ball of my foot, third and fourth toes, arch and even sometimes the heel. The pain isn't numbness or burning -- just good ole' pain, and equally my feet feel super cold (even when they shouldn't -- I used to never have issues with the cold)! My girlfriend (who was in fact, the love of my life) left me because she couldn't handle that I remained in pain. I've seen countless doctors, all who have been stumped and ultimately suggested that I have small fiber neuropathy (I had a normal EMG / NCV and have no weakness / balance issues) due to the incident.

I find myself really at my wits end. I feel too young (and too alone) to deal with this. My life has fallen apart in that I've lost my girlfriend, I don't feel confident dating anyone (why would anyone want to be with someone who has this type of pain day in day out), I've quit soccer and doing other things I love, and worst of all -- I can't even focus at my job anymore. My career is falling apart, as the pain drives me nuts and I can't do anything but google / try to research what could be wrong / what I can do to fix it. I seriously feel like my life is falling apart, and like suicide would be a better option than living the rest of my life alone and in pain. I had so many goals and objectives, and now they all feel so very far away.

What I can't figure out, however, is that my symptoms still seem largely different than most of you here -- which leaves me wondering if it really is neuropathy. So, a few questions:

1) Do any of you have an intense feeling of coldness in your feet? No burning pain, no numbness -- just a cold type of pain.

2) Do any of you have neuropathy that is very localized to a region of the foot (ie, the ball of foot and the areas nearby)?

3) Does exercise make your pain go away? I find that after a good warm up I tend to actually feel better -- once things get stretched out.

Does this sound like neuropathy?

Just looking for some help / hope / comfort. I of course sympathize with every one of you and wish you all well. It's not fair that any of us live with this type of pain, and it's been EYE opening as far as medical care in this country goes. Doctors tend to make me feel crazy, and only exacerbate my already sky-high degree of anxiety.

I just want to know that I can work through this and live a normal life -- as right now I feel simply like a broken burden to society. Furthermore, without direct causality (my injuries don't seem bad enough to have left me with this for life), I worry that I could've acquired some infectious disease that I could possibly spread if I were ever to date again.

Thanks for your input, and sorry for the novel.

pain in feet
 

You know I don't know what they call it but Steven Tyler had pain in his feet -he damaged his nerves from slamming his bare feet down on the stage all the time. I would think a dr would be able to diagnose that though by now.

As to what I feel my PN is in the both "whole" foot. I have nerve sensations most of the day, winter I get the ice cold feet most all day, also burning at times. Funny, when I exercise the nerves really start firing more...
Sometimes my feet are "quiet" I don't feel the constant nerves firing but yet if you look at my foot you can see movement in the side of my foot.

I don't know if any kind of support in your shoes will help. I used to have tight painful feet in the am when getting up with plantar fasciatis and that is better some reason however I get cramps at times too that make walking hard.
Sorry to hear your relationship broke up and you are alone. It is very hard not to have someone to lean on when dealing with chronic pain. I am thankful a lot of this has hit me later in life.

posting on feet
 

ok I looked it up he had Morton's Neuroma He has had surgery on his feet
look him up and see if maybe what he had you have. Again, I would think a dr would know if you had that or not --as would think would be easy enough to diagnose.

Thanks. Funny, I actually read about his situation as well.

Unfortunately my doctor doesn't think a Morton's Neuroma is likely given that he can't reproduce the pain by pushing on my foot. I personally wish it were that simple.

The thing about my feet is that the pain is directly stimulated by physical stimuli. For instance, if I take a morning and just relax / sleep in / watch TV, I don't end up with a lot of pain. On the other hand when I get up, walk to work, stand on the buss, etc -- the pain comes on full throttle.

are you sure that you dont have fractures in your feet? have you had x rays, fluoroscopy, mri's? there are small bones in the feet and people report the type of pain you are having when they are active, on their feet, walking around etc.

So, is it consistent that it seems to affect the "whole" foot -- and when you say that, do you feel it literally in your entire foot?

Mine really seems to be limited to the portion of my foot just under my third and fourth toes, mainly on my right foot but ever so slightly on my left as well.

The best way to describe it is as "cold" / stinging. And when I feel my toes they are actually quite cold to the touch.

Man I just want my feet to feel normal again.

I have had xrays -- no MRI or anything beyond that. The doctor feels like I wouldn't be able to exercise through the pain with actual fractures...which leads him to suggest CRPS / SFPN.

:(

my son went to afghanistan for 10 months on foot patrol this year with pain and some swelling and didnt realize a fracture he had in his foot hadnt healed totally until he got back. get mri's

Yes, my hubby broke a metatarsal bone during basic training, for Vietnam. He was in a cast for weeks! They moved him thru basic --he did not have to redo it--- and then they stuck him in a desk, which saved his life I think. He became a signal core spec. 4.
Infantry did not want him.

I know people with hairline breaks, who continued to walk on them, with much pain.

Bone scans can be better at locating damage than MRIs IMO.
It will show the bones trying to heal, etc.

There is a good site with lots of information, anatomy etc to help you visualize your foot, and what is INSIDE it:

http://www.northcoastfootcare.com/

Ok, sounds like I just need to get a physician to order MRIs / Bone Scans.

Thank you so much to both of you -- I'm really hoping I can get to the bottom of this and reclaim my life!

Hope
 

OMG! That is a horrific incident. I am so sorry. I am very concerned because you have mentioned suicide. Do you have anyone, like your parents or a close friend, that you can reach out to? I do not have great advice because I have been newly diagnosed with neuropathy. I do experience the same issue you described that when I am active I feel a little better, but I "pay" for it that evening with worse symptoms. If I rest, that evening the symptoms are better. Are you on any medications? I have been put on Gabapentin and Clonazepam (at night) which have at least made the symptoms manageable for the time being and I am able to function. I am hoping to find some better long term solutions on this site, but at least I am not in horrible pain right now. Unfortunately, this issue runs in my family and my mother has also had PN for the past 14 years - hers came on when she fell and hurt her knee. It took her a year and a half to find a doctor to treat her symptoms and she too felt like her life was over during that time period. Please do not give up hope - keep searching for a doctor to treat you both physically and psychologically (if needed). I do not know you but I am sending you my love and well wishes. This too will pass and you can get better and find love again. You may not find answers but you should be able to find a doctor to provide you relief - keep searching and don't give up. XOXOXO :)

That is quite an experience, at least you weren't hurt worse or killed. Congrats on defending yourself. Hang in there, man. I am not a dr or anything, but my 2c-- It doesn't sound like typical PN but it is different for everyone. If you have still not turned up with a disease, I think you need to try not to worry about this anymore. Do drugs like Tylenol and Advil help your pain? These help with inflammation and do not typically relieve PN pain. If it does turn out to be PN, there are effective drugs you can take to manage this. It is unfortunate to have to take drugs, but these can help you get your normal life back.
Ron

bone scans. i forgot about those. i had them done on both feet when they were looking to see if i had charcot foot because i had rebroken both my ankles a number of times as well as bones in toes. i didnt have charcot foot. i kept breaking my ankles because i kept turning them violently because i couldnt feel them going on eneven surface. broke toes because i couldnt feel myself hitting things with foot while walking so i hit some hard surfaces like a diving board support pretty hard. that phase seems to be behind me now, i havent broken anything in a while. Mrs D is right, a bone scan would be called for.

It might be best to see an orthopedic MD rather than a podiatrist.
They usually do the bone scans.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Everyone, seriously, you've all helped me feel *so* much better.

Also, regarding suicide -- I've already contacted a therapist and I plan to begin therapy as to come to terms with the new situation. This type of health problem isn't like anything I've confronted before, it's time for me to handle this and prevent myself from losing sight of what's important...which is that life is *always* worth it.

Much love to everyone, I'll keep you all posted as this journey progresses. Thanks again for the kindness, support and feedback.

Just Checking In
 

Hi - I have been thinking about you and hoping you are doing a bit better - at least mentally. Praying for you both in health and love. Just wanted you to know people are out there for you and hoping you get the help and relief you deserve.:grouphug:

Get a MRI/Bone scan. Good luck