Yes!
 

Okay....let's figure this out. I'm taking 1600 neurontin at night time....3 75mgs of Lyrica a day.....put my wallet in my front pocket....a little bit of tramadol...2 tabs of 50 mgs a day.....BUT!!! This is the first day that I have had nothing but the residual numbness from the neuroma surgery. No zapping...no aching...no pain.....no back pain...no knee pain.....what is up with this? If it goes away tomorrow....I can say...for today...I felt great!!!!!!

Hey, let's hope it continues--
 

--and that you've found a combination that, at least for you, works.

Don't be surprised if there's some variation in symptom intensities--as Mel has been writing, weather can set things off, as can activity, certain foods, etc.--the test is, in longer-term retrospect, are you doing better, over time, than you were before.

Thank God!!!

That's all I can say Jack.

You take care,

Melody

W0w
 

It is so incredible to get such wonderful feedback from those that are suffering at such a degree....that I can't even comprehend....thank you again!

The wallet...
 

Hey Jack!

You did say you moved your wallet - could that be the reason for the pain being less today? I sure hope so. That would be a miracle.


Shirley H.

Changes
 

Don't make any sudden changes in any of the things you listed. If this is the magic formula, enjoy it!!:) I'm so glad to know you finally have some relief. It's good to hear good news!! :)

Billye:hug:

Welllll
 

You can kiss that hero of your's but just a gentle one that's all nothing else,
well maybe a pinch on her fanny,but no more. :D :D Sue

Good stuff Jack, after all that time in pain you really deserve this, i am happy for you.

Fabulous!! :)

rose

Jack:

That is just GREAT! Please post and keep us updated on how things work out for you with this routine. I know you have been pretty miserable and hope this improvement continues for you.

Cathie

I'm so happy to for you. Its a sign of hope and better times ahead. Sending good and healthy vibes for continued health.

Jack,
Its all in finding the right combination.
I wrote to you that mine was Lyrica & Tramadol with B12 and other supplements.
Once you are successful, expect flares & bad days, but if it is
helpful 75% of the time- you're ahead of the game.
Keep the combination. Do not change, Do not pass GO.
Do not collect $200. Stay on your combination, for at least
a month or more- before you decide you want to 'fiddle around'
(because you are the type that will).
But I bet you'll slowly go back to your successful combination.
That's the way it works.
Don't fight it!

That's wonderful! I can so relate. A break from the pain, no matter how long or short, is *always* a blessing. Hope it continues for you!

Okay
 

Day 2....accept for an occasional twinge.....just residual numbness from the surgery. I never thought that numbness of the feet would be a blessing.....to have 75% improvement is unbelieveable.

Numbness, by itself, would be a blessing for me.

Counting Days
 

If anybody here knows anyone in "recovery" or is in "recovery" they knew the basic rule: One day at a time. Gradually, the days add up.

Jack, you've got TWO DAYS. I want to say for you, "Hi, My name is Jack, I'm a chronic pain patient, and I have two days pain-free."

That's fabulous. Keep the wallet out of your pocket, and don't change a thing. Maybe tomorrow will be another good day.

And, from the peanut gallery, I identify. "I'm LizaJane, and I'm a pain patient, and I have had three days pain-free."

For me, I think it was about a feldenkrais lesson about using the butt more and the back less to walk. It's been amazing to have basic movements remade by a therapist, but I do not care if my back is not fused, as long as I'm not in pain. The conclusion I've reached is this: Surgeons do desperate operations when people's nerves are in danger. I had a desperate operation to get the cyst out. But no way can I imagine a desperate, primitive surgery on my spine just for pain. There are better ways.

So there, all you back surgeons!

I'm LizaJane, and I have 3 days.

So glad Jack and LizaJane are doing better. Here is hoping that many others will join your group.

Much love to you,
Cathie

Thats what I try to do is focus on today and what is happening or I need to do,be grateful for,etc. Sometimes that needs to be even hour by hour. It works to feel less overwhelmed and stay positive. I sound like my therapist. I have been in therapy for too many years I could write the book. I should be in school for psychology but hopefully I will be a good nurse. Hoping for day 3 and sending lucky vibes.

Not so good today
 

I am really beginning to think it is truly coming from my crappy back. I have had stenosis for years, periods of sciatica....chiropractors....etc. But, I noticed that my feet do hurt worse when I am sitting. Last night I was picking weeds out of the yard, by bending down and pulling them up. Last night the burning on the bottom of my toes came back, and I had to come home from work at a conference today, because sitting hurt my feet so much. I have an ice bag on my back right now and I'm going in for an epidural tomorrow. I am going to pay particular attention to have this does or does not help my feet. Arching my back affects my stenosis and bending forward appears to be bad. I don't have any bulging disks or herniated disks...just fairly bad stenosis. Oh...this is so much fun.

Don't stop
 

Jakatak,

Don't stop your meds. You know what Nide44 told you about there being good days and bad days.

I hope you get some relief from the epidural. Maybe it will give you more clues about the cause of your problem. But don't stop the meds in the meantime.

Billye

No more yard work for Jack... That shouldn't be too hard to adjust to... :)

Cathie

I gave
 

It up and hired very handsome men,now i really like watching it. :) Sue

Smart girl... I may have to try that...
Cathie

Gee, I wonder if there are any lawn women for the men to hire and watch:D

we hire housekeepers in french maid outfits

Yup, unh hunh, we do, we do !!
I have trouble gardening too....."Dunlop's" disease.
(Ya know, when the the gut dun-lopped over the belt?)
The only thing I can do, out on the patio, is grill on the barby. :)

Bet
 

There is Deb, but i think they cost more ,you know more skin,
protection.
Hey Joe thay's how you get the house clean hmmmm
And Bob i bet that tummy is cute,let's all go to Bob's for some
Barby. I shall bring a pickle or a olive and :) Sue

you dont think im doing housework in 6"spiked heels and a mini leather skirt do you?

To each his own, Joe
To each his own :)

Well Joe, we can hope. If you are, please post a picture of yourself in your "working attire." Around here, I am sure you could find plenty of business...

And Sue, I am glad to see that you are getting some good exercise... After you posted this, I went on a copycat mission. After calling a flyer left on my door, I was a little disappointed. He looked like he was about 13... :)

Back to the drawing board... :) :) :)

Cathie

I cut the lawn on my garden tractor sitting on a very pricey foam cushion....and with a baggy jacket on, regardless of the heat....darn bumpy out there, and given the view of the road...somethings are just best unseen.:eek:

Hiring good looking guys to do lawn work for me would be, well, frustrating.:D

Enough
 

OK you guys, enough.:o

Did I tell you about my recent yardman episode? My step-mom (Thanks Mom!) said they were honest. They get here. It's a country fellow with a really spiffy hairstyle. Found out he's a used-car salesman and does yards in his spare time. He has his grandson with him. He asks me what I want done during the time he's here. We've got some trees that are too close to the house, so I ask him if he can cut down the trees we show him. Sure mam, no problem.

A little later I hear this thud on the outside wall beside me by the computer and I cringe. I look out the window and he has his saw stuck in the tree and they are trying to pitch a wooden block up into the tree with a rope attached to it. This is about a foot from a big window where I am sitting on the other side of it. Hit the house twice. I send my husband out and it seems they are trying to lodge the block in the tree to pull it down. He shows them how to attach a thing called a "come-along" to it to pull it down. This takes awhile and my concrete garden bench suffers a near miss. And there is this tree in the back yard that is dead. We wanted it down before it fell on the house. He shows them this one and comes in the house to get some water.

We are discussing the fiasco and we hear this crack and a boom. Yep..you guessed it, the tree fell on the house and dented the metal roof we have. (Lots of folks in the country have metal roofs) We were lucky, it hit a corner and rolled off so not TOO much damage.

I just wanted to crawl in a closet by then. He managed to weed-eat and edge the front yard without much damage. Talk about dumb and dumber. At one point I looked out and the grandson has a rope attached to the tree and is pulling. No way it would fall like that.

This was really trying. My husband can't do any yard work yet and we have acres. When all of this is finished and I've paid the yard man for work that had to be done. I'm sitting here saying. Billye will not kill "Dumb and Dumber".

We really need more work done just to keep the jungle back. But I don't think at this rate we can afford these guys.

Just thought I'd take your fantasy back to reality. :D
Billye