It Get's So Old
 

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. :p

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?

Dan.....
 

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.

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

Hard to admit..But I'm going to NY!
 

It is so difficult to admit that the body can turn on you. When I've stopped taking my Lyrica, I am reminded...within a day, how important it is for me to continue taking this med. It truly allows me to wear normal shoes, walk around our little lake in our backyard, and workout on my elliptical trainer.
I am so excited about my wife taking me to New York for my 60th birthday.
I've never been there before, so I am religiously taking my meds, so I can walk Central Park, go to Yankee Stadium and see them play my Twins. Broadway...museums...empire state bldg, Statue of Liberty....can't wait!!!!

I have posted this before, but it is true. One has to have hope. Hope that they can find the right combo of meds which allows them to have a better quality of life and hope that some of us will be in that lucky category in which our nerves can heal and or improve. All we can do is try and take the best care of ourselves as possible and take our recommended supplements.

I admit, I did kind of freak last night when my pain level shot through the roof. I just had one of those moments where I thought about living the rest of my life like this and all I could do is cry. My family came into my room to comfort me and told me that I will get better, they just feel it. (God bless them). They have seen me go through two other torturous medical conditions and have become a lot stronger. Still, I can see the hurt in their eyes when they see me in pain.

I am back today, trying to feel that hope again, but yes, it is a struggle at times, and, it sure does get old...

Jakatak that sounds awesome. If or should I say when since we are being hopeful I get to a better point my mom and I are going to take a girls trip to NY or Las Vegas. Wishing you a fun time and Happy pre 60 Bday
Hope It is hard for me I know too when my pain flares up my mood and outlook goes to pot. The past few days have been better pain wise and I have been more happy and have more hope. I think on the bad days that is where especially my mom helps me to battle through. She is my strength and reminds me like your family that we will find me the right treatment. I would of given up like 15 doctors ago if it were not for her. I too see the hurt as when I cry my mom does though she tries to hold it back but just can't. I hope for all of us this oneday will be in the past and laughing times will be ahead. Hugs and hopeful thoughts

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. :mad:

/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

I had to laugh
 

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!!!:winky:

At least we can joke I guess. Humor is good medicine. I agree that if I ever get well if I see another doctor it will be too soon. I am younger then the average with this and that is the comment I always get at the doctors office that your too young to be here. I always say I am wearing a costume I really am 80 inside.
Anyhow I think for me support groups like this help me feel less alone which I feel in my every day life. I feel like an alien almost and can't even imagine what a "normal" life or body is any more. I really like the coping mechanisms people suggest here. I find people's suggestions on how to cope that actually face this every day a benefit. The hard part is when family and doctors tell me how to cope or how I am not. It aggrevates me.
kreink I find your suggestions helpful too.
For me it has also been trying to find things that I can do that I may have not wanted to before this but now does lift my spirits. Like beading or a board game.On the note of stairs I too live on a top floor but anyhow for a month I was staying on a one floor house and so I did not do stairs. Well when I moved I had to do them and let me tell you from not doing them everyday I had a real hard time relearning. I know everyone is different and for some stairs is not a possibility but now it really makes me aware of when I don't do normal tasks that people without pain do naturally I have a real hard time. That is like one summer I stopped wearing socks and then I could not tolerate them for a long time. Ok enough of my novel.