From the flatlands of West Tennessee
"Old as dirt, poor as a church mouse, dumb as a fence post, but still above ground"
The PN progressed to the right foot and eventually to my knees. The symptoms were numbness, pins & needles, burning, electric-like shocks, and both feet/ankles felt like they were wrapped too tightly with Ace Bandages. A generalized pain began affecting my legs from the knees down. When I walked both feet felt very 'spongy' and weird... for lack of a better term.
I made an appointment with my PCP who immediately referred me to a local Neurologist. The Neuro gave me a thorough neurological exam and scheduled electromyography and a nerve condiction velocity test which returned a diagnosis of Painful Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy...and the search for the cause was on. I was tested for everything imaginable from diabetes to lupus to syphilis - everything came back negative and the word Idiopathic was added to my diagnosis. Not long after this I began feeling the same symptoms in my hands and eventually to my arms up to the elbows. Buttoning my colllar button became impossible as well as trying to pick up coins and other small objects. Forunately the pain has not been too severe in my upper extremities. Legs and feet is a totally different story. My pain has been evaluated as "chronic consistant moderate to severe generalized pain" from the knees down with mild to moderate pain in the hands. I describe my feet as two huge wasps nests that someone has swatted with a broom over and over again and the bees are stinging me on all the affected areas.
Many medications have been prescribed...from Elival to Paxil to Neurontin and others I can't remember. Of course, nothing worked as far as a cure is concerned. I have been to several Neurologists who ran all their tests and have gotten second, third, fourth and fifth opinions...all the same as my origional diagnosis. Since no cause of my PN could be found, my doc and I decided our course of action was pain management.
We tried 2 or 3 things which failed and finally the Duragesic Patch was prescribed and my life changed!. We started on the '50' strength and have progressed to the '100' strength and the results have been a lifesaver. I have absolutely no side effects - my eyes are clear, hands are steady, and I'm in full control of my faculties. No 'high' or drugged feeling. I am able to drive my car without incident (just finished a 4000 mile round trip from Tennessee to the Redwoods Country in California via Las Vegas and return home) and I walk 1 1/2 to 2 miles every day, rain or shine. We also use Vicodin 7.5/750mg for 'breakthrough' pain which I seldom have to use. With the patch I am able to lead a relatively normal life and get by just fine with only the use of a cane. When one has the pain of PN under control, life is worth living....so, please - all you PNers, work with your doctors to get your pain controlled. If they wont work with you, and it does take some work, get rid of that doctor and find one that will!!! This is SO important.
There is nothing remarkable about my PN and history. I was 56 years old when my PN started...I am now 71 and still going strong. I have had a full life and served 24 years in the United States Air Force. My wife and I enjoy good food, music and travel when our health permits, and hanging out here at home. We are firm believers that " it's better to wear out than rust out".
Dan Pearce
From the flatlands of West Tennessee
"Old as dirt, poor as a church mouse, dumb as a fence post, but still above ground"