I am a 40 year old female, and all my life I have been VERY physically active. The pain started around the age of 32. I would sit down to relax in the evenings and the bottoms of both my feet would feel "bruised", like I had been jumping up and down on marbles all day. I would just think that I had been on my feet too long that day without breaks. So, I blew it off.

At the age of 37, I had a massive heart attack, with 5 more to follow. I had a stent placed in one artery. I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). I started to take life a little easier.

In August of 2001, I began noticing tingling and numbness in my fingers and hands, and it was really bothering me because it would not ease up. Then began other symptoms, (too many to list ) so went to my GP. After being tested from head to toe at a major medical facility in Minnestoa, I was diagnosed with the PN.

Now, I have the severe burning. The only way I can ease the burning is to wrap cold wet towels around my hands, feet and legs. I am in pain 24 hours a day, due to the CHF, I cannot take but 300 mg Neurontin 3 x a day. Sleep has become a thing of the past for me. I cat nap, 10 minutes here, and 20 minutes there. I use a cane when walking, but soon will have to reason with my pride and step up to a wheelchair.

The doc at the major facility in MN said the PN will keep getting worse because they cannot find what is causing it. I hope this is not the case. At times I get depressed and want to scream, "Give me my life back!!!" Who knows, they might figure this beast out and we all will get our lives back.

I hope that one day, we can all look back at this and say, "Now that I am cured, I realize this was just one of life's little stepping stones."

Thank you for letting me post my PN story.

Lisa A.
lalbin@greenhills.net