General Health Conditions/Issues

Posted on: Sun, Jan 27 2008 7:44 PM

Posted by: Gabi (Opalisis) Posts: 35

OH MY goodness!

Reading your post was al,ost as though I had written some of it myself!

I too have been Dx'd with polyneurapathy but most of my symptoms are in the upper extremities and rather than the "right side" it is affecting my left

left foot, left hand, left leg, left arm...

I am still undergoing various tests andinquiries to find out what exactly is wrong but the PN is only "part" of the troubles.

I will come back and post in detail but right now I am suffering with a recent wrist injury and it is a struggle to type.

I just had to post something to share and to thank you for sharing because now I don't feel quite so alone or "weird"

Take care of you!

Opal

Posted on: Mon, Jan 28 2008 9:03 AM

Posted by: cudachaser Posts: 1,536

Rather then a walker ...I use hand crutces. They work really well for me. I do have foot drop so I use AFO braces. Also take 1800 mg + of neurotin.

Joe

PS...For neurotin users...I take the generic Gabapentin. It's much less expensive

Posted on: Mon, Jan 28 2008 12:11 PM

Posted by: Posts: 4,186

Yeah Joe I have a friend who uses those crutches and he gets around well with them but because of my fibromyalgia i think using them would cause me more pain than good.  The VA hospital also prescribes the generic gabapentin and it works great.  My rehab doctor also said that if my sleep gets real bad again that i can take nortriptyline with the gabapentin.  Because of my fibro my sleep disturbance can cause me to hurt worse.  Ah life is still good though isn't it Joe.  Every morning I wake up and can get up and move on my own I remind myself how much life and love mean to me. 

Posted on: Mon, Jan 28 2008 3:18 PM

Posted by: cudachaser Posts: 1,536

beakerless:

Yeah Joe I have a friend who uses those crutches and he gets around well with them but because of my fibromyalgia i think using them would cause me more pain than good.  The VA hospital also prescribes the generic gabapentin and it works great.  My rehab doctor also said that if my sleep gets real bad again that i can take nortriptyline with the gabapentin.  Because of my fibro my sleep disturbance can cause me to hurt worse.  Ah life is still good though isn't it Joe.  Every morning I wake up and can get up and move on my own I remind myself how much life and love mean to me. 

Yeah...I see....my aching is confined to my legs. The crutches work for me because they greatly lessen the weight on my legs...but they put a major workout on my upper body 

Posted on: Wed, Jan 30 2008 8:09 AM

Posted by: Ultra1 Posts: 7

Neuropathy affects the nerves, the nerves are attached to the muscles.  When you get that short circuit between the nerve and the brain it doesn't  know to tell the muscle to work properly.  Even though the muscles are trying to do their job part of the system isn't working correctly which causes the muscle to go weak.  It doesn't know to strengthen those muscles so they quit performing. (does that help?)

I've had peripheral neuropathy for five years.  I have lost all sensation in both legs from my knees down to my feet.  I now walk with a quad cane due to a bad fall I had back in September.  It caused me a lot of problems because I bruised my pancreas and liver when I fell.  I was stepping down off a curb and my legs decided to quit working altogether. 

I'm lucky if I can get all the way through the grocery store before my legs give out.  Most of the time though I use the riding cart when I have a lot to buy.  They are a wonderful tool.  At first I was reluctant to use them but now I don't mind.  I get tickled at the people who look at me strange when I park in the handicap spot.  I have a handicap permit but it seems with some people if they don't see you using any kind of prosthetic device/tool they think you shouldn't be parking there!  Oh well, lol

I take Lyrica for the neuropathy which has greatly reduced the tingling, stabbing pains.  I used to take Topamax but had the doctor change my medication due to memory loss caused by the Topamax.

Posted on: Sun, Mar 30 2008 11:36 PM

Posted by: Kathy12 Posts: 2

I was diagnosed with the same but only neuropathy. Mine was caudes from a virus settling in my spine and destroying the covering over the lower part of my spine. I use both a cane and somedays can't walk across my floor without a walker. I have a very weak left side and if I try to walk for say 30 mins. my legs stiffen up and feet feel like wood. I have no sense of direction in the dark, so therfore am confined to the inside at dark. My feet burn to the point I have to keep a wet towel on them or socks wet with alcohol . I can't even go out in summer. The burning never stops. I also have been on Lyrica for a couple of yrs. It helps with pain but nothing stops the burning. I have lost alot of sensation in my legs and feet. So have to be very careful. Anybody else have these problems. I cant even wear shoes longer than a few minutes at a time. My knees are a problem too. They just lock up and I can't move...

Posted on: Sun, Mar 30 2008 11:39 PM

Posted by: Kathy12 Posts: 2

I cant wear shoes or pants either. Only when I go out and they have to come off. My feet and legs get so hot and I dont have a clue why.

Posted on: Mon, Mar 31 2008 11:17 AM

Posted by: Jules Posts: 5

I have nerve damage and pain form my wreck in my lower leg.  From the knee down I can't feel anything in the skin at all.  I also have the drop foot from it but I realy HATE my AFO brace,lol

I can't stand to wear regular socks either.  I don't have enough strength in my toes to keep them from scrunching together.  I wear toe socks now and I love them!  They are the socks that look like gloves.  They keep my toes apart and feel great.  I do have to watch whenbuying them to  make sure the elastic at the top isn't to tight.  I hate having a cover on my leg too but have made a make shift tent to keep my leg warm.