Re: Leg pain - help needed

February 26, 1999

Dear Jo,

I often have Neuropathy in my left thigh. It is from Diabetes and From

Fibromyalgia. You are right, when that happens I want to climb the wall.

However, I often lay down on my side when the pain is at its worst. It seems

that the pressure of my weight alleviates the sharp electrifying pins in the

skin of my thigh.

Additionally, I take Ultram for the relief of the Fibromyalgia symptoms that

also seem to ease all other pains, except inflammation.

Like you, I take meds. for anxiety, Diabetes, Hypertension, Osteo-Arthitis,

and more. I fully understand how difficult it is for you.

My prayer for you is that His love for you strengthen you daily.

In Jesus,

Madeline

February 26, 1999

In a message dated 2/26/99 10:45:28 AM Pacific Standard Time, JoBrd@...

writes:

<< But I am ready to amputate them myself (anybody have a chainsaw?) because

the

pain is so intense.

Does anyone else have this type of pain and/or any suggestions to try for

lessening it? >>

Yes I have peripheral neuopathy also....in legs. I have found that taking

Evening primrose oil helps (4 a day at least) and also magnesium malate from a

healthfood store 3 at bedtime. Sometimes i cannot stand the pressure from my

sheet on my feet/legs. I know it is miserable. Several times i put an icebag

on the worst place and tried to focus on that getting numb and discomfort of

the ice. that can help also. A warm bath helps sometimes also. I find my pain

worsening when my diet is worse....(holiday times high sugar and white flour

consumption) I know diet can help or hinder me.

Hope this helps some

((((hug)))))

kathryn

February 26, 1999

In a message dated 2/26/1999 2:00:59 PM US Eastern Standard Time,

byteme@... writes:

<< It also feels like a good

" pull " would help. It's hard to describe but while this happens, I keep

wanting something/someone to pull on my legs. I keep contracting the muscles

to try to stretch them. I can't explain it other than to say it just hurts.

>>

Yes Yes Yes. I have actually awakened my SO and asked him to just pull on my

legs, or flex them, particularly the ankle. It feels good when he does it,

but the pain is back when he stops.

Rubbing them however is very painful.

I can hardly bear to have my muscles rubbed at any time. Or even the skin

rubbed firmly. I used to have a weekly massage, but now the pain is so awful

when my legs or arms are rubbed, I can't bear it. I have no idea why it

hurts. The doctor just says that sometimes we are more sensitive than other

times. But this is constant and has been for many months.

Mike, thanks for your comments on the leg pain. At least I am not just nuts.

Jo

February 26, 1999

>

> From: JoBrd@...

>

> Hello folks,

>

> I have terrible pains in my legs, even the bad one, at night. It keeps me

> from sleeping often. My doctor said it was the damaged and dead

> nerve endings

> and that nothing will help.

Hi Jo,

I get the same thing every so often. I've had back surgery and there is some

damage from there. I get so my legs ache so much I have to get up and try to

sleep in a chair. It only happens when I lay down. It also feels like a good

" pull " would help. It's hard to describe but while this happens, I keep

wanting something/someone to pull on my legs. I keep contracting the muscles

to try to stretch them. I can't explain it other than to say it just hurts.

Mike

February 26, 1999

In a message dated 2/27/99 5:27:00 AM Eastern Standard Time,

ANGELPra4u@... writes:

> Yes, I have peripheral neuropathy also....in legs. I have found that taking

> Evening primrose oil helps (4 a day at least) and also magnesium malate from

> a healthfood store 3 at bedtime. Sometimes I cannot stand the pressure from

my

> sheet on my feet/legs.

Your suggestion is very interesting. I will follow through with it. Also, I

had thought I was the only one who could not stand the pressure from sheets on

my legs. I really thought I was peculiar and alone in this matter. I never

knew it was not my imagination.

This email list is a treasure. Thank you for sharing. You have lifted my

heart...

February 27, 1999

In a message dated 2/27/99 8:29:23 AM Eastern Standard Time, byteme@...

writes:

> I could just pluck my eyeballs out and set them aside on my desk for a

while to relieve the pressure behind them.

I laughed with appreciation over your thought to remove your eyeballs. There

have been many times that I thought the same thing. The most frequent area of

pain in my head is in the eyeballs. I never realized that it was the pressure

behind them that gave me the feeling it did.

>this pain is also accompanied by a burning sensation which seems to run

exactly >down the center of my legs and is stronger and aches more " inside "

the kneecaps.

Also, I never thought of the pain in my left thigh as stemming from that

naughty word, Sciatica. My doctor never considered that a possibility. When

I get the Peripheral Neuropathy it seems to be localized to the middle center

of my leg to the knee. It does have severe, mind wrenching burning, too. Does

your pain start closer to the hip?

In His love,

Madeline

February 27, 1999

Hi Jo,

Sounds like you might not be a prime candidate for surgery,

but at least one advanced treatment center, the kinds of surgery that might

apply to you like severing motor nerves, etc are done. Neurological

Institute, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, NY, NY. It is a major teaching

hospital, so their Neurology department might be able to suggest other

places & doctors.

But, given the other medical problems, such surgery might be right,

however it never hurts to ask.

Ken

At 11:58 AM 2/26/99 -0500, you wrote:

>From: JoBrd@...

>

>Hello folks,

>

>I had a stroke 6 years ago which has left me with right sided weakness, no

>feeling on that side, and a few other problems.

>Additionally I have diabetic neuropathy in my legs.

>So I fall alot. Not a big deal, except for those occasins when I break my arm

>or cut my head open, but it goes with the territory. Yes, I use a cane,or a

>walker, or a wheelchair as needed.

>I have other problems that cause other chronic pain, but my question deals

>with the above specifically.

>

>I have terrible pains in my legs, even the bad one, at night. It keeps me

>from sleeping often. My doctor said it was the damaged and dead nerve endings

>and that nothing will help.

>But I am ready to amputate them myself (anybody have a chainsaw?) because the

>pain is so intense.

>Does anyone else have this type of pain and/or any suggestions to try for

>lessening it?

>I take 800mg Ibuprofen 3X day. I also take 2 ASA every day as a blood

>thinner. I have Tylenol and Codeine for migraines (and other moderate to

>severe pain), injectable demerol for the migraines, Anaprox and Compazine for

>the migraines as well.

>I take Flexeril on occasion for muscle and joints, and Klonopin for panic

>attacks.

>Plus insulin, drugs for heart problems and other various ills.

>

>Hate to add anything else, but I can not bear the legs - last night was a

>killer. Sometimes I get them during the day, but they don't seem as bad until

>I am trying to sleep.

>

>Any ideas?

>Jo

>

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February 27, 1999

i do not have your serious leg pain, but have heard of htis from other

diabetics. have you tried making a tent of the bed sheets? find a large

box. turn the open end towards your feet and/or cut out the side that

touches the bed. box is now three sided. tent sheet over box.

this is done for foot surgeries, etc.

kat

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February 27, 1999

No Jo, you're not going nuts; not about this anyway! One thing I forgot to

mention is that, in my case, this pain is also accompanied by a burning

sensation which seems to run exactly down the center of my legs and is

stronger and aches more " inside " the kneecaps. I often will " push " my legs

out and hold the position as long as I can and then release the pressure.

For a minute or so, it makes the pain go away and if I'm lucky I fall asleep

before it gets too much worse again. I will also bend my legs way up, curl

them under me, or do the splits as far as possible and hold it.

If that is what you feel, I have a secret word for you to consider...come

closer...a little closer..shhh sciatica. Don't tell anyone, it's a well

guarded secret! AND IT HURTS LIKE HELL! Sorry, didn't mean to yell! Sciatica

is a condition caused by an irritation of the sciatic nerve. Through the

years, I have adapted my activities and the way I do things based on

experiences which have caused me pain in the past. In other words, " it hurts

when I do this " and the doctor answers " Just don't do that " or in my case,

" Just don't do it _like that_ " . The one thing I have never figured out, and

therefore cannot prevent, is sciatica. It comes, it goes, for no apparent

reason. It occurs more at night while lying down but sometimes during the

day, sitting down, I feel like I'd like to take a screwdriver and pry my

kneecaps off for a bit of relief ! It can ache enough to want to subject

your legs to a sledge hammer. Just like the headaches I get (more and more

now) where I want to put my head through the wall because I know that it

will hurt enough to perhaps cancel out the pain from the headache. Or

perhaps I could just pluck my eyeballs out and set them aside on my desk for

a while to relieve the pressure behind them.

That's enough complaining for one day. I find myself too depressing some

times!

Mike

mailto:byteme@...

homepage: http://members.home.net/mcourteau

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> From: JoBrd@...

>

> In a message dated 2/26/1999 2:00:59 PM US Eastern Standard Time,

> byteme@... writes:

>

> << It also feels like a good

> " pull " would help. It's hard to describe but while this happens, I keep

> wanting something/someone to pull on my legs. I keep contracting

> the muscles

> to try to stretch them. I can't explain it other than to say it

> just hurts.

> >>

>

> Yes Yes Yes. I have actually awakened my SO and asked him to

> just pull on my

> legs, or flex them, particularly the ankle. It feels good when

> he does it,

> but the pain is back when he stops.

> Rubbing them however is very painful.

> I can hardly bear to have my muscles rubbed at any time. Or even the skin

> rubbed firmly. I used to have a weekly massage, but now the pain

> is so awful

> when my legs or arms are rubbed, I can't bear it. I have no idea why it

> hurts. The doctor just says that sometimes we are more sensitive

> than other

> times. But this is constant and has been for many months.

>

> Mike, thanks for your comments on the leg pain. At least I am

> not just nuts.

>

> Jo

>

February 27, 1999

In a message dated 2/27/99 5:29:23 AM Pacific Standard Time, byteme@...

writes:

<< I feel like I'd like to take a screwdriver and pry my

kneecaps off for a bit of relief ! It can ache enough to want to subject

your legs to a sledge hammer. Just like the headaches I get (more and more

now) where I want to put my head through the wall because I know that it

will hurt enough to perhaps cancel out the pain from the headache. Or

perhaps I could just pluck my eyeballs out and set them aside on my desk for

>>

How very discriptive of the pain Mike.....and I have been there too for 23

years many many times !!!!! I do have to laugh at your eyeballs sitting on

your desk ;o) but then laughter is good medicine....Hey does anyone else at

times get WILDLY goofy and almost obnoxious in attempts to deal with pain? (or

is it just me) I get my dogs to sing with me or throw ice cubes at my son

or assume different dialects to leave messages on the phone answering

machine. For some reason this has helped me keep my sanity (maybe cuz i am

pushing it to the brink lol) OOO i should tell you....i am blonde too ;o)

((((( hugs ))))))) kathryn ()8-)

February 27, 1999

In a message dated 2/27/99 3:26:44 PM Pacific Standard Time, byteme@...

writes:

<< I do have to laugh at your eyeballs

> sitting on

> your desk ;o) but then laughter is good medicine....

> Hey does

> anyone else at

> times get WILDLY goofy and almost obnoxious in attempts to deal

> with pain? (or

> is it just me)

No, we're always serious here. It's just you!

>>

;-P well i will still have a ball !!!

February 27, 1999

In a message dated 2/27/99 6:03:48 PM Eastern Standard Time,

katchamp@... writes:

> making a tent of the bed sheets

That is a very good idea! I will try it.

February 27, 1999

> From: MadMad4JC@...

>

> In a message dated 2/27/99 8:29:23 AM Eastern Standard Time,

> byteme@...

> writes:

>

> > I could just pluck my eyeballs out and set them aside on my desk for a

> while to relieve the pressure behind them.

> I laughed with appreciation over your thought to remove your

> eyeballs. There

> have been many times that I thought the same thing. The most

> frequent area of

> pain in my head is in the eyeballs. I never realized that it was

> the pressure

> behind them that gave me the feeling it did.

> >this pain is also accompanied by a burning sensation which seems to run

> exactly >down the center of my legs and is stronger and aches

> more " inside "

> the kneecaps.

> Also, I never thought of the pain in my left thigh as stemming from that

> naughty word, Sciatica. My doctor never considered that a

> possibility. When

> I get the Peripheral Neuropathy it seems to be localized to the

> middle center

> of my leg to the knee. It does have severe, mind wrenching

> burning, too. Does

> your pain start closer to the hip?

No, for me, it's usually a pinched feeling in the back and the burning pain

starts about halfway down my thighs and peaks at the kneecap.

February 27, 1999

>

> From: ANGELPra4u@...

>

> In a message dated 2/27/99 5:29:23 AM Pacific Standard Time,

> byteme@...

> writes:

>

> << I feel like I'd like to take a screwdriver and pry my

> kneecaps off for a bit of relief ! It can ache enough to want to subject

> your legs to a sledge hammer. Just like the headaches I get

> (more and more

> now) where I want to put my head through the wall because I know that it

> will hurt enough to perhaps cancel out the pain from the headache. Or

> perhaps I could just pluck my eyeballs out and set them aside on

> my desk for

> >>

> How very discriptive of the pain Mike.....and I have been there too for 23

> years many many times !!!!!

since 1974 here, got you beat by 2 years.

> I do have to laugh at your eyeballs

> sitting on

> your desk ;o) but then laughter is good medicine....

> Hey does

> anyone else at

> times get WILDLY goofy and almost obnoxious in attempts to deal

> with pain? (or

> is it just me)

No, we're always serious here. It's just you!

February 27, 1999

Angel,

Wildly goofy is very good. I can't explain it, but it can handle a

lot of things. Worked in a mental health center where I did a vocational

counseling & a men's group. There were two factions: feet on the ground &

floating in the air. Was very difficult to have rational conversation with

the air people. So once, on an impulse, I started using old comedians'

tag-lines to respond in a funny but not insulting way to comments from

those who were airborne. If the comment was irrational, I was irrational

with replies (in German accent) Tank you very much, or can you hang by your

thumbs.

The whole group liked it. there were no replies possible, so a

minimum of time was wasted on crazy stuff, and I had irrational people

laughing at my irrationality.

I think goofy puts everything in a proper ridiculous perspective.

Ken

At 06:35 PM 2/27/99 -0500, you wrote:

>From: ANGELPra4u@...

>

>In a message dated 2/27/99 3:26:44 PM Pacific Standard Time, byteme@...

>writes:

>

><< I do have to laugh at your eyeballs

> > sitting on

> > your desk ;o) but then laughter is good medicine....

> > Hey does

> > anyone else at

> > times get WILDLY goofy and almost obnoxious in attempts to deal

> > with pain? (or

> > is it just me)

>

> No, we're always serious here. It's just you!

> >>

>;-P well i will still have a ball !!!

>

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February 28, 1999

In a message dated 2/28/99 2:44:21 AM Eastern Standard Time,

kturbin@... writes:

<<

Angel,

Worked in a mental health center where I did a vocational

counseling & a men's group >>

Sounds like you did a good job with these men.

Did I ever tell you I am a mental health consultant for clinical and program

operations? Mostly I work with state mental health institutions managing the

clinical and program pieces of 2 federal class action lawsuits. The lawsuits

extend into the community programs, including designing and implementing

transitional and new programs to support the residents who are discharged from

the institutions. Also have to keep close tabs on the class members

(residents who have been discharged for 18-24 months). Very intense, but I

like it. It is very gratifying when we have a class member remain in the

community.

I will be retiring at the end of July 1999; but then will do consulting all

over the country - but only as I pick and choose. I really think this will be

the best for me and help cut down on the stress and chronic pain.

Are you in any shape to do this kind of work as a subcontractor. If you are,

please let me know. I have contacts that could use your talents.

Carol

February 28, 1999

In a message dated 2/27/99 11:44:17 PM Pacific Standard Time,

kturbin@... writes:

<< Angel,