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Hello everyone-

I am a chronic pain sufferer as well. I started having severe pain in both of

my feet in 1999 which the doctors call Peripheral Neuropathy. They seem to have

linked it to a blood disorder that I have called MGUS. This is a pre-cancerous

condition that could at any time progress to an active form of lymphoma,

myeloma, or other form of cancer. I've tried many many meds and absolutely

nothing dulls the pain. If I am at home and wearing my Birkenstocks then I can

put things to the back of my mind, but whenever I have to go out and put a pair

of shoes and socks on my feet, then the pain comes flooding right back to me.

The longer that I am on my feet with the shoes, the stronger the pain becomes.

The hematologist told me that unless the MGUS progresses, then there is nothing

that they can do to help me with the pain. I also suffer with osteoarthritis

just about everywhere, but it is really bothering me in my back and knees.

I have a very physically demanding job which only aggravates the situation for

me but I cannot quit either. I've tried to apply for a disability twice now and

was rejected both times. I have terrible buttock pain as well-I'm not sure what

that is about. My doctor did give me a shot of cortisone in my hip but that did

nothing. I cannot sit for very long. Talk about a tough time. Because of my

sore feet, I want to sit down but can't for very long and my bad knees are

causing me to put too much strain on my lower back. I have 5 bulging disks,

along with stenosis and severe wearing of the facet joints between L4 & 5. I

read about an implantable device that helps with pain but I don't want to go

that route.

I saw a neurologist once who didn't seem convinced that I had P.N. She did run

lots of tests and I never got any results because as soon as she found out that

MGUS was in the picture, she shuffled me off to a hematologist. I am due for my

yearly physical in April.

If anyone can identify with my story, I would like to hear from you. Thanks.

p.s. I live in Canada

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