Neuropathy & PAIN!

[role__0]

      I am in so much pain from neuropathy that I don't want to live like this anymore.  Nothing I take helps the pain.  I have been on neurontin and Paxil.  I am now on 75mg. of elavil.  On the 75 mg. I was still up all night because of the pain from the heel all way up to my buttocks (pain in hands and back of arms).  I cannot lay down without pain or sit down without pain. Around 5:00 a.m.  I was finally able to fall asleep from pure exhaustion. It was  2:00 p.m. when I woke up. The 75mg. helps me to sleep, but my brains are so foggy - all I'm capable of doing is sitting up looking in space or watching tv (my feet and the back of my legs hurt too bad for me to walk).  My question is - is this the pattern of life for people who suffer with severe neuropathy?  Do people with neuropathy lead normal or productive lives or do they just sleep away their lives because of the pain?  Please tell me how to live with this disease?   Is the only solution for me is to increase my medication - and really sleep away the rest of my life?  I am a female in my forties - I haven't done everything I want to do yet!    Are there any lifestyle changes I can make to reduce the pain or therapies.   Do I need to accept the fact that because of neuropathy this is the way my life has to be and I just need to mentally adjust to it?  Please give me some advice on this.  Thank you!  
Dear Rolee,
Many people with peripheral neuropathies have various levels of pain.  Some neuropathies respond to treatment of the underlying disease.  Unfortunately, symptomatic treatment of neuropathic pain is often difficult and rarely provides complete relief.  Simple analgesics such as aspirin, acetominophen, and nonsteroidal drugs may help.  Tricyclic (elavil, desipramine, nortryptiline) are frequently used. Elavil is one of the more sedating medications; however, there are several other medications in that class of drugs that will work for a PN and cause less sedation.  Other medications that may be helpful include clonazepam (which may enhance the tricyclic effect but also cause some sedation) and carbamazepine.  Mexiletine is occasionaly used in diabetic neuropathy. Discuss these options with your doctor.  If ever you are interested in getting an evaluation at CCF, call 1-800-CCF-CARE.  Good Luck.

[mikie14]

A related discussion, polynuropathy was started.