How To Deal

I have a talent for noticing things and offering silly commentary. I seem to do that a lot here, but I really would like to start writing about how it really feels to have chronic pain. I know I have mentioned it in passing, but I have never really written about the day to day struggle, at least not here.  I would like to talk to others who live with pain and learn how they deal with it. I will be 43 in a week, but I am pretty sure I already know what it feels like to be 80. The thing about always being in pain is that it's hard to focus on anything else. Pain one ups everything. Going to the grocery store and keeping your house clean are no longer priorities. I have now progressed to the stage where I don't want to get out of bed, and have trouble telling the difference between pain and depression. I don't eat because I'm hungry and I don't sleep because I'm tired; there is no rhyme or reason or schedule going on in my life. I'll get more specific starting with the next entry. Meanwhile, here is some information about my disease from Johns Hopkins.

Idiopathic Polyneuropathy

Idiopathic sensory-motor polyneuropathy is an illness where sensory and motor nerves of the peripheral nervous system are affected and no obvious underlying etiology is found. In many respects, the symptoms are very similar to diabetic polyneuropathy.

Symptoms

In idiopathic sensory-motor polyneuropathy, the patients may experience unusual sensations (paresthesias), numbness and pain in their hands and feet. In addition, there may be weakness of the muscles in the feet and hands. As the disease progresses, patients may experience balance problems and have difficulty walking on uneven surfaces or in the dark. In a small minority of the patients, the autonomic nervous system may also be involved and the patients may experience persistent nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, incontinence, sweating abnormalities or sexual dysfunction.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of idiopathic sensory-motor polyneuropathy is based on history, clinical examination and supporting laboratory investigations. These include electromyography with nerve conduction studies, skin biopsies to evaluate cutaneous nerve innervation, and nerve and muscle biopsies for histopathological evaluation.

Treatment

Treatment of idiopathic sensory-motor polyneuropathy depends on controlling neuropathic pain, which can be treated with anti-seizure medications, antidepressants, or analgesics including opiate drugs. In severe painful conditions, patients may be referred to the Blaustein Chronic Pain Clinic for a multidisciplinary approach to pain management. Patients with balance problems often benefit from ‘gait’ training through physical therapy. Patients who have foot drop due to weakness in their ankles may benefit from orthotics.