Life with Neuropathy

  Life with Neuropathy:  Giving Mom a Break About Her Meds                                        Hi, my name is John and I have neuropathy.  When  you have any type of PN: peripheral neuropathy (idiopathic or otherwise) you must deal with far more than the everyday issues of life. Find out more about my story here . One of the stresses I face is constant pain. Pain all over, worse at some times, far worse at others. So I have a collection of medications, natural supplements, and vitamins to help ease my discomfort. Or at least try to do so.  My Mom, who died last year, had a large cache of bottles and prescription drugs that she had to keep track of to deal with her own medical issues.  I can't tell you the number of times that I had long and detailed conversations with her about her medications. I miss those calls. Mostly because she'd also ask me about my own burgeoning  health issues and aches and pains and I appreciated hearing the care and concern in her voice.  But when

My name is John and I have peripheral neuropathy. This bony gentleman isn't afraid to bare his spine and neither was I. So let me share my personal experience with a lumbar puncture (affectionately known as an LP).  Never in my life would I have considered that I might be tapped to share a generous portion of my cerebral spinal fluid to allow vital tests to be run. But that's what the doctor ordered. And I couldn't avoid it.   Honestly, I worked up the situation in my head to be a horror film kind of encounter. You know -- after much struggle and screaming, I would be strapped to a table and then someone would shove a needle into my spine. This, of course, would paralyze me while the unsavory locals stole my wallet, walker, and water bottle.   But it turned out to be a much more banal experience. I was rolled from one room to another way down the hall and then had to roll from one bed to another. After that I tried to get comfortable on my stomach as my back was prepared fo