"Phantom" (or central) pain - Neuropathy Message Board

momofsix · 02-19-2006, 07:10 PM

I am suffering from phantom (or central) pain. In other words, there is nothing wrong at the site of the pain - yet my brain "reads" pain. The area (in my mouth) is not sensitive to touch, hot or cold like the usual neuropathies - it just hurts all the time - deep, burning, aching. I think I am going to go out of my mind. I have tried almost every drug available from the tricyclic antidepressant, anti-seizure and narcotic groups, but nothing works. The only thing that gives me some relief is oxycodone, but I don't want to have to keep going higher and higher on that. I've also tried acupuncture and homeopathic remedies. Absolutely nothing helps. Has anyone experienced the same problem and finally found relief? I feel so utterly hopeless - it seems pointless to go on living like this. One thing that has been suggested is vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamine) injections. Has anyone had any success with that?

Linda

Burnt Bees · 02-27-2006, 04:14 PM

I have been feeling weird sensations over the last month, blurred vision, tingling sensations, burning pains, wet sensations. One of the weirdest though is a bruised like pain on the outside of foot. It hurts to the touch, a deep pain as if I slammed it on something, but no bruise is present. Iwonder if this is the same thing as you are describing? Neurological disorders could play serious games...Have you been diagnosed with anything?

momofsix · 02-27-2006, 06:36 PM

Yeah - I've been diagnosed with "phantom pain". In other words, it's central (in the brain) rather than peripheral. Therefore, it doesn't hurt to touch the area or anything like that. There's nothing wrong there - it's the brain getting its signals mixed up and reading pain when there is nothing there to cause pain.