Dearest angel Net, and others:
I have severe osteoarthritis of my feet. Not erosive, however.
My toes are almost fused from arthritis. I have huge bumps on the first joint of both big toes, but they rise straight up, not to the side, which is quite unusual.
I have arthritis even in one of the ligaments that runs on the side, producing a bump on the outside edge of each foot, at the arch. The worst pain in OA is 1)when the nodes/bumps/growths are first forming, and 2) whenever you have any other inflammation (flu, cold, infection, whatever).
Then all OA sites are set off throbbing and stabbing and burning.....or all three at once.
I also have the joy of peripheral neuropathy in my feet and legs. So my feet are rather like heavy numb clubs at the end of my legs, but not numb enough to avoid the pain, of course. The numbness is mostly on the surface.
I wish I could be more cheerful about this, Net. Finding ways to avoid any illness or inflammation, and methods for dealing with pain, those are my solutions.
I can't take any opiate pain relievers, so getting to sleep is often almost impossible.
I am going to ask my family physician for an RX for a sleep medicine, for those occasions. When Benedryl just isn't enough. Cymbalta and Aleve do help, most of the time. But when the pain is off and running, they are left at the gate, I'm afraid.
Good luck!
And keep us posted.
Oh for Plantars fascitas, which is horrible!, cortisone injections, and then wearing the right shoes helped me a lot.
Hugs
Elaine
