Judy Schmidt was at the end of her rope. After more than 20 years of debilitating neuropathy, countless doctors\u2019 appointments, and pain that just wouldn\u2019t let up, she was ready to quit. Finally, she found hope for her\u00a0neuropathic pain.<\/p>\n
Judy was a woman with a life. She had run a successful business for more than 30 years, and had no plans to stop. She was a wife and a mother, and had a very active social life. She walked five miles every night, and loved to dance with her husband. Life was good as she experienced no\u00a0symptoms of peripheral neuropathy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Suddenly, Judy started to feel burning in her feet. \u201cIt just kept getting worse and worse. I went to the doctor, and he said I had neuropathy, or tarsal tunnel syndrome,\u201d Judy says.<\/p>\n \u201cThe pain was getting so bad that I couldn\u2019t sleep at night, and I had to go on narcotics. I eventually had to end my career five years earlier than I wanted to because the pain was so severe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI ended up in a wheelchair because I just couldn\u2019t walk any more. I couldn\u2019t drive, I couldn\u2019t go to the store. And, I couldn\u2019t feel my feet anymore, yet I was in excruciating pain 24\/7,\u201d Judy says.<\/p>\n She tried everything. Acupuncture, chiropractic care, medication. \u201cThey recommended that to reduce the pain we put a pain pump in my stomach to release medicine constantly in my system, and I refused,\u201d says Judy.<\/p>\n She was ready to travel across the country for treatment. \u201cI tried to get into several major hospitals, but they said there was nothing they could do for me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI became a recluse,\u201d Judy recalls, \u201cI didn\u2019t go out with friends anymore, because I couldn\u2019t walk and keep up with the social activities.\u201d<\/p>\n After two nervous breakdowns from being in nonstop pain, and a diminished quality of life, Judy was ready to give up on her nervous system and\u00a0peripheral nerves.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m not that kind of person, I always try to stay very positive and think there\u2019s someone out there who has it worse than me. But, the pain wears you down mentally, and I just got to the point I didn\u2019t want to live anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n Judy\u2019s daughter Tammy saw that her mom was on a downward spiral. \u201cI felt that I was losing my mom and it was time to do something,\u201d Tammy says. As a nurse who had spent 20+ years in the medical field, Tammy was determined to find a solution.<\/p>\n She went online, did her research, found Dr. Anderson, and made an appointment.<\/p>\n Both of Judy\u2019s daughters made the trip from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins to take Judy to see Dr. Anderson, and they finally felt like they had a solution. \u201cThey believed in him immediately, and they were dancing in the exam room,\u201d Judy says.<\/p>\n Dr. James Anderson, DPM, says \u201cJudy was suffering from severe neuropathy and nerve pain, and was a great candidate for nerve decompression surgery in both legs.\u201d<\/p>\nA Devastating Diagnosis<\/h2>\n
In a Wheelchair<\/h2>\n
Ready to Give Up<\/h2>\n
A Daughter Steps In<\/h2>\n
Finally, Joy<\/h2>\n