[Victoria]

I am new to the forum and immediately I can relate.  What an excellent topic.

I was diagnosed in 2012.  I had significant pain then, but, was attributed to arthritis rather than PD.  I did not realize that PD could have pain associated and thought that my pain was all due to the traumatic arthritis.  I describe my pain as very sharp, knife-like, stabbing, and stinging.  I would say generally I am at a level 5-6 up to 9-10.  It radiates from the outer aspect of my foot to my knee when at the higher pain levels.  It causes my leg to dump me when walking, which concerned me as balance issues.

I am really struggling with managing the pain.  I have ortho, neuro, and pain management specialty physicians involved.  I am on carbidopa-levadopa, gabapentin, and oxycodone.  My pain becomes worse when it comes time for my next dose with evenings being significant.  With the opioid issues today, further pain management with them is not feasible.  I am adding CBD sublingually, which does slow or stop my tremors, but have not found the magic dosage that impacts my pain.

I think that differentiating PD pain from other conditions is a major issue as it will or does have a huge impact as to how physicians treat the patient.  So, how do we differentiate it?