Actually I don't think Reynaud's is classified as neuropathy - it happens when the extremities are exposed to cold, and the blood vessels constrict. It can be painful, but it's mostly a capillary thing.
I am not a doctor, but Amber I'm sure you're right about Reynaud's not being a form of Neuropathy. As you said, Reynaud's affects the capillaries and the Neuropathy affects the nerves. The way that my DR explained Neuropathy to me is that it is when there is a gap in the nerves. The gap can either cause a numb sensation, a false pain sensation, or a combination of the two.
The way it acts is really weird!! Here's an example. As I was preparing to take a shower yesterday, I let the hot water run until all of the cold was gone and only hot remained. I then turned enough cold water on to have a warm shower. I was in a hurry, and before I thought about what I was doing I stepped (with both feet) into the tub. It still contained a tremendous amount of hot water. But, I didn't feel any pain or anything else. When I finished my shower and stepped out, my feet looked like two boiled lobsters!! The hot water had blistered them.
Now here's the weird part. I didn't feel the pain from the hot water burning my feet, right? Yet, when I get in bed at night time I am able to tolerate NO covers on my feet. The slightest touch of a sheet and it feels as though several hundred honeybees stung that spot at once! Like I said, Neuropathy acts very weird!!
The similarities that I noted between the two diseases are the intense pain, and the fact that there seems to be nothing that you can do (shy of meds) to alleviate it! Because of that, I can sympathize with you and your plight.
Like Patty, I think my stubbornness and determination to enjoy gardening help me. But, I have to admit that there are days when the Neuropathy wins out. On those days, I just try to remind myself that there is always tomorrow!
Though I know that the pain makes gardening (an probably other things too) difficult, please try to keep a positive attitude and never,
NEVER give up!!!