Can neuropathy in my feet cause balance problems?

I have neuropathy in my toes only. I find that sometimes my toes feel more sensation than other times. This is what contributes to my imbalance. After about 15 years with neuropathy and many different treatments, i'm now at PT to try to get sensation back and am doing balance e xercises. I think it is helping.

I had knee surgery 1 year ago. Complete success! I also have Neuropathy. From It I have lost balance and Numbness. Of Feet. Try PT, however it was about the same PT I had after surgery. Didn't work for balance and Numbness. I am still looking for a solution. Keep us posted. You are not alone.

Good afternoon @evterry504, that is a very good inquiry. That was how I felt 13 years ago when I had my first TKR. The hospital and PT facility was about 50 miles away. Fortunately, we lived in a mountain village with lots of opportunities to walk up and down and a new playground for the children which contained exercises for adults also. I remember my orhtopedic surgeon telling me it was O.K. to walk up the mountain and my TKR could last a lifetime. However, he warned me about downhill which could limit my TKR and therefore my mountain climbing to five years.

In 2022, I had a technologically current TKR on the other knee after letting it go until the wheelchair stage. I was introduced to my PT leader who would help me learn to use all the machines and healing opportunities. She was a determined yet compassionate therapist.

To improve my balance, which seemed pretty clumsy, I was referred to PT at Mayo Rochester. Actually, my endocrinologist first noticed the balance issue in an office visit and made the arrangements. I was just "released" last month. I learned how to walk, sit, and stand with stability. I learned how to handle falling and spent time learning how to get up from a fall. After what seemed like forever, I passed the test of doing 13 sit-to-stands (without support) in 15 seconds. You would have thought I had just won an Olympic trophy.

Do you plan to participate in the recommended 6 weeks of pre-surgery PT? Have you had a chance to discuss the balance issue with your surgeon? And my last question, do you know what your post-surgery meds will be and how restrictive they might be for your PT work.

May you be safe, protected, and free of inner and outer harm.
Chris

I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy some years ago (at least ten) by my primary care doc when I reported some slight numbness in my fingertips (still about the same). I was unaware of any numbness in my feet though, with his tuning fork. he said I had some foot numbness. He sent me to a neurologist who diagnosed idiopathic peripheral neuropathy with nothing to be done at that time. I have no diabetes.
In the last year or so, I have noticed some numbness developing in my feet and in the last couple of months in my calves. In the last six months, I have developed noticeable balance problems at times, which I thought was due to some other issue.
Recently, another doctor suggested that my peripheral neuropathy was most likely causing my balance problems. He suggested I follow a treatment plan that used Anodyne Pro Infrared Therapy to stimulate regrowth of the blood supply to my peripheral nerves, which in over 90 percent of cases improved nerve function and balance. He showed me a number of published scientific papers showing this therapy to be legitimate. Of course, if it did not work for me, I'm sure he would just say, "Sorry, you are in that 10%." It is a very very expensive treatment, and he said it was not covered by Medicare. Of course, if it really worked, it may be worth it. I'm only 86 but going for 100 - a long ways to go in good shape, hopefully. Shoot for the stars and hope to make the moon. 🙂
Does anyone have knowledge or thoughts about the validity or effectiveness of this treatment???? Norman

Hello Norman @nbailey7uh2edu3, Welcome to Connect. My story is similar to yours. I started with the numbness that progressed over the years. I shared my neuropathy journey in another discussion here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/310341/. I did look into infrared therapy offered by neuropathy clinics early on my journey after finally getting a diagnosis but decided against it mostly due to the cost and not being covered by insurance. There is another discussion that you might find helpful on the topic:
--- Anyone tried using red light therapy?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anyone-tried-using-red-light-therapy/.

I'm 80 myself and not thinking about reaching 100 but I really don't want to stop now 🙃. I also have balance issues and have done a few PT sessions to learn some exercises to help with balance. Another good site for help living better with neuropathy is the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy. Here's the link if you haven't already seen it - https://www.foundationforpn.org/living-well/.

Do you do any exercises to help with your balance?

Neuropathy certain affects balance. There may be exercises we can do to help with that.

John - I got a laugh too. I have the penguin walk mastered! Year round (on flat surfaces that would not be of the frozen type) The other day I was at a community happy hour (I call it a “Social” since I don’t drink). I did not have my walker or cane, and as I was leaving, a well meaning (but unfamiliar) lady asked if I was Ok to drive home. So now I’m wondering if I have too much stagger in my penguin walk - but hey, I am ever so thankful to just walk!

Good Lord yes!! Multiple falls, broken vertebrae, several hospitalizations, now compelled to get around with a walker. Are we having fun yet??

Yes, as nerves die you start to loose feeling and this contributes to balance problems.

Idk if I have neuropathy or not. I have balance problems (I walk like a mild? drunk),left foot drop after craniotomy, left leg tingling (occasionally right before seizure, caused by craniotomy, but not usually), but no pain. I’ve read neuropathy is not always accompanied by pain, so I don’t know yet. Going to see the Great Wizard in February 🤞🏻