Good morning, Ed

I hadn’t forgotten that you, too, have large-fiber neuropathy. However, I had forgotten you have a mix of the large and the small. Now that you’ve reminded me, I wonder if I, too, might have a mix.

And maybe it’s not unusual for those of us who have large-fiber PN also to have small-fiber, too.

I read with great interest what you said about how you use a cane. I’ve only lately emerged from the shadow of shyness about occasionally needing a cane. For the longest time, I’ve been one of those (possibly all of us, at least for starters?) who was “shy” about carrying a cane, as if I toted it under my arm like a riding crop people might think that’s just what it was: a riding crop. (Where’s that fellow’s horse?). The object was never to let anyone know I had a “condition” that might make carrying a cane necessary. (When we closed that last play I’d been in, and I confided in the director that I’d decided to “take time off” from acting because of my poor balance, she offered me a role in her next play in which, she said, hoping to comfort me, I’d be welcome to use a cane. I hemmed and hawed, eventually declining, saying I’d “travel plans.” Hogwash! The truth was I was afraid if people saw me come out on stage carrying a cane, they might think I NEEDED IT. Perish the thought!)

“I have found that using a cane is becoming something of a daily routine … as my balance was impaired but now slowly improving.”

I zoomed in on what you said about “now slowly improving.” Have you found that using a cane with more regularity (and not pretending it’s a riding crop!) has helped improve your overall balance? Earlier this morning, guessing that might be what you wanted to say, I used my can with a bit more deliberateness when I went down the pre-dawn path to fetch the morning paper and honestly felt more secure. It’s made me want to learn how to use a cane correctly.

This afternoon, I’ll be meeting with my neurodoc’s NP to review my recent genetic test results. I will ask her if a few sessions with a PT to evaluate my gait and teach me correct cane usage might be a good idea.

Thanks for your post, Ed! As you might be able to tell, you’ve got my mind a-churning!

Cheers!
Ray