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First peripheral neuropathy … and now a sepsis infection? $%*&#@
Neuropathy | Last Active: May 25 7:49pm | Replies (41)Comment receiving replies
Hi, again, Ed (@njed).
My last post was a bit too social. Let’s see if I can keep this one more clinical and stick to the nuts and bolts of PN vs. sepsis, at least my personal early-on impression of the difference between the two.
As I believe you know, my idiopathic polyneuropathy gives me no pain and has never made me dizzy; instead, it wreaks havoc with my balance and ability to walk with confidence. At its worst, however, when I’m at my wobbliest, I have always had my strength, most critically in my legs where strength is most critical.
I am finding it disturbingly different with sepsis. My balance and ability to walk are still terrible, possibly more, but unlike with my PN, with my sepsis, I have practically no strength, least of all in my legs. Trying to go about, even from my recliner to the toilet, I’m reminded of those oversized balloon/mannequins that stand roadside, waving manically in the breeze, advertising this or that nearby business. At least, that’s how sepsis makes me feel – my plug’s been pulled, my batteries have been removed – so unlike my experience with my idiopathic polyneuropathy.
Weird stuff, this sepsis stuff.
Cheers!
Ray
Replies to "Hi, again, Ed (@njed). My last post was a bit too social. Let’s see if I..."
Ray - Trying to deal with PN is difficult enough. In particular, for many, maintaining balance is a serious issue. Any other impact on our health can definitely increase balance issues. Sepsis is very serious and can drain energy. I dealt with covid in early Feb and was a mess for about 10 days or so. My balance was not good. Take it slow, rebuild energy and keep the cane handy.
Ed – I have much the same takeaway as I scroll through the many posts written by fellow PNers whose overriding issue is pain: How fortunate I am to be concerned almost exclusively with poor balance. Since contracting sepsis, I’ve found myself thinking: Sepsis may be Nature’s way of reminding me – a PNer whose chief concern is poor balance – how fortunate I am. As someone said to me only the other day (and rightly so): At least you’ll eventually get over your sepsis; your PN is yours forever. I, too, have bad knees – or one remaining bad knee (my arthritic left knee; my right knee is already a titanium stand-in). However, before March 31, when I had to contend only with balance issues related to my PN, I was managing just fine needing a cane only occasionally. Sepsis, now, has me clattering about following a walker. The chief distinction between the two diseases – PN and sepsis – seems PN never stole my leg strength (it merely messed with my git-about gyroscope), whereas sepsis sapped my leg strength almost totally. Weird stuff, this sepsis. Fifty-plus days of various antibiotics appear to have done their job; I’m left with only a (difficult-to-look-at) 5” wound in my left foot, which is being cared for by the Wound Clinic at a local hospital. I’m due at the Clinic later this morning to be fitted for something called a “wound vac,” the purpose of which is twofold: to speed healing, and to speed closing the wound. (My partner hopes it will help with cleaning the carpets, too. We’ll see.) Good to hear from you again, Ed. Stay strong. Stay well. Stay vertical! – Ray
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Welcome back, @ray666. Sepsis is scary stuff. There are several related discussions in case you want to check them out.
- Sepsis: What's your experience recovering from sepsis?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sepsis/
See all here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=sepsis
Recovery takes time. It's hard to be patient.