Whats my future?

@heisenberg34 Your comments are humorous yet true. I deal with back pain and knee pain, so when we walk, I will determine how far before starting out and having that goal gives me the feeling of satisfaction to get there and back. We all have good days and bad, so I do adjust my level of activity.

@njed Good morning, Ed. You've an awesome knack for coincidence! I read your post after I've been sitting here in this too comfy, too cushy power recliner (which my partner bought for me while I was in sepsis rehab) doing some pre-dawn scribbling in my journal, putting in ink a thought that's been rolling around on my brain pan for the past few days: Since I have two significant conditions, PN and sepsis, and an array of symptoms, how can I tell which symptom belongs with which condition? Chief example? My balance, which was screwy because of my PN, long before the arrival of my sepsis. These days, my balance is as screwy as ever. When I had PN and only PN, I made sure I remained in motion as much as possible to improve or at least stabilize my balance. Since getting sepsis and being told that sepsis will mess with my balance (by robbing me of leg strength), I've been using that understanding to "take it slow." I'm told now that my sepsis is healing (my foot wound), and my life should slowly be returning to normal ("normal," meaning life with PN), but I'm still "taking it slow," thinking first of myself as a guy with sepsis. In other words, am I babying myself? Is it time to "take things LESS slow"? It is time to get back to thinking of myself as a guy whose chief "enemy" condition is far less so sepsis (sepsis is slowly retreating from the battlefield), and instead, the opponent is my old foe PN –– and get back to the business of managing my balance issues as a symptom of PN, the way I used to? Do you see why I said you've an awesome knack for coincidence? 🙂 ––Ray (@ray666)

Hello, Barb! (@bjk3) That Shakespeare stuff is always on the tip of my brain. I spent so much of my life doing Shakespeare that quotes like " … they come not single spies but in battalions ” pop easily to mind. Have a glorious day! _Ray (@ray666)

Ray - Yes, I do have weird coincidences happen often. Interesting. You mention you remain in motion. Same here, if we are walking and my wife stops in front me, I will say keep moving or I walk around her. I find it difficult to stand in one spot for more than 8 - 10 seconds. I have become a furniture tapper at home and when out and about, the cane is being used more and more. Looking at the title of this subject, we don't know what's next. Do we look at the past, say two years ago and say OK, I can figure where I will be two years from now? After 9 years of having PN, I feel progression will vary depending on the cause of the PN (and good luck with that) and our ability to be active.

Seems we all may have similar symptoms to varying degrees, and some days are better than others. Up until 2021, I was leading what I considered a pretty average life of s retiree. The "sudden" appearance of this nerve-related issue has certainly changed all that. A couple of surgeries and a number of tests later, I finally saw a neurologist who said I likely don't have neuropathy.... but radiculopathy.... which basically means my numbness, tingling, burning and my balance issues is originating somewhere in my lower back rather than in the small fiber nerves of my feet. In the end, whatever name it's given, the symptoms are the same.... as are the limitations. I, too, have heard a number of times to "keep moving," and I am trying to do just that. The neurologist, by the way, had no treatment to offer that would definitely improve my "radiculoathy".... The spine surgeon has said, "Maybe a fusion at L-4/L-5/S-1 would help." Well, that "maybe" makes me hesitate to try anymore surgery at the moment. As with most everyone here, it seems we are feeling our way.... as are our doctors... in trying to find how to best adapt our situations to live as fully as possible with the limitations this situation has handed us. Some of you have intense pain, which is something that I, at the moment, don't have to deal with. Numbness and loss of balance are issues.... but pain would be even worse.... so I try to count my blessings. Yes, it would be so nice to be 35 again, with a body that is not feeling the effects of time.... but I know that's not going to happen. At this point, like so many of you here, I will continue to watch .... but I'm not holding my breath that there will be any "amazing" cure for my situation. And I will keep moving for as long as I can.... perhaps more slowly, but still moving. Best wishes to all!! Mike

Ed– I find myself oddly "picky" when my partner and I are walking anywhere. I'm forever saying things to her like, "Go a little faster, would you?" or "No, no, don't take my hand," or "How about walking on my right side?" I'm forever adjusting her whereabouts. When we arrive at our destination –– and I'm totally conscious of how "picky" I've been –– I'll offer an apology ("I know what a pain in the a** it is to walk with me") to which we'll both laugh. One of PN's little wrinkles, eh? 🙂 –Ray

Kinda like PN and Sepsis, right? As I read about the struggle you're having re: identifying the current source of your imbalance and how careful or how aggressive to be in dealing with it, I can only say from my own experience in 2021: take care not to fall and break your hip. If that should happen, you might find that you're adding that to the list ("the battalions"). I am so thankful to be out of the rehab facility and into my house ~ imbalance seems like a blessing because it's better than being tethered to a wheelchair away from home.
Have a glorious day... mine was! (Thank you for your good wish!) ~
Barb

Ray - all sounds very very familiar!! In our area, a very large bank with the initials of BOA ....don't want to say name of bank decided to close all their drive thru teller windows. Now, to do on site banking, need to go inside and stand in line. What do I say...keep moving?

Mike - you are being told the same to keep moving has to be the neuro doc's belief in slowing down progression. I've been to 2 neurosurgeons; both said surgery will not eliminate my PN. One surgeon in a major Phila hospital actually made me promise that I would not let anyone operate on my back. Found it a little odd but I agreed. Mayo also said surgery should not take place. I am not sure what our future holds but my wife worked in a hospital for about 25 years, and she does remind me from time to time there are things out there a lot worse than PN.

@ray666, @njed, @domiha and all my other neuropathy journey friends, This morning I received my daily email from Dr. Amit Sood's "Your Year of Healing" and wanted to share it with all of you. Mostly because reading this discussion helps me through my own daily journey. I find that reading them first thing in the morning sets me up for a better day.

Hoping you all have not just a good day but a great day!
John
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Your Year of Healing
Dear Friend,

Here is your insight and suggested practice for today:

Insight: Recognize that a lot is still in your control. While you can’t stop the snow, you can open the umbrella.

Suggested Practice: List five things that are still in your control.

Audio file link: Please visit https://www.amitsood.com/year-of-healing/ to listen to the audio. When you are there please also click "I commit to today's practice."

My warmest wishes to you.

Amit
Amit Sood, MD MSc FACP
http://www.amitsood.com
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