I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy 10 years ago when I started tripping over the half court line. I am not diabetic nor do I take any medicine. Balance remains my #1 problem besides using braces to walk. I am looking at an infected machine to buy. There are several types, any recommendations.
Bob - Mine started the identical way. I started tripping over nothing. Left foot is where PN started and left foot became the foot that first tripped. Tip of toe did not clear, sneaker got caught and I swore somebody tripped me, slammed into a wall head-first trip. Second time, few days later, down again. This was the start of drop foot. By the way, what is an infected machine? Ed
Bob - Mine started the identical way. I started tripping over nothing. Left foot is where PN started and left foot became the foot that first tripped. Tip of toe did not clear, sneaker got caught and I swore somebody tripped me, slammed into a wall head-first trip. Second time, few days later, down again. This was the start of drop foot. By the way, what is an infected machine? Ed
@bob1946
If you are interested in buying any type of machine that claims to help neuropathy you might want to go to a clinic or someplace where they use the particular machine before investing mega bucks like some people have done.
Take care,
Jake
You mentioned you are taking B6 as one of your supplements. I shied away from taking any B6 because too much can make your neuropathy worse unless you are deficient in B6. There are quite a few other discussions on B6 if you want to read more - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=B6.
Have you had your blood tested for your vitamin B levels?
I was taking too much b6. I quit taking a b complex and I improved not cured my pn. In fact I quit all my supplements. I take a high quality multivitamin and curcumin. I do feel better.
I have been dealing with small tissue PN for close to 17 years. I started with the simple feeling that an elephant had stepped on my toes leaving them numb. Frankincense Oil massages of my feet at night was all I needed. Then as it worsened I was put on gabapentin and duloxetine. I have suffered from back problems for years and following a fusion 3 years ago I found the neuropathy was really affecting my balance. I fell two years ago and broke both legs and required surgery for repair. By then walking was a real issue but I managed with a Rollinator. In January of this year I was diagnosed with covid and ended up with kidney problems and surgery for a sudden gastric ulcer. After a four week hospital stay I am home but can barely walk with a cane or walker. I have an electric small device called a Zinger which I use to move around the complex in which I live. I am now taking 1200 mg of Gabapentin, 90 mg of duloxetine, Vitamin B 6 and nightly ice packs and foot and leg massage. At the suggestion of many I have tried medical marijuana and while it helps it leaves me "hungover." Yesterday I took nearly 30 mg for pain and I finally was able to sleep but today I am exhausted. I have taken opioids but they also cause the next day hangover. I have used TENS machines, had acupuncture (helped for short time), and heavy duty electrical impulses at a Clinic. None helped longer than a few hours. Any new ideas or therapies I might try? I am really having a hard time. I turned 80 a few months ago and truly feel like my life is over.
Hi Nanella, Honey, your life isn't over! It just stinks really bad right now...right? BIG BIG HUG!!
I just turned 84 (YAY Eighty Ladies!!!) and I also have constant, painful, exhausting, horrible, damn PN! But.,,and this is a big but,,, I decided I have IT...IT doesn't have me and so I make the very best of each day that I can. I know now that, for me...this pain is not going away. This pain is something I will need to live with. I need to put up with it...I need to deal with, because it's not going anywhere. I know that now, after years of searching for ways to stop it...to make it" go away". There are some things that take the edge off for a while: vigorous massage machines, tight compression wraps are a few.
I look each day for what little things make me happy, laugh, think, wonder, listen to, learn, create, help, to get through my days WHILE my PN is doing it's thing. I have Books on Tape...all kinds of topics! I call another couple of lonely seniors during the week through a county program. I watch silly cartoons or Youtube. I have a Master Class account (Christmas gift from my wonderful grandsons). I listen to the Classical or whatever radio station floats my boat at the time. I haul out my old photo albums and have a good laugh. I look up things on the internet. I also sleep when I can or have to. I have a good cry with a good friend once in a while when I need to do that too.
Find your "Things"
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your inspiring response. I think you have beautifully and honestly expressed what I really needed to hear. I am appreciative of your forthright and honest message. I have tried to accept this truth but I continue hoping for the miracle of a painless life.
I admit to a bit of self pity and I am at least aware of my penchant to feel sorry for myself. I have lived a good and interesting life and must realize that it is not over!
Appreciatively,
Nancy
I have numbness and tingling in my feet and numbness in my hands with burning in left thumb and forefinger. After a few misdiagnoses, we finally found the culprit. I drop things constantly and have left sided weakness and walk with limp. A year later and it was found that I have spinal cords impression in neck area and am having surgery soon. The question is after a year is the nerve damage going to be permanent!
I have numbness and tingling in my feet and numbness in my hands with burning in left thumb and forefinger. After a few misdiagnoses, we finally found the culprit. I drop things constantly and have left sided weakness and walk with limp. A year later and it was found that I have spinal cords impression in neck area and am having surgery soon. The question is after a year is the nerve damage going to be permanent!
I had similar symptoms in my arms, hands, and fingers in 2002. A CT Scan revealed two herniated disks in my neck. After surgery the normal sensations I had returned with several weeks. I now have polyneuropathy in both feet and legs so I underwent an EMG study and several genetic tests which indicate I have Chronic Sensorimotor Axonal Polyneuropathy plus CMT. No cure for these suckers but I get physical therapy and massage therapy twice a week to slow down the progression of these polyneuropathies.
I had similar symptoms in my arms, hands, and fingers in 2002. A CT Scan revealed two herniated disks in my neck. After surgery the normal sensations I had returned with several weeks. I now have polyneuropathy in both feet and legs so I underwent an EMG study and several genetic tests which indicate I have Chronic Sensorimotor Axonal Polyneuropathy plus CMT. No cure for these suckers but I get physical therapy and massage therapy twice a week to slow down the progression of these polyneuropathies.
How did your genetic testing go? I just did mine afraid they won’t find anything. All my blood work high for inflammation but test negative for everything.
I have severe axonal sensorimotor peripheral polyneuropathy
Small fiber neuropathy
Dysautonomia where the neuropathy has moved into my heart and organs
Bob - Mine started the identical way. I started tripping over nothing. Left foot is where PN started and left foot became the foot that first tripped. Tip of toe did not clear, sneaker got caught and I swore somebody tripped me, slammed into a wall head-first trip. Second time, few days later, down again. This was the start of drop foot. By the way, what is an infected machine? Ed
That was supposed to be infected . Bob
@bob1946
If you are interested in buying any type of machine that claims to help neuropathy you might want to go to a clinic or someplace where they use the particular machine before investing mega bucks like some people have done.
Take care,
Jake
I was taking too much b6. I quit taking a b complex and I improved not cured my pn. In fact I quit all my supplements. I take a high quality multivitamin and curcumin. I do feel better.
Hi Nanella, Honey, your life isn't over! It just stinks really bad right now...right? BIG BIG HUG!!
I just turned 84 (YAY Eighty Ladies!!!) and I also have constant, painful, exhausting, horrible, damn PN! But.,,and this is a big but,,, I decided I have IT...IT doesn't have me and so I make the very best of each day that I can. I know now that, for me...this pain is not going away. This pain is something I will need to live with. I need to put up with it...I need to deal with, because it's not going anywhere. I know that now, after years of searching for ways to stop it...to make it" go away". There are some things that take the edge off for a while: vigorous massage machines, tight compression wraps are a few.
I look each day for what little things make me happy, laugh, think, wonder, listen to, learn, create, help, to get through my days WHILE my PN is doing it's thing. I have Books on Tape...all kinds of topics! I call another couple of lonely seniors during the week through a county program. I watch silly cartoons or Youtube. I have a Master Class account (Christmas gift from my wonderful grandsons). I listen to the Classical or whatever radio station floats my boat at the time. I haul out my old photo albums and have a good laugh. I look up things on the internet. I also sleep when I can or have to. I have a good cry with a good friend once in a while when I need to do that too.
Find your "Things"
Good luck to you and lots of love 80's Lady
Dear Judy in jeans,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your inspiring response. I think you have beautifully and honestly expressed what I really needed to hear. I am appreciative of your forthright and honest message. I have tried to accept this truth but I continue hoping for the miracle of a painless life.
I admit to a bit of self pity and I am at least aware of my penchant to feel sorry for myself. I have lived a good and interesting life and must realize that it is not over!
Appreciatively,
Nancy
This is the second time I’ve done this. Not infected, but inferred .
I have numbness and tingling in my feet and numbness in my hands with burning in left thumb and forefinger. After a few misdiagnoses, we finally found the culprit. I drop things constantly and have left sided weakness and walk with limp. A year later and it was found that I have spinal cords impression in neck area and am having surgery soon. The question is after a year is the nerve damage going to be permanent!
I had similar symptoms in my arms, hands, and fingers in 2002. A CT Scan revealed two herniated disks in my neck. After surgery the normal sensations I had returned with several weeks. I now have polyneuropathy in both feet and legs so I underwent an EMG study and several genetic tests which indicate I have Chronic Sensorimotor Axonal Polyneuropathy plus CMT. No cure for these suckers but I get physical therapy and massage therapy twice a week to slow down the progression of these polyneuropathies.
How did your genetic testing go? I just did mine afraid they won’t find anything. All my blood work high for inflammation but test negative for everything.
I have severe axonal sensorimotor peripheral polyneuropathy
Small fiber neuropathy
Dysautonomia where the neuropathy has moved into my heart and organs