Legs weakness with Idiopathic Feet Neuropathy

I prefer 250mg every other day (and lower if I could find it, as I already take a daily multivitamin). I take it mainly to help regularity since I take a low dose iron tablet also every other day which can have constipating effects. On two separate occasions now (one recently), I grabbed 400 mg off the store shelf out of convenience or cost. Both times after about 10 days, I realize I have felt weaker than usual, more jelly-legged, accompanied by some diarrhea. I then thought of the increase in my Magnesium, and read where those are signs of too much Magnesium. So I have purchased the lower dose, and things are back to "my" normal. I hope now to remember to be careful about not rocking the boat by making changes like that. I'm not suggesting this has the same effect on everybody, as we all have so many variables affecting us, but I think it has an effect on me.

Interesting. I've always read that more magnesium is better. I take 150mg of Mag CITRATE 3 times a day. The citrate form helps prevent constipation. I may experiment with a lower dose and see what happens. I also recently added (6 mos ago?) R-Alpha Lipoic Acid, but have not seen any benefit with it.

I'm sure you've seen a lot of discussions here on Alpha Lipoic Acid and R-. I purchased some but never took it because I have a tendency toward low blood sugar, and my PCP advised me that maybe I shouldn't take the risk since ALA can lower blood sugar. But I read a lot of folks here use it. As for Magnesium, I don't want to eliminate it, because I find when I run out and miss a little time of not taking any at all, I also get weak (and the iron stops things up). So I think we all have to find that sweet spot that works!

Hello @thurlibier, I combined your discussion with an existing discussion titled, "Legs weakness with Idiopathic Feet Neuropathy" - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/legs-weakness-with-idiopathic-feet-neuropathy/ so the members discussing leg weakness symptoms could see your message and so you could read through their experiences as well.

Oh, yes, leg weakness …

Something happened to me this morning as a result of leg weakness. I awoke –– and fell. It wasn’t a bad fall, more of a plop, losing my balance and landing butt-down on a black vinyl footstool. However, I’ll call it a “fall” when I speak to my physical therapist; after all, I did have a devil of a time getting back on my feet, mainly due to leg weakness as the result of PN, but also because of a painful arthritic knee and ankle.

When I was scribbling in my journal a short time after, a thought came to mind that had me think of the short story “The Lady, or the Tiger?”––two doors: which door is safe to open? or, in other words, which of two possible courses of action is the best to take? I could think of my fall as a warning that my PN balance has worsened and is likely to get even worse-er; therefore, I’d better start planning for the future, e.g., start carrying a cane round the clock or go back to using a walker; buy a phone that’ll auto-dial 9-1-1, and maybe a walkie-talkie that’ll ring my neighbor to say “I’ve fallen and can’t get up!” –– all the many devices advertised in the monthly AARP mag.

Or, instead, I could take from this morning’s fall added motivation to work on building leg strength. (See my orthopedist or podiatrist about those arthritic joints, too.)

Knowing myself pretty well after 79 years, I know I’m going to opt for the latter option: work on building more leg strength.

Probably, too, I will carry my cane more often as a small concession; after all, there’s nothing wrong with now and then walking the middle path.

Time, now, to do some stretching, leg lifts, sit-to-stands, abduction lifts, and other exercises. All the while, I’ll be thinking of “The Lady or the Tiger?” hoping that from behind the door I’ve already got halfway open, I’m not about to hear a hungry GRRRRRRRRR! 🙂

Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)

Hello, Ray!
Same thing happened to me a couple of days ago. I stood up and was immediately seated back down on my recliner ~ very surprised at how I just kind of collapsed and feeling very weak in the legs. Was doing better overall when going to P.T. every week, but in May (I think it was) she had to shift her appointments for Medicare patients to every two weeks because of substantial cuts in reimbursement. I've heard that another round of cuts are in the works (evidently Medicare is reducing the overall conditions they are willing to cover at all). So we patients are needing more than ever to be our own advocates for keeping ourselves independent and mobile.
Wondering how you're doing in your recovery from sepsis? I pray you are experiencing some measurable improvement every week. All these "little extras" really complicate things when they require energy (to heal) that would otherwise have gone toward the maintaining of all kinds of balance that neuropathy robs us of.
Here's to good health to you and your partner this autumn in beautiful Colorado!
Peace, Barb

Good morning, Barb (@bjk3)

I hadn’t heard about additional Medicare cuts. I happen to be in Medicare limbo at the moment––if not ‘in,’ then on the threshold: tomorrow is the final day of the coverage that I’ve been receiving that’s paid for in-patient rehab (4/17–5/2), and home health, both physical and occupational therapy, 5/3–9/3. I have requested an extension for the very reason you mention: the need to continue with PT, whether physical or occupational (ideally both), chiefly to build and maintain leg strength. I’m pretty good at doing my own stretching, isometrics, etc., but I’m also like most people: my motivation increases tenfold when a therapist puts me through the paces.

Thank you for asking about my sepsis improvement. I’ve better days and less-than-better days. Improving? yes, but hardly by leaps and bounds. However, neuropathy taught me the power of patience; I apply it to my sepsis recovery, and, as with neuropathy recovery, patience works wonders.

My partner and I have also had to be patient with our Colorado weather, but recently, considering the super-hot days we’ve had, patience is beginning to work wonders. Days are still toasty, but the evenings have grown tolerable. I hope you can do the same for where you are.

Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)

I so hope you will be able to continue with PT & OT. In my case, I would be eligible for coverage for PT every week but my therapist, who owns her own practice and in whose large office space are other providers (OT, chiro, podiatrist, specialty post-op clothing, and a couple more) has had to increase her number of non-Medicare clients whose insurance pays better. That was a long sentence - sorry about that 😉. I really appreciate that she talks openly about the compensatory end of things, and I know she's giving me the real facts since I get "statements" of the billing and coverage provided from my secondary insurance. All this to say, you and others in the Neuropathy group here are absolutely correct when you advise that we all collect as much education about our conditions as we can, and to keep moving.
Patience? Oh, yes ~ much wisdom wrapped up in that little word. On a simple day-to-day basis, keeping at the front of the mind not to be in a hurry for anything - phone, doorbell, any movement that requires swiveling at a 180* angle (or even 90*!).
Good to hear you are doing well, and even the weather is improving -- here, too! Stay safe!
~ Barb

I find doing leg & ankle exercises in a pool helps, and also letting water stream in hot tub to stimulate bottoms of my fee and leg muscles seems to stimulate more feeling in feet and legs. BB

I have found some relief from foot and leg neuropathy by doing exercises in a pool; and by stimulating the bottoms of my feet and my leg muscles in the hot tub using the stream of water gushing into the hot tub. It is delightful to exercise in water because it is so much easier to move in water than in the air. BB