Is there any help at all for foot numbness in PN

Hi @wascaly, Like you I don't have any pain but just the numbness and a little tingling sometimes. I haven't found anything in my years of searching that gets rid of it but there are a few things that may take your mind off of it. Balance and falling are what I worry about also. I just try to keep busy, get rid of all the throw rugs and obstacles around the house. If I want to go for a longer walk, a set of trekking poles helps. I do foresee the day when I might be using a rollator walker but I'm hoping at 81 I might have a few more years before I really need one.

While you wait for others, there are quite a few members who have posted in this discussion.
-- Neuropathy: Numbness only, no pain: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/neuropathy-numbness-only-no-pain/.

I do find that shoes help with the balance for me. If my shoes are too spongy, I get the tipsy feeling when walking and don't feel steady. I do have a few pair of shoes with a zero drop sole (barefoot type shoes with flat soles) that make my feet feel more sturdy and balanced.

Thanks so much for your response and for letting me know I’m not the only one!
I have a theory but none of the medical professionals will acknowledge it.
In 2008, I had my first surgery for scoliosis. It was actually a 2-day procedure. I had to wear this awful turtle shell contraption for 6 months, feeling like some kind of freak. Then approximately 2 years later, I had another surgery to fuse my L5.
I can’t exactly remember when the PN was diagnosed, but the foot numbness gradually got worse. Now, in 2024, I can hardly walk. I use a walker, but only since I fell in 2023, and had to have yet another horrific surgery that pretty much sealed the deal for me. Before the broken hip, I used a cane.
Anyway, at age 74, my numbness has only gotten worse and worse. My aforementioned theory is the PN happened as a result of the very first surgery in 2008 for scoliosis, which was on my LEFT side. Hence, the main numbness in my LEFT foot. Not one of these professionals will even entertain the possibility. That, alone, baffles me.
Now, I’m far from being a doctor; however, I just can’t help but think the numbness in my LEFT foot (mainly) is related to the 1st surgery for scoliosis on my LEFT side.

In the meantime, I just continue to suffer with no relief in sight.

@wascaly
I think you are into something about the origin of your foot numbness. I have cervical/lumbar stenosis, degenerative disc disease and neurogenic claudication plus cervical myelopathy which caused spinal cord injury at C5-C6 and symptoms below this level down to my feet.

I had cervical ACDF surgery in 2022 and lumbar surgery in August 2024. My numbness in my feet and pain/weakness has improved but now struggling with hip pain. I question if nerves supplying my hips/hip flexors that help lift my right leg were possibly injured.

Have you had MRIs recently for your cervical and lumbar spine to see if there is new nerve/nerve root/spinal cord compression? Have you had EMG/nerve conduction studies and/or myeloma to test the health of your nerves supplying movement/sensation to feet? You may need 2nd and 3rd new opinions. Some doctors don’t like to take patients with previous surgeries because they don’t want to be liable if anything was not done correctly or if there was permanent damage done.

I was also afraid to fall when my feet/low back/hips and buttocks would go numb while walking my dog. My lumbar surgery helped relieve some of my weakness and numbness from neurogenic claudication severe compression of L4-L5 (my surgery decompressed and fused L3-L5).

@wascaly
* Correction, myelogram, not myeloma. Just love autocorrect😉 Myelogram is a test where they inject dye to check spinal cord and nerve/nerve root health and to see if there is any injury/communication problem. Your numbness I. Your feet seems like compression or injury of a nerve supplying your feet sensation and communication back to brain about the numbness you are feeling. You may also want to check to see if you have any vascular claudication causing an issue with small fiber nerve health in your feet. A neurologist can do a skin punch biopsy (they take a small sample of tissue at upper thigh and calf or ankle) to check if small nerve fibers have been damaged that are causing your numbness.

Thanks for your suggestions. I don’t remember exactly what tests I’ve had, but I do believe I’ve had a nerve conduction test some years back.
Now I’m in a senior living facility and in the process of (once again) finding new doctors, including a neurologist. What a pain this has been!
I realize I need a lot of help with my balance (or lack thereof), but I know I couldn’t do any of the exercises since it requires BALANCE, something I don’t have!
Anyway, I appreciate your suggestions. I certainly have my work cut out for me.

@wascaly
I feel for you and hear you! It is all a pain!

Don’t give up on improving your balance despite your foot numbness. You may want to improve your shoes (heard Hoka brand helps with balance due to wider base; they are a bit pricey but worth not falling). You may also want to try compression socks since they help with circulation to/from your feet.

Physical therapy and occupational therapy can help you manage day to day with balance issues and improving where you can and using strategies to help you complete daily tasks safely. I need to get occupational therapy to help me work within my limitations. I use grabbers to reach things, a grab bar in bed to help me roll over and reposition myself, plus grab bars in the bathtub. I have a walker next to my bed to help me stabilize myself as I slip on/take off my sturdy shoes. Some of my medications make me dizzy which doesn’t help balance issues and fall risk.

Make sure to also get an orthopedic spine specialist with really good ratings online to get an updated review of your current symptoms, historical surgeries/treatments/therapies and options to properly diagnose current issues, especially the cause of your foot numbness.

Praying for you to get the help you need and for you to keep advocating for and educating yourself on your symptoms, conditions, medications/side effects, etc. This will help you use your limited time with doctors and specialists/surgeons wisely and ask the questions you need to. Any doctors who are dismissive or disrespectful/condescending are red flags and you will want to find new doctors. Do research in advance to avoid going to low rated doctors/specialists.

Wascaly, I too am 74, with severe peripheral neuropathy from CIDP, an autoimmune disease. I have terrible numbness in my feet and legs, poor balance, dizziness and fractured my femur five years ago. I certainly have the fear of falling! I use a walker in my house and am very careful. A few things I find helpful: I attached a small flashlight to my walker that sits next to my bed so I can easily slip into my shoes and see my way to bathroom in night without waking my husband. I also find keeping my feet warm with socks helps the numbness and cold feeling. PT for balance and gait training can be very helpful. When possible, I hold onto or lean against the counters or furniture when standing to make me feel more stable. I also have several motion sensor night lights around the house so I can see clearly where I am moving. It really is hard to put up with these symptoms and limitations in mobility, but I am very grateful to not have the pain of PN that many others have. I also am thankful I can still walk in my home and around my yard, using a w/c or scooter for longer distances. I hope your new Dr is helpful and will work with you to maximize your functioning and treat any treatable contributors to your numbness, such as B12 or folate deficiency.
A positive attitude and focus on what you can do goes a long way in warding off depression caused by the physical declines of aging and disease. None of us signed up for this hard reality!

No, you’re absolutely right! Without boring you with the story of my life, I will say in the last 8 months, I believe I’ve aged 10 years, just in my lack of mobility.
It sounds like you, too, have had your share of woes. I’m in a senior living facility, along with my husband who has Altzheimers. Never in a million years would I have dreamed this was in my future, but here I am.
As a matter of fact, I have an appointment this morning with the facility NP, so I’ll definitely ask about testing my B12 and folate levels. I’ll try anything for relief,
I also plan to get established with a new neurologist. Since we’ve been in this facility, I’ve had to find all new docs - not an easy feat!
Thank you so much for your response. I guess it’s true that misery loves company, but I’m sorry you’re going thru much the same thing as I.
Keep your faith in God strong. Sometimes that’s the only thing I feel I have left.
Take care.
Karen

Barefoot Shoes have given me the best relief so far from stiffness & numbness. They strengthen your calf muscles & ankles & increase balance making it possible to walk longer distances.

I concur!