Is loss of balance your primary complaint with neuropathy ?

I’m a 75 yo lady with PN and balanci issues are a major problem as well as fear of falling. I use a cane, walkers and transport chair for long distance as I have muscle atrophy and weakness from CIDP, like MS of the PN system. You might really benefit from PT, as they do a lot of work with balance and gait training. I think it would yield much more benefit than a podiatrist. If arthritis in your feet/toes is an issue, Voltaren gel otc works well. Generic is fine! I also mounted a small flashlight on my walker so I can see better at night getting to bathroom. The motion sensor nightlights are invaluable for night safety. Amazon has multi packs cheap. As for supplements I would add folate for prevention of the PN getting worse. Low dose gabapentin Rx may help with the paresthesias. I recommend starting at 100mg and going up from there if needed. I hope this helps. Living with the pN and being off balance constantly in fear is awful. You have lots of fellow sufferers here who understand!

I too share problems with balance. One thing that I did purchase and it's been a Godsend is a shower chair. I always fear falling in the shower and either hitting my head on hard tile or crashing through the glass. Anyway, I bought it on Amazon and although you do have to construct on your own, it is really just a few screws that they supply. I am not ready for assisted living and I want to be able to always keep myself clean and neat. So this chair was inexpensive and so thankful for it when I take showers. I do have two walkers left over from when my mother was here. She lived to be almost 90 yrs. old (the last year was not great) but the walkers do allow me to have a sense of stability. Its almost like using a grocery cart. It is that sense of balance that is now missing. I do avoid crowds when able as I always worry about someone inadvertantly (sp?) bumping me and throwing my balance off. I am seeing a neurologist for the first time at he beginning of March and I have high hopes of at least putting a name to this crazy inability of feeling the soles of my feet and toes. I do not want to have to resort to a wheelchair. Our house, although a one story ranch, is not wheelchair accessible and of course, I want to live at home as long as possible. My mother went through 3 separate bone breaks (hip, shoulder and pelvis) and I remember the rehab and the slow progress of walking again. After the 3rd break, I sat her down and said, "Mum, you can never fall again". Sounds stupid I know but I wanted her to know that she had to be more mindful. Turns out, that she was rushing to either get the telephone or answer the door. I told her that if it was important, that person would call again or she could check her answering service. She lived independently until well in her 80's. I will be 77 yrs, old in June and the thought of having to go into an assisted living apartment is something I will avoid at all costs. My husband still works full time so he is not around during the days so a lot of times I will wait until he gets home to help with tasks that I can't accomplish on my own. Some days using a swiffer, doing a load of clothes and starting dinner is a big win for me. I always multi-tasked when younger and it is difficult to remind myself that for the most part, those days are over but I try to know my limitations and live with it. I do take Lyrica and Gabapentin (both prescribed for things other that than "restless legs and feet" that I experience at night. It is a lot to take in and yes sometimes I feel like giving up but that isn't who I am. I raised two wonderful children while working full time always. Sometimes, I would grocery shop on my lunch hour, go home to put groceries away and start something in the crock pot so both of my kids could participate in organized sports. I just did what needed to be done and that was that. So now that both kids are grown and on their own, it is important for me to contribute to the house duties and so far I have been able to do that. I just think that all of us need to accept that we can't do what we use to do but celebrate the things that we can do. Sorry if I rambled but I read the posts here and I feel that a lot of you are still trying to ask your body to do things that perhaps will lead to a fall. My only advice is do what you know will not lead to a fall and pat yourself on the back for at least doing that!!!

Follow up.
♦️1- The Zero shoes did not work for me. Thought they were, but that was because I had fewer sensations of sliding when I wasn’t actually moving. The sensations and numbness ‘increased’, and I started using the cane 2 weeks ago, with the Xero shoes. Even with the cane, I still feel a slip/slide in my left foot. Getting upstairs is now a very real struggle. My husband helps but he is impatient. I know it’s all a sudden change for both of us. 🙏🏻 Coming down, with his assist, is much easier. Still scary.
I have ordered a two cane stair assist. Looks good on paper. We will see. And, the tub bench that has two legs outside the tub to let you slide and sit on the bench in the tub. FANTASTIC. Yes! I put it together. Hubby carried it up. I later adjusted legs on the outside to make bench an equal height all over. And, put it in the tub myself.
♦️2- The hand held massager for the feet? Way too painful even on lowest setting. I still use my floor unit foot massager. And, I massage my feet nightly with anything with Menthol; eg. Gold Bond lotion with menthol, and then another round of massage with Bengay cream. Have not tried capsaicin, because it may interfere with my blood thinner. ??? Also, stretch the toes back and forth for that clawed foot feeling. Actually, the toes are not as bad now after doing this for a few weeks.
♦️3- Saw the podiatrist yesterday. I drove about 25 minutes away. Right foot much less of a problem. Husband was with me. Was my first time out of the house in 2 weeks, using the cane and my Hoka Clifton 9 shoes, that I bought last summer when the imbalance just started. Very unsteady, felt like I was falling several times, even holding onto my husband’s arm. Just stepping into the elevator was scary. Much worse than 2 weeks ago. Was it the Xero shoes or using the cane? Or, can such a change just happen that fast?
The podiatrist was very matter of fact. Brief exam of the feet to gage areas of numbness. Said the Hoka shoes are good shoes for balance. Said using the cane had now made me dependent on it. Suggest I not use a walker unless I really felt fearful of falling. 🤔🤔🤔🫨🫨🫨
He gave me little hope. It is what it is. There is no cure. Told him I take the B12 and A-ALA. He suggested adding B-Complex and I could try Gabapentin, which I agreed agreed to try. Called the pharmacy this morning. Never received the order. Doctor in surgery today, best bet is he will send order by Monday. 🫣 Didn't even discuss the strength or dosage.
Once home, I pitied myself a short bit. I think that’s ok. 5 Stages of Grief.
I tried walking in the house with my Hoka shoes. Not! Then, I decided to put on my Altra shoes, without socks, and slide my feet without lifting them, using the cane. Scooting my feet. 👁️ I had observed a man in the parking lot at the podiatrist, going back to his car without a cane or any assistance, by just scooting his feet over the surface. Slow and steady as he goes. But he got there. Worked pretty good. This morning I actually put the cane aside while I scooted around the kitchen. Felt pretty secure. Even bought a cup of coffee out to my living room, no cane.
But, stepping up from the street to the sidewalk??? Sorry, Doctor, but I have a GREAT fear of falling. I have two walkers ordered, a smaller one for upstairs.
♦️4- SO, supplements taken for numbness, No pain????
Has anything really made a difference for you?
Anyone have some relief from the Numbness with Gabapentin??

Ok. Update and mini rant over. I hope and pray for everyone here. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️❤️😣

I was diagnosed with idiopathic peripheral neuropathy about 15 years ago. The neurologist told me that "it probably won't kill you, come back and see me in about 20 years." It was loss of balance and a sensation of having socks on when I was bare footed that sent me to my GP. The GP gave me a crude test on my legs and feet with pin pricks, diagnosed peripheral neuropathy (which IO had already done with the help of Google) and gave me the referral to the neurologist.
Since engaging with researchers and physiologists over the last 4 years or so, I am finally convinced that DAILY balance exercises and leg strengthening exercises are a MUST. I heartedly recommend Doug Weiss on Youtube, but I add neck and eye exercises so that my peripheral vision is improved. I am lucky that I rarely have pain, I take one magnesium supplement 1000 mu daily to reduce night cramping in the legs.

There are lots of supportive and well informed people on this site! Stay safe! Stay active!

I have similar symptoms to yours and no pain. My flair came shortly after a prolonged period of inactivity and a hip replacement. I could hardly walk 500 feet and my balance was bad. I began walking on a treadmill, attempting "hands free" for short periods. I have been at this for 9 months now. I can now walk "hands free" for a mile and my balance is much improved. I also ride my bike often. So, I agree that exercise that works on balance and muscle stregnth, is the key. My Neurologist thinks my neuropathy is heridiety and I will be having a nerve biopsy in a few weeks. Yes, stay safe and active!

I think that since it isn't the podiatrist who might fall and break a bone, he was not helping you feeling more secure with either the cane or the walker. I now take all doctor advice as just that advice but I am the one who has to live with the results. Whatever works for you is my new mantra. Until someone comes up with a pill, a shot or something to help with this imbalance, I will continue to use my cane, my walker and my shower chair. And just to make things even dicier, we here in the northeast have a 3"-6" field of ice over most walkways, sidewalks, etc. So let's everyone get real here and do what is best for us. Yes, we might become dependent on any of these helpers, but I would rather use them and not fall and break something, then wind up in the hospital and then a rehab facility to relearn how to sit, walk, stand etc.!!!!!

You may want to read up on gabapentin. Most patients take it to relieve nerve pain. I have plenty of nerve disfunctionand numbnes; but no pain, and neither of the neurologists that I have seen has suggested that I take gabapentin.