Living with Neuropathy - Welcome to the group

Just want to thank you all for sharing your experiences. I am kind of new to PN. It became a serious concern the last 2 years. I did not connect my PN with my balance problems, but reading your experiences and suggestions is extremely helpful.

Welcome @fb4, I think most of us dealing with neuropathy have some balance issues. Have you tried any exercises or physical therapy to see if it might help?

@johnbishop , I have tried acupuncture, mama bear, several different internet pills, Gabapentin, etc. The best relief so far has been copper fit compression sleeves for plantar fascia.
Worst problem is numbness on balls of feet and swollen feeling.

I have recently gotten neuropathy from a recent minimally evasive surgery done in October. Just had a new MRI and I will be discussing why I have this symptom now. Will keep you posted on his answer. I know physical therapy and exercises on line that suppose to help. Pain meds also help but you can only get them from a pain specialist doctor. I take Norco.

Yes, I am exercising with a goal of improving my balance. I do find some positive results, and I hope by continuing, it improves my sense of stability.
Thank you.

Hi Ray (@ray666) --
My front door has the same unusually muscular pneumatic tube as yours, white in color (as if that matters). My youngest son, frustrated with the bother of trying to adjust it one day when he was over, just removed the tube altogether. It isn't the most attractive fix, but it sure solved the problem! Now I just need to be extra vigilant on real windy days that the door doesn't blow itself off the hinges as I open it to retrieve the mail - lol.
Enjoy the week!
Barb

Hi, Barb (@bjk3)

There's a message in these pneumatic tubes for those of us balance issues, isn't there? We don't need to be pushed or pulled one way or t'other, not without our willing it. We've one direction in mind, one path to get us safely – one cautious step at a time – from here to there.

I'm reminded of what his physical therapist told Michael J. Fox: "Stop thinking about where you're going. Think only about where you're going to put your foot when you take your next step." (That's me paraphrasing Fox's PT.)

Merry Wednesday, Barb!
Ray (@ray666)

Hi Ray (@ray666),
Very timely and wise advice but golly, it sure takes my already minimum multitasking level down a notch. I guess if I go to negative "one" I'm in even deeper trouble than I thought!
Here's to a Cheery Thursday!
Barb

Thank you, thank you, thank you
I thought I was going crazy until I read your info about loosing baa as lance when making a turn. I have neuropathy in lower spine and both legs and I couldn’t figure out why I was having a tendency to want to fall when making sudden turns. I have practice Tai chi for some years and have a pretty steady balance and so far I haven’t fallen.

Good Day all. Apologies if this is a long intro, but this is all quite new to me. I am in the process of trying to determine cause of numbness in my feet, and now a pinky finger on my right hand. Right now, I have what I think is Neuropathy, but I guess it could be Radiculopathy. Still undiagnosed.

In fall of last year, I noticed the bottom of my heal had become numb. I had no idea the cause. Don't recall being in any accident. No illness etc. In the last 2-3 months the numbness developed into tingling and began to spread on the outside of my feet, eventually to include my 4 outer toes and the bottom of my foot on my right side. The left side is not as bad, affecting just the outer two toes at time of writing this. In the last 2 weeks, I feel numbness in my pinky finger on my right hand.

Needless to say, its got me freaked out. My family doctor checked my blood for B14 deficiency, and Diabetes. All clear on that. She has also put me in for a vascular test on my feet, to rule out circulation issues.. I went to a Chiropractor and a Physio clinic about 5-6 weeks back, to see if they could suggest anything. Both suggested possible entrapment (pinching) of my S1 nerve might cause this sensation. I did not have any numbness in my finger at that point. The physio suggested I might want to rule out MS, so that really was troubling to hear.

I have a friend who is an orthopedic surgeon. He checked me physically for MS symptoms and told me it is highly unlikely that that is what I have. I'm still a bit freaked all the same. He booked me for and MRI, which I just had yesterday. Queried a drug I took last year for toenail fungus (Terbinafine). Wondered if there was a link there. I guess I am waiting on results of the MRI. The only other notable thing I can recall late las year is that I had a quite painful insect bite on my back. Painful enough that it took a week or so to settle. Thought of Lyme disease here, but again, no other symptoms present for that.

As for my physical state, I have had no back pain of note, and I am generally, quite fit for a 63 year old. Could probably shed 15 lbs but my I'm reasonably happy with my weight. I recently hiked around Zion National park, and did several hikes at elevation in Bryce Canyon too. All with my tingling feet. In the last month, I did find out that my blood pressure was up (no kidding) and have stated taking a diuretic for that. Did not affect me hiking whatsoever.

My employment sees me out on a boat, and I am often in very cold (feet and hands) conditions for several hours a day. I do use hand warmers to control some heat loss, but it still gets pretty cold. Don't know if this can be a factor.

I guess, by posting here, I am hoping to determine if what I experienced with my feet and hand are classic neuropathy symptoms that everyone encounters. Again, apologies for the length of this post, and thanks in advance for any help, advice, comments, further questions.