Living with Neuropathy - Welcome to the group

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

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.

You sound like me starting with my first hip replacement back in 2019. I've had 2 other surgeries since. If you are like most of us you have or will try so many things, you're not sure what's working the best. I've used a Nova Lab red light pad for 2 weeks and I think it is helping me walk further and stay on my feet longer. Let us know if you find something that works well. I miss being able to walk without shoes sometimes. Many prayers to all living with this.

Jake, I have trigeminal neuralgia. i.e. pain across upper right teeth gums and sometimes in the jaw. Was prescribed cabamazepine. Felt drunk during the day ATAXIA. Have halved the does from 200 to 100 at night. In morning I take 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. All good now depending on whether I don't put plenty in my drinks and tea. Tried tenor sax a little while ago. Some pain in teeth with low noes. Otherwise all good. No ataxia.

Hi, Barb

"Negative 'one'?" I like that? I'm going to aim for it. 🙂 Years ago some smart fellow suggested I try what he called the Practice of One. One thing at a time, one of all things. I try very hard to adhere to that today: one task at a time (until completed), one book that I'm reading or pleasure, one trusted daily newspaper, one favorite magazine ( only the current issue), one good notebook (serves as a journal), and one damn fine pen (at the moment, mine is a Vision Elite gel pen). I reaize this sounds kinda anal –– all these strictures –– but the Practice of One has served me well for years, helping me to get stuff done, books read, letters written, time with friends enjoyed –– all the while keeping me sane. Kinda sane, anyway. 🙂

A Cheery Thursday to you, too, Barb!
Ray (@ray666)

Hello, @cariloo,
I've not seen anyone on Connect say that they are especially fearful of turning or changing direction (resulting in a fall), but this is exactly my greatest fear, also. It happened last month as I was putting away groceries and decided something belonged in a different place. Thanking God that it didn't result in a break or even a bruise but it sure alerted me to how readily this can happen and how serious the consequences can be.
I have experimented over the last 30 years with many remedies (hopeful) for my PN, from a menthol spray to
Class 4 red light therapy to PT, and currently am finding the most complete relief in a combination of Pregabalin, Tramadol, a recumbent bike, my wonderful chiropractor of 25 years, and an investment in a BEMER system, purchased through my physical therapist. It's too complicated to explain in a post, so better to just google it and get the facts from the manufacturer. Expensive? Yes. Works? Yes. Helps me to stay independent, living alone (with my dog!) and in control of pain, and more content than I deserve. I'm 77 and female and live in the midwest with all four seasons ~ and some in excessive ranges.
As for socks and footwear, what works best for me are the running shoes with lots of support and basically no flexibility. They keep my feet flat on the ground - you might say well grounded. I buy a full size larger than what they fit me for in the store. For me, the best socks are thin and not at all binding or tight. You didn't mention if your feet feel cold or if you live where it is cold part of the year. For indoor shoes, I love allbirds wool loungers and wool mules. No socks needed! Where I live they can only be purchased online.
I wish you all the best as you navigate the therapies that work best for you.
Barb

Hi Barb, I'm 81 years old, live pretty much alone (58 year old son with disability in basement), no dog but 2 budgies. I haven't had a fall in the last 3 years. But in the 2 years prior to that, I fell 4 times. So, I tried to exam what I was doing just prior to the fall....I was walking and talking to a friend and not paying attention to my walking. Each of those times I was only doing a quarter turn but realized that in doing so I was shifting all my weight onto one leg. It doesn't matter which leg, it's that the support leg is already unstable. I feel I need to slow down so I can concentrate on changing direction. In the house, I usually walk barefoot because I have a better sense of feeling about where my feet are/how they're positioned. However, my feet seem to go through cycles of cold and hot, so when my feel get cold, I put on thin, smooth cotton socks. I was using suede slippers with a lambswool lining, but my feet became hot too quickly. Also, I had a lack of judgement as to where my feet were and was always tripping over something or hitting a table leg. For me, barefoot allows for better foot placement because I actually still have some feeling left in toes and foot bottom. Outside, I wear flexible runners, sandals or boots. I live in Northern Ontario, so we have cold wet weather from October to May. Also, I use a cane year round. It really helps with my balance. A few people have mentioned buying a walker. I worked in a long term care hospital, and from experience with my mother, friends and myself, unless you have some knowledge from employment or elsewhere, I suggest you go to a store that sells mobility aids because there are many different kinds of walkers which are used for different purposes and physical needs. I have 3 walkers. I needed an aluminum one after hip surgery. I don't need a walker around the house, but I find it useful for standing first thing in the morning. I have a walker with a seat for outside when you don't know where you will find a seat. I took it to Paris and used it all the time there. I also have a very lightweight one without a seat which is easy to lift in and out of my car. It's great for the mall or a walk along the boardwalk by the lake because I know there are lots of seats there. I started taking a combo of gabapentin (pregablin) and tramadol about 20 years ago for fibromyalgia. My doctor (at that time) said that tramadol and an antidepressant, Duloxetine, work synergistically. The gabapentin is widely used as a neuropathic pain medication. I'm not sure why people take an opioid for neuropathic pain. My feet are ultra sensitive, so thin cotton socks and soft, breathable shoes (leather) are best for me. Truthfully, I hate being "old". Caring for myself just takes up so much of my time that I don't get to do many fun things anymore.😫

Hi Barb, I'm 81 years old, live pretty much alone (58 year old son with disability in basement), no dog but 2 budgies. I haven't had a fall in the last 3 years. But in the 2 years prior to that, I fell 4 times. So, I tried to exam what I was doing just prior to the fall....I was walking and talking to a friend and not paying attention to my walking. Each of those times I was only doing a quarter turn but realized that in doing so I was shifting all my weight onto one leg. It doesn't matter which leg, it's that the support leg is already unstable. I feel I need to slow down so I can concentrate on changing direction. In the house, I usually walk barefoot because I have a better sense of feeling about where my feet are/how they're positioned. However, my feet seem to go through cycles of cold and hot, so when my feel get cold, I put on thin, smooth cotton socks. I was using suede slippers with a lambswool lining, but my feet became hot too quickly. Also, I had a lack of judgement as to where my feet were and was always tripping over something or hitting a table leg. For me, barefoot allows for better foot placement because I actually still have some feeling left in toes and foot bottom. Outside, I wear flexible runners, sandals or boots. I live in Northern Ontario, so we have cold wet weather from October to May. Also, I use a cane year round. It really helps with my balance. A few people have mentioned buying a walker. I worked in a long term care hospital, and from experience with my mother, friends and myself, unless you have some knowledge from employment or elsewhere, I suggest you go to a store that sells mobility aids because there are many different kinds of walkers which are used for different purposes and physical needs. I have 3 walkers. I needed an aluminum one after hip surgery. I don't need a walker around the house, but I find it useful for standing first thing in the morning. I have a walker with a seat for outside when you don't know where you will find a seat. I took it to Paris and used it all the time there. I also have a very lightweight one without a seat which is easy to lift in and out of my car. It's great for the mall or a walk along the boardwalk by the lake because I know there are lots of seats there. I started taking a combo of gabapentin (pregablin) and tramadol about 20 years ago for fibromyalgia. My doctor (at that time) said that tramadol and an antidepressant, Duloxetine, work synergistically. The gabapentin is widely used as a neuropathic pain medication. I'm not sure why people take an opioid for neuropathic pain. My feet are ultra sensitive, so thin cotton socks and soft, breathable shoes (leather) are best for me. Truthfully, I hate being "old". Caring for myself just takes up so much of my time that I don't get to do many fun things anymore.😫