How do you manage neuropathy and loss of balance and walking ability?

I have just finished a class at the YMCA titled "Moving for Better Balance". It was twice each week for 12 weeks. I can't tell you how much this has improved my balance! It is a Tai Chi based class focused on techniques to improve one's balance. Now I'm taking "Chair Yoga", which is focused on whole-body strength and stretching. I am age 80.

Have to wear slippers all the time. Cannot go barefoot. Instant pain if I go barefoot. New orthopedic slippers on Amazon are fantastic!

I have Sjogren's and Small and Large fiber Neuropathy caused by it. I take IvIg every 3 weeks for it. It has helped in many ways but done little for my balance problem. I also have muscle wasting in my legs that interferes with exercise. Going without my cane for any length of time (around the house) causes an achey pain in my legs. I think it is the leg wasting that is giving me the most trouble. (My horses don't like the changes either.) Any suggestions?

One thing that helps my balance is that I step right out quickly. Even when
I get in a bad place with uneven ground. I just discovered this a few
weeks ago while working in our yard. Our yard is hilly & not very smooth.
It’s a year since I’ve fell down. Been close to tipping over a few times.

I have found that concentrating my focus on my legs and feet help. Always knowing the floor conditions, paying attention to the types of surfaces or small obstacles also help since the smallest pebble can sometimes cause severe pain when stepped on.

I concur, it does help. But it does make me slow and horses can move much faster than I can now. Also, I still miscalculate occasionally and am unreliable. I still run into door jams.

@ouchouch -- You're right, I always pay attention to floor and ground surfaces and know where my feet are in relationship to stools, chairs and things that can easily catch your feet. I have also removed all throw carpets, believe me, they are trippers.

I agree with removing the area rugs. It’s crazy that I can tell when the floor (whatever the surface is) is off, if there’s a bump or something. I have to be extremely aware of my surroundings, I can no longer walk in the dark, and I’m now wearing 2 AFOs as well. I use a cane, walker and 2 poles. Depends on where I’m going, for how long and what the surface is like.

I am slower than slow and it’s frustrating!!

I have been hesitant to use my cane it walker. When I ask myself "why" I can admit that it is vanity or just being stubborn. But as I have had my first fall in the last 2 weeks I have decided that it isn't worth it not to use them. I watched my mother have 3 bad falls and go thru surgeries and in house rehab and I don't want that for myself . The heck with vanity!!!

I just listened to the whole spiel. They lost me at "a select group of people in Iceland that happened to eat 10 times the quantity of pineapple than anyone else in the world" and was basis for the entire discovery of NerveBliss. Now I'd like nothing better to hear you are getting relief in a few days as advertised. I'll be the first to jump on board with you. Please keep us posted on your progress!