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What have you done to improve balance?
Neuropathy | Last Active: Jul 30 1:52pm | Replies (72)Comment receiving replies
Ed and Ray @ray666 - I always take a look at what you guys have to say, as I live with a great guy with PN, and we are trying everything to slow its impact (note I didn't say progress - not sure medicine is there yet.)
You inspire me!
Ed, "I sure as hell am not doing as good as I did 4 years ago..." made me laugh - pretty sure most of us on Connect would say that - especially as our bodies keep defying us by aging and finding new parts to act up.
Ray, "...it's not always the Big Things that present the only challenging trip hazards, it can also be––and often is––one of the least of things..." - you mean like having one foot refuse to lift up when your brain tells it to? I didn't actually fall, I caught myself, but the resulting skin injury from a dirty board in the yard sent me to the ER for wound care and a tetanus shot.
So, along with exercises for my bad swallowing and impaired voice, PT for my repaired shoulder and respiratory therapy for my lungs, I do balance exercises every day. Pretty soon I'll have to exercise in my sleep!
Replies to "Ed and Ray @ray666 - I always take a look at what you guys have to..."
Ed, Ray and Sue,
Your posts make me realize that with PN, life is now under a microscope. I have PN-ostensibly related to celiac disease and I have now cleared my diet of gluten. I made some progress with the tingling feet but then I guess overdid it at PT and back pain came to visit me. Taking Advil helped with that but it seems did not help my PN and it upset my stomach too. I was also sensitive to the Icy Hot that I massaged into my back. Today I am trying tar cherry juice. I now look at everything that changed as to what I am feel-ing-that includes the weather(high humidity and temps in charge here). I have only been with this condition since February --my neurologist says I have a mild case--yet it wasted my muscles. I try to do balance exercises, stretching and strength training. PN is surely life-changing--let us refrain from calling it aging and put on a brave face as we climb the mountain!
@sueinmn Sue, thanks for your kind words, well appreciated. Unfortunately, you are spot on saying not sure medicine is there yet. In my opinion, it's not. As many of us are living longer and more and more people are being properly diagnosed with PN, I feel things will change in a few years. Like many things, the cure may not exist for years and years away but the ability to slow down progression....that will first be the key. I feel by slowing down progression, that will eventually take medicine to prevention, then eventually elimination. I acknowledge, this is long term, but I'm convinced it will happen someday. Meanwhile, we keep moving and live our life to the best of our ability even if we exercise in our sleep! Ed :}
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Good morning, Sue (@sueinmn)
First of all, thank you for your kind words! You've brightened my morning!
My problem with those "least of things" that lie in wait to trip me up are my duck-toed feet, or splayed feet, the result not so much of my neuropathy than a lifetime of having severely flat feet. I wear medical-grade orthotics; once a long-distance runner, I've been wearing top-notch orthotics since the mid-'80s. The orthotics do wonders for my ankles, knees, and hips, but nothing for those sneaky little duck-toed feet that, if I'm not paying attention, sure as anything will snag on the most inconsequential of projections, projections (like the corner of a carton set on the floor) that other people would kick ever-so-slightly and go right on about their day. I try my darnedest to be careful. In fact, I've a walk-about mantra: "Eyes up! (to lessen writer's hump) Heels first! (don't slide your feet) Stride out! (with caution) and Toes in! (to correct for those duck-toed feet). I try. And I try. Sometimes it works. Sometimes the result is a mildly embarrassing Opps!
Have a wonderful day, Sue!
Ray (@ray666)