Anyone lost the ability to walk due to peripheral neuropathy?

Thanks, @laughlin1947

I'm one of the very fortunate ones whose PN is predominantly large-fiber, so no pain, only terrible, terrible balance. The pain that I'll get in my left knee after doing my various exercises is definitely an add-on, not a symptom of my PN. I believe it was last Wednesday when you and I first communicated. I had finished a full set of my exercises earlier that day, and at the time I wrote to you my left knee was aching something fierce. I blame it on the exercise, so I've laid off exercising these past two days. Today my left knee feels fine, so in a few minutes I'm going to go for a ride on my recumbent bike – a short ride! – to see if a little moderate exercise doesn't lead to my knee moaning and groaning again.

Enjoy the weekend!
Ray (@ray666)

@ray666 Have you tried hyaluronic acid injections in your knee(s)? I've just finished with my 2nd set of injections (3 years apart) (3 injections, each one a week apart of some viscoelastic joint lubricant material). The first set of injections 3 years ago didn't seem to have much of an effect on my knee pain. This year, after arthroscopic surgery on my left knee in April '25, it is working very well in reducing pain. I have a spot on that knee that is bone on bone and contact in that spot is pretty painful. For me, I'm trying to find out 1.) Are the hyaluronic tablets on the market any good for pain relief? and, 2.) if I've been given the lowest grade of viscoelastic HLA and it does some good (I do not know how long it will last before it disappears from the knee joint), what about the other commercially available HLA injectables that supposedly last much longer than the cheap stuff? My ortho knee specialist seems to be familiar with the better ones, but she says Medicare HMO insurance will not cover the cost (I don't care about that cost). I'm still texting her about this issue.

@timely Resending -- please tell me about the HLA tablets -- what is the brand name (or generic name if that's all you have), what is the cost if you have Medicare coverage, and if not gotten via Rx, where do you buy the HLA tablets? My knee ortho doctor seems unfamiliar with HLA tablets and if they are effective with knee pain or not.

Good morning, laughlin1947 (@laughlin1947)

What a coincidence! Only yesterday I sent a note to my orthopedist's nurse (who gives me my injections) asking about my status: Where do I stand insofar as receiving a next injection? My last was cortisone, but I was given––with some a measure of relief––what were probably hyaluronic acid injections in the past. I say "probably," because, frankly, that much time has passed that I've forgotten the correct name. I do recall the nurse and I took to referring to those injections it as gel or "goop." I suspect "goop" was in fact hyaluronic acid. Why, last year, we switched to cortisone, I don't know. I've asked her that, too. I've not head back yet but I'm sure I will before this day is out.

Thanks, laughlin1947, for your reply to my post!

Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)

@laughlin1947 I use the Jarrow brand of hyaluronic acid collagen tablets.
Have taken them for 15 years
It adds collagen to all parts of the body.
I take 2 a day , 1 at lunch and bedtime.
I get this online from Vitacost online. Price varies everywhere online from $22.- $30 dollars
What you need is a hyaluronic acid from a reputable company.

I also buy from Life Extension online their ArthroMax Advanced with NT2 and ApresFlex- It also has boron and frankincense. Take 1 at lunch and one at bedtime.
This is on sale for $12.75 for a 30 day supply. (1/2 price.)
Both kept me from having any muscle or joint pain for 15 years and gave me more collagen.

The hyaluronic acid is what they inject into knees that have lost collagen.

@ray666 I have avoided cortisone shots as they destroy muscle.

@laughlin1947

You would have to go online to see what Medicare covers.

I have had osteoarthritis for a long time and bone on bone osteoarthritis in both knees.
I have taken collagen tablets for 15 years.
( hyaluronic acid tablets.)
I have had no knee pain for 15 years except when I was taking Leterzole which also caused neuropathy.
I did have knee pain before I started the hyaluronic acid tablets.

Maybe I am the exception with no knee pain. I started taking the Life Extension ArthroMax Advanced which also has collagen in it which was recommended by an online friend and researched collagen and added the Hyaluronic acid tablets to the ArthroMax Advanced tablets.

I have reached the point now where I will need knee surgery.

@timely Thank you for responding to my request for HLA info. Would you share from whom you buy the HLA tablets and what dosage you take? I don't understand why you need to go forward with knee surgery. I know HLA injections are fairly successful, but they last only limited periods of time, and for some patients it is much shorter than others. But I was reading on a website for another commercial mfr of a HLA injectable, and they had some clinical evidence to show that their HLA injection product lasted an average of 497 days. Being well over a year, that seems really enticing. I don't understand why my orthopedic knee specialist who administers the HLA injections to me, has no knowledge of the effectiveness of HLA oral medication. It can't be too hard to read up the technical journals she has at her disposal to find out the best options. Maybe there is no payoff for her to the time spent on that sort of research. Regards, Jerry

@timely Oh sorry, I looked further up on your blogs and see that you already gave me the info on HLA oral meds I need. Many thanks!

What a shock, I went to bed able to walk (sort of). Got up in the morning and now unable to even stand up. My legs just give out on me. Where to now?? I was lucky in that I purchased a small indoor motorised wheelchair last week. I'll keep putting these legs of mine to the test, but I don't really like my chances. How does one stay positive when things go from bad to worse? @wenner