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

Stop taking Amiodarone

@dlydailyhope I was diagnosed 25 years ago by sticking needles in my legs & applying low smo currents. Dr said I my neuropathy would get worse as I aged. I take no prescription drug for any health issue. I looked on the internet 3 year ago. Found knock of the sugar, keep the weight off & lots of exercise.
Exercise & leg strengthening helps my balance a lot. You can spend a lot of money crap sold on the internet. Save your money, nothing is going to cure your neuropathy @ this time. Any time you see a add with some famous person advertising a treatment. Check it out.

@moorethrpy I will. Might take a bit for my results.

@chelsea2357 I went to PT specifically for exercises for balance, now have a Home Program that I do 3xwk, takes about 45 minutes and walk daily for 30 min.
Best advice I can give is to do everything you can think of to make your home safe for you- remove all throw rugs, use bathroom rugs with rubber backing, have grab bars installed (vertical at entrance to tub, horizontal on far wall), wear non-skid socks or “indoor” shoes, install rails on any stairs, keep one hand free if carrying anything room to room.
Outside- I am VERY careful- when walking, watch the sidewalk for any uneven slabs and carefully navigate them, watch out for wet leaves, walk up driveway cuts, rather than stepping up and over curbs. I have a mild foot-drop with the neuropathy, when walking I remind myself to lift my toes on each step. It’s not the carefree walking I enjoyed for decades, but I haven’t had any more falls. If I encounter steps without a rail, I just wait for someone to come along and ask if I could put a hand on their arm or shoulder, people don’t mind.
After my last very hard fall outside, my brother insisted I get a smart watch. It registers a fall, the dial lights up and asks if you need help, tap yes and it dials the number you’ve entered (for me- my brother, who is local), if no answer, it dials 911, you can talk to them through the watch. If you can’t talk, it gives a message help is needed and your GPS coordinates.
My neuropathy is pretty stable, but I can feel that my balance is better with the exercises and strengthening of my leg muscles. I feel much more safe with the smart watch. I had a bad fall in a grocery store parking lot, it was embarrassing, lots of people gathered to help (and look). But, I’m much more careful now with all mobility. Wish it weren’t necessary, but better that than a broken hip.

One other thing is can you get up by yourself if you fall or are kneeled down and uninjured. Try going out on the lawn in a place with nothing around you and kneel down. Now can you get back onto your feet without help? Also take a cane with you or have someone watch you in case you need it. I have CVI and neuroptahy in both legs, the neuropathy is worse in the right leg. I use my exercise bike to build leg muscle strength. This makes it easier to get up onto my feet after kneeling down when doing yard work.

I’ve never tried this, but I will.
About canes, I bring a collapsible one when I’ll be traveling through busy airports. People notice the cane and give me space. I don’t want to be jostled and lose my balance.
I had a fall in a crowd at a parade, my ankles got hit from behind with a stroller by parents watching the parade, down I went. The father tried to say I tripped, the mother was nice, helped me to a bench.
When balance is fair, it’s hard to recover.

@centre thanks for the good info. I had not thought of asking someone to help me with curbs. I also have balance issues with both legs with right leg worse. I try to do exercises every day, in bed, walk 30 minutes on treadmill or outside. I started having knee pain a few months ago and it was getting worse. I decided to do some exercises every other day. That worked. Now no pain in knee. I feel much better using a cane. Without it I would now be frightened to go up and down a curb. I use a cane to walk a short distance outside and have a walker in my car for longer time away from home. I believe the exercises I do help very much. I am wondering if anyone has symptoms as follows. If I lean my head over in the morning or where there is lots of light I have double vision. It subsides when I pick my head up. In the afternoon I do better. If I try to read small print I shortly have double vision and, when I walk too fast I also have double vision. And I cannot walk very fast. I have had this for more than a decade. I assume it is part of the nerve damage. When I told a neurologist about it he did not address it. Just went on talking about other things. Does any one know anything about these symptoms? Thanks for listening.

@moorethrpy IVIG can also be used off label. For example I have lupus and IVIG is used for lupus. It can be used for motor neuropathy which I have. IVIG can be used for peripheral neuropathy the like is below
Severe axonal sensorimotor peripheral polyneuropathy
Small fiber neuropathy
Dysautonomia
Cardiac autonomic neuropathy- electrophysiologist said it Could be used to that.
My neuropathy is autoimmune caused by lupus, Sjogrens, Hashimotos and connective tissues disease.
https://www.foundationforpn.org/treatments/

@monalisa789 IVIG can be used for peripheral neuropathy. I lost the feeling in my hands several years ago. Cutting up carrots looked down blood everywhere. I cut my finger didn’t feel it. My husband told me to wash off the blood and still use them. Had to go to er for stitches. I am now forbidden to use a knife. The neuropathy is also in my heart. It moves to anywhere in your body there is nerves. It messes with your blood pressure and arrhythmias,kidneys and bladder.
The IVIG helps me with the dizziness and balance issues along with other problems.

❤️