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

@loria2 Thank you for sharing. Please tell me.... how was your balance with the exoskeleton?
Had you had balance problems from your neuropathy? Best wishes! Mike

@loria2
Hello Loria2,
Thank you for your sharing: I have neuropathy issues in my lower extremities and as a result I ambulate terribly. I visited a Neurologist friend and he stated because of my age, 79 at the time, now 80, that If I used canes which improve a pain free walking gait, that I would be far better off then any treatments. I made a pair of Oak canes, appropriate for my size, 6 foot, and now at eighty, my wife and I are very able to ride our three wheeled semi recumbent cycles anywhere up to 40 miles per day.
With my canes I can ambulate quite easily and I am pain free. I was curious about this mechanism that you referenced and wanted to know if you could share that information with me at your leisure.
Thanks again for your sharing and best to you.
Respectfully, Jofree

I have neuropathy in both of my feet. The pain is negligible, but the numbness is causing severe balance problems. Has anybody tried red light therapy for neuropathy? I've read several articles that say some people have found this therapy helpful, but it merits more study. I wonder if anybody has tried it and what your opinion is.

I’ve got MS and I have a Boston Scientific nerve stimulator implanted in my lower back. It helps with burning nerve pain in legs.
You might be a candidate for a stimulator that overrides the nerves in your feet - so you can walk w/o balance & numbness problems.

@rollo8
That is me exactly, no pain but major balance problems! So happy to hear that you are so much better and back to walking etc, yay good for you!! It gives me hope that maybe someday I will get back to what I consider my normal. I just gave up driving a few months ago and decided to sell my car after 66 plus years of driving, I hope I don't regret it! But it was just sitting there and I wasn't comfortable driving, still can't step up on a curb or even in the one entrance into my apartment because of the step so I have to use the other door and I use a rollator walker a cane is not enough support for my balance issues. I digressed from a cane to a rollator Walker months ago and just invested in a mobility scooter to be able to get outside more.
I just finished physical therapy a couple of weeks ago and yes for the most part continuing those exercises and they do seem to have helped. Praying the improvement continues.
I wish everybody dealing with any issues all the best on this journey. 🙏

@domiha
Hi! Balance is really quite bad lately. The exoskeleton is helpful for it. My experience has been it allows me to go outside without my cane. I am still careful, but the increased "sturdiness" helps the balance. My left leg is very bad, with foot drop. I set the Hypershell for more power on the left to help it. Neuropathy is awful. I am trying to not end up in a wheelchair and the hypershell helps a lot - I am now wearing it even inside on 'bad days' - when legs are super wonky and weak! Feel free to message. I think using it will enable me to go further, longer, if that makes sense.

I had what they thought was diabetic neuropathy in legs and arms, fingers for 6+ years. Then something caused me to have an MRI of my neck. Come to find out, I need surgery to have my neck stabilized, because my nerves get pinched, depending on how I move my spine. If I don't have surgery, sooner or later, there will be damage to my spinal cord. YOu might want to talk to your doc and see if they will give you an MRI of the neck.
Balance issues are one of the major signs of cervical spine problems.

@jofree

Hi!! Yes, this new-on-the-market device is starting to be a much-needed assistance for my wonky legs. I love my walking sticks and cane - balance is off because my left leg is worse (old nerve compression at L5, not from the neuropathy - they just joined forces, har!), with foot drop. The exoskeleton actually allows me to walk (still carefully) without my cane or walking sticks. The assistance to my legs helps, and the whole system makes me somehow more 'sturdy' and my balance is better. I have stairs in my house and it is quite wonderful for those... There is a Facebook group that shares, answers questions and shows videos using this. It is 'Hypershell disability users' - worth looking at! I got the Pro/ $1200 with extra batteries, although they last a reasonable time on the settings I use. I spent quite a bit of time in the garden this year, and could not have traversed the area so many times without it - carrying tools, plants, etc. Awful disease this neuropathy!