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

I use a cane also and plan walking route

I use a cane when i don't have a grocery cart to push. I recently went out on a fun day with my son and his girlfriend and when we got there I realzed I'd forgotten my cane. He went to a resale store down the street and bought one for me.

Hi raebaby this chronic stuff with my back -feet balance is the biggest crisis in my life . Up until 5 years ago I was active, alive, could walk for miles! I swam for 2 hours a day during the warm months--but here in pooler Georgia there are no indoor pools as when I lived in s. Florida. Recently when I turned 70 I am now doing everything I can to be somewhat. active !! How are you coping with all this --I am a semi retired psychologist. Thank god for that!

I’m using a motorized wheelchair when I go out to the store now. But I also have ME/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) in addition to polyneuropathy.
Around the house I’m extra careful walking. No sudden turns, walking slowly, etc. plus I’ve installed grab bars in the bathroom and elsewhere.

Recently I stopped wearing shoes indoors because I’m constantly catching the bottoms in the floor and tripping. Now I wear a double pair of soft socks (my feet are freezing). This has helped a lot with balance.

@scain Thoughtful and wise response and I am grateful for it. I don't believe in miracle cures and agree that it's difficult to separate "aging pains" (my term) from the physical processes associated with PN. I keep blaming myself: "If only you had paid more attention to your blood sugar (but I didn't because it was always under 7 and I thought for my age -74-that was good. In any event, I'm trying today to pay attention to what I have going for and what I CAN do to improve my QoL in the current moment.

@tyronie1117 of course do what you can do and set realistic expectations for yourself. I am sure that you are proactive and try not to dwell on the things that you use to be able to do. It is certainly sad to lose the ability to do what you could do when younger. But there is always someone who is in worse condition.

@frankmoore

Frank, every word you wrote...is exactly the same for me. From the gym and the treadmill, to working in the garden. Standing after sitting, yes, not good as I also have an issue with balance. We are in the same boat my friend. Glad to read your story, it makes me feel I am not alone.

@db72 I was judt recently diagnosed with polyneuropathy, and I had been complaining for several years, to my primary medical provider, and my neurologist about pins and needles sensations, and numbness in feet and hands, but I guess they did not take me seriously! I have a new neurologist, because the other one retired, and the new Dr. used a pin to check all limbs for feeling/numbness deficits! Now, I have to take blood tests to determine causative factors, along with an MRI. I have had a rough time walking, with 4 falls last winter, and 1 fall, so far, this winter! I use a cane. So, I sure can empathize with what you are going through!!

Low B12 is most likely cause of neuropathy. According to Google.

I would spend less time figuring out the cause....and more time figuring out the "fix". Of course it is neuropathy and there is no permanent "fix". I think that you should be using a walker too. I use a walker and a cane. I just switch out which one depending on the situation. First thing in the morning I use a walker. And then depending on how much walking is involved in getting from point A to point B, I use a walker (long distances) or a cane (short distances). I am also currently doing PT for balance. I asked my therapist if there was specific exercises that I could do for pain, pins and needles, restless leg problems and he said "no". He said that doctors treat that with gabapentin. Since I currently take that twice during the day, I assumed that there is nothing more to be done. I think that it sounds like you have spent a lot of time trying to figure out the cause and not enough time figuring out what you should be doing to ie. stop falling, etc. There is no fix. I am sorry that I have to be the one to tell you this but I think that if you ask these questions to your doctor who also seems unwilling to give you this answer and this column, that you will start to accept that diagnosis. Do everything in your power not to fall again. Obviously, every time that you do fall you might be breaking a bone and that will not be helpful so start working on your balance with physical therapy. It does help and at the very least it gives you the understanding of what is involved when you have no feeling in the soles of your feet, etc. I am not trying to be harsh to you but simply allowing you to start understanding what is happening and what you should be doing. Neuropathy cannot be undone but can be helped with first accepting the diagnosis and then doing everything in your power to help this diagnosis.