Living with PN, do you find yourself retreating from life?

There's probably a very basic truth at play here, @quietriver. Much like keeping in motion: the more you keep in motion, the better off you are; just as true for flexibility: the more you flex your moving parts, the better off you are. Example? I'd noticed after I'd finished my most sendentary rehab (post-sepsis) that I was having more difficulty raising and crossing my legs in order to trim nails, pumice rough spots, etc. I'm now making a point of raising and crossing my legs just to restore flexibility, or as much flexibility as may be stored; some may not be recoverable. ––Ray (@ray666)

@ray666 - Quietriver- keep up the good thinking and work ray. at our age it gets harder, but after several years I finny arrived at doing some things I did my whole lif and lost three years ago. So don't let age ole Mother Nature get the best of you and you will come out ahead in the end. that isn't saying you can ever return back to what you were but it makes life better at where you are.
Today I woke up with 2" of snow on the ground and more falling. so today I will be out shoveling snow.

@quietriver
I've always attributed my angled toes to wearing shoes that were too short as a child. Shoes were very expensive and hard to come by during WWII, and money was very tight. Actually, my brother and I didn't wear shoes during the summer excepting going to town or to church, and sometimes not to town. (I remember commenting to my dad about being able to leave foot imprints in the soft asphalt during hot summer days.) And when we did wear shoes in the summer, they were the shoes left over from the previous school year, and very likely too short. New shoes came with the new school year in the fall.

It sounds like you grew up during my time. like you I received two shirts , two jeans, and a new pair of shoes each year. That was my complete wardrobe for school, church or shoppimg. including what was left over fit to wear this year. I went without shoes most of the summer except when hunting working in the hay fields where the stubble hurt the feet and walking long distance on rough terrain. I was the meat winner since I was 8 years old and I hunted every day. folks considered us poor folk. I never felt that way. grown up it was considered boy's crying to be baby or girlish. Boys didn't cry, that also give me a big pain tollerance. Even the night I was in a toboggan accident and I crushed my wrist there wasn't a sound out of me . I told no one about it and wore a long shirt. so my folks wouldn't see the big dip win my wrist. The next day I walked three miles carring 10 gal of fuel oil with that hand for three miles. It was three months before anyone found out about it and I ended up in a hospital where they wanted to amputate my hand. That wasn't an option so the dr Goldner from Duluth Minn did the first bone graft ever done in the world and Hand carved the wrist joint 1n 1944 that still works perfect today. I ate a lot of grass and was always dressed improperly for the weather. Because that is how Indians kept from getting white peoples illness. You would find me skiing at - 20degrees in a swim suit as I adjust my body to the weather change. But I was healthy as a horse and didn't often became real sick unless a Doctor caused it by giving me medicine I was allergic to that caused me to die after getting to the hospital and giving me my first an out of body experience that was wonderfull. I have never heard of angled toes from tight shoes but it is possible, but a lot about compressed foot. I can't blame any of my present day illness to how I grew up as in those years. we all had the same problems, no money, no car, food rationed, what saved my family I had a large garden and my mother canned food for the winter. Our family always stuck together and love and God kept us that way.

Hello, Joan (@joanland). My PT gave Toe Pro TWO thumbs up! The moment I mentioned Toe Pro, I could tell by the expression on his face that he knew exactly what I was talking about. My PT also works in a clinic, and he told that they've several Toe Pros at the clinic to use with patients with "stubborn" toes. When I told my PT I'd order a Toe Pro today, he cautioned that I not use it until he has a chance to show me the proper way to use it. ––Ray (@ray666)

@ray666
Hi Ray, I'm awaiting your report on the ToePro. I looked it up and saw what it looks like. I'm interested in things that, with use, will increase stability. Be sure to post your reaction and that of your PT after you receive it and have a few whirls on it. I'm curious, as I'll bet you are!

Hi, Joan (@joanland). I'll not let you down. 🙂 I promise a full report. I'm hoping by ordering today I'll have my Toe Pro by next Tuesday when I see my PT. He did suggest in the meantime I do heel lifts: stand facing a counter, press down on the counter top with fingertips while going up BRISKLY onto toes (heels as high as possible), then switching and placining fingertips on the underside of the counter while SLOWLY lowering heels (5-10 seconds, the slower the better); 10 reps, 3X daily. ––Ray (@ray666)

@ray666 I'm looking forward to your report. And that's a bunch of heel raises!

Hi, Joan (@joanland). That is a bunch of heel raises. If my feet should "lock" in the up position, I'll have to be careful walking through doorways and driving under overpasses. 🙂 Have a great Wednesday, Joan. Cheers! –Ray (@ray666)

@ray666
Unfortunately, Ray, you can't see my huge smile nor hear my chuckle. Yes, please do watch out for those low hanging overpasses!