Hi Laura @david33, You ask questions that I'm sure we have all had on our journey with neuropathy. It can be difficult, painful and something we need to learn more about so that we can figure out a way to live as well as we can with the condition. Here's something I found that talks to your concern about eating and the pain.

"Neuropathy worse after eating -- Your nerves need the right balance of nutrients to function properly, and they are also vulnerable to toxins. So what you eat and drink, as well as how your body absorbs the nutrients from what you consume, can contribute to or exacerbate neuropathy, or peripheral nerve damage.May 24, 2018" excerpt from -- How Diet Can Play a Role in Neuropathy Prevention and Management: https://www.everydayhealth.com/neuropathy/diet-understanding-connection/

Here are some other discussions on Connect about neuropathy & exercise.
-- Neuropathy & Exercise: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/neuropathy-exercise/
-- Peripheral Neuropathy - Stretching and Exercise: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/peripheral-neuropathy-stretching-and-exercise/

You might also want to check out the Member Neuropathy Journey Stories: What's Yours? discussion to learn what others have found helpful and if you feel comfortable use the guidelines in the discussion description to share your own neuropathy story -- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/member-neuoropathy-journey-stories-whats-yours/