Kneading massage for lower leg and foot neuropathy

@hotfooted, Hi - It sounds like you are doing a little better! I also have SFN and Erythromelagia although the EM pain is not too bad except at night it can interfere with sleep. I have severe SFN mainly, my feet are mainly cold in toes and balls of feet. What type of Exercycle do you use? I have thought about getting one if it doesn’t put to much pressure on the balls of my feet. I can’t really do much right now but I try to swim if I am able. I can usually wear socks all day except sometimes at night my feet can get a little warm and red. What meds do you think has helped you the most if it’s ok to ask. I’m sensitive to meds and take just a low dose Gabapentin and Amitriptyline. I’m glad to hear that you are doing better!!

Hiya what’s an Exercycle and what is Rex?

I have an older ProForm Hybrid Trainer that I really like. It is a combination recumbent bike that's easy on the legs and feet and you can easily switch to standing and use it as an elliptical...plus it's relatively cheap. I try to ride it for 30 minutes every day in the morning.
https://www.proform.com/hybrid-trainers

Wow, John! That looks like a comfortable machine.. We've been trying out different seats on our old Schwinn exercycle.. I really need a "lady" seat, or more likely a "tractor seat".. smile... Your trainer is a far better solution tho.. I sent the link to Fred... Maybe we can upgrade to one of these!

Maybe it's called something else, but I call it an exercycle... a bicycle that doesn't go anywhere.. stationary bike for exercise only..
and not Rex... Rx for prescription... If you use anything similar for exercise, take a look at the one @johnbishop uses.. Looks like a wonderful "exerciser".... I want one!

Thanks, Laura... I've been using Frankincense and Myrrh rubbing oil and it's worked wonders on the red hot burning feet.. Before I started using it I couldn't bear anything touching the ends of my toes, but now they are cold and I'm wearing 2 pairs of cotton socks at once.. When the weather was chillier I was wearing high top wool socks, but the wool started irritating my ankles.. You can see my 20 day analysis of my experience using the oil under Neuropathy discussions, I think.. As for the Exercycle.. it's a stationary bicycle.. Fred, my husband, wore out 2 treadmills before getting the bicycle.. But now, @johnbishop shows a link to the one he uses and I love it.. the seat looks so much more comfortable than the different bicycle seats that we've tried on ours.. that alone sells me on it.. I'll try to post his link for you here, but if I don't figure it out, go take a look at his reference... https://www.proform.com/hybrid-trainers

Massaging my calves makes a big difference in my foot pain.. At first I was afraid it might make it hurt worse, but thank goodness it didn't ... I think it increases the blood circulation.. When my Erythromylalgia is hot and flaring the veins in my calves enlarge and stand out like varicose veins.. I don't massage when that's happening.. but I do spend about a half hour in the massage chair every day and really notice it when I skip a day.. Also, I ride the Exercycle (stationary bicycle) for 1 mile every day and do another mile some afternoons.. I always intend to do it twice each day, but don't always get around to it... shame on me... but I am getting stronger and feeling healthier now.. makes Fred feel better, too.. He encourages me always.. Sweet man...

Hello, @hotfooted - just wanted to let you know I moved your post about massaging and foot pain here where you mentioned a similar topic previously, so all the related information can be read and discussed in the same place.

Does massage from the massage chair, having another person massage your calves or massaging them yourself make a difference in effectiveness?

Your foot pain cause may be different. And it not be issued using massage chair. otherwise massage chair can be help to reduce it. Massaging can increase blood circulation. However I used massage chair for 5 years , and I did not feel any pain also some time I sleep on it just for one hour. My family member 10 so I think I need another but upgraded, I found a list latest massage chair here http://www.chairsadvisor.com/best-massage-chair-under-1000/. I think that there are lot of benefit using a massage chair. But use it carefully not use it for long time.

I have a foot massager that I really like. My husband said it looks like an Iron Man device. It weighs a ton and massages clear up to my knees. It has knead, heat, and vibration functions. These types of devices run about $300 brand new, but I bought mine second hand for $90. It was worth every single cent. It has not reduced the amount of pain I experience but it does feel really good when I use it.