Driving making neuropathy of the feet worse

Posted by wilcy @wilcy, Jul 7, 2019

Why does driving make neuropathy of feet worse? Have spinal stenosis!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

@lisalucier

@artscaping may also have some comments on your question about why driving may cause neuropathy to hurt worse.

@wilcy - will you share more about what you have experienced with driving? Do you feel as though the pressure, angle or motion of your foot with driving is causing symptoms?

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Both feet burn, go numb and toes cramp! Better if put car on cruise and put feet flat on floorboard! Anyone else experience this?

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@jenniferhunter

@wilcy My thoughts are the physical position while driving and lack of opportunity to change position might be causing the cramping. There can be other issues too like dehydration, etc. I know from personal experience that my pelvis can go out of alignment and when I have overly tight muscles in front of my hips, it causes problems, and nerve entrapment can happen around the pelvis with muscle that is too tight. Myofascial release and physical therapy can help if it is a physical issue. Here are some links and our discussion on Myofascial Release. I do MFR and it helps me a lot.

https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
https://trainingandrehabilitation.com/identify-treat-lumbar-plexus-compression-syndrome-lpcs/
https://trainingandrehabilitation.com/causes-hip-pain-how-to-fix/

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Tks

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I concur! Sorry to resurrect an old convo but this is what happens when I'm up at 1 in the morning because of pain.

Driving has been challenging me for months....going going, gone.

Neuropathy has given me such pain and discomfort in my right toe and foot and both legs that I am no longer able to drive comfortably or safely. It exacerbates the pain. Walking, sitting, you name it, is difficult just the same. I have driven with my left foot in order to get home and realized that this just isn't working anymore.

Can I tell you how frustrated I am to lose my independence. My Mother, Father, Aunt and Uncle all in their 70's cart my 49 year old butt around for appointments, infusions, groceries, etc... I should be doing this for them!

Not as I planned my life that's for sure which is why I will continue to persevere and keep holding my Drs accountable to help me until there is no more help to give or find. And I continue to listen and learn from you folks who bring experience to the table.

Thanks for being here.
Rachel

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@rwinney @jeffrapp

Driving is no longer the pleasure that it always has been. I also have small fiber idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, with burning pain in my feet. I hit cruise every chance I get, even just to go a few blocks. On extended trips, I've had a pillow or a piece of egg crate in front of the seat to rest my feet on. Even so, I always have to change position of my feet. After setting them in one position for more than a minute or two, they start hurting more.

I remember driving home from college - from Missouri to California - in my '64 Valiant, I found that propping my umbrella between the steering wheel and the accelerator made the car go 60 mph on the level. My custom cruise control. I would stretch out my legs on the seat to be comfortable.

Cars have changed a lot since the 70's. Even my big F250 diesel pickup has cruise. And the semi's our son drives has it. I had one of those water circulating air conditioners that mounted on the passenger side window. Too cool!

A few years ago we went on a five week road trip to visit our daughter, then in New Hampshire, and our son in Indianapolis. It took some careful planning so I wouldn't run out of the two controlled substance meds that I take. It's a nightmare trying to fill a prescription out of state, and every state is different. It was great to see our kids and grandkids, but it was a high price to pay in terms of neuropathy pain.

Driving any distance, I have to stop at most of the rest areas to give my feet a break, and put lidocaine cream on them. That's a short term solution, but it does help. I tried Capzasin but all it did was burn, adding insult to injury.

Another thing that helps is to drive my '94 Cadillac instead of whatever small car we have at the moment. There's more room to move my feet, searching for a comfortable position. My wife doesn't like the Cadillac, so I don't get to drive it as much as I would like. But we do what we can to make the best of it.

Jim

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@jimhd

@rwinney @jeffrapp

Driving is no longer the pleasure that it always has been. I also have small fiber idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, with burning pain in my feet. I hit cruise every chance I get, even just to go a few blocks. On extended trips, I've had a pillow or a piece of egg crate in front of the seat to rest my feet on. Even so, I always have to change position of my feet. After setting them in one position for more than a minute or two, they start hurting more.

I remember driving home from college - from Missouri to California - in my '64 Valiant, I found that propping my umbrella between the steering wheel and the accelerator made the car go 60 mph on the level. My custom cruise control. I would stretch out my legs on the seat to be comfortable.

Cars have changed a lot since the 70's. Even my big F250 diesel pickup has cruise. And the semi's our son drives has it. I had one of those water circulating air conditioners that mounted on the passenger side window. Too cool!

A few years ago we went on a five week road trip to visit our daughter, then in New Hampshire, and our son in Indianapolis. It took some careful planning so I wouldn't run out of the two controlled substance meds that I take. It's a nightmare trying to fill a prescription out of state, and every state is different. It was great to see our kids and grandkids, but it was a high price to pay in terms of neuropathy pain.

Driving any distance, I have to stop at most of the rest areas to give my feet a break, and put lidocaine cream on them. That's a short term solution, but it does help. I tried Capzasin but all it did was burn, adding insult to injury.

Another thing that helps is to drive my '94 Cadillac instead of whatever small car we have at the moment. There's more room to move my feet, searching for a comfortable position. My wife doesn't like the Cadillac, so I don't get to drive it as much as I would like. But we do what we can to make the best of it.

Jim

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Hi Jim
Your driving experience is almost exactly like mine.
About 6 months ago we bought a new car that has a form of cruise control that maintains a set distance from the car in front of you. It works amazingly well, especially on freeways, and allows me to keep my feet off the peddles more.
Since shoes and socks cause burning, I have even been known to drive barefoot (don't tell anyone), and control the peddles with my toes, in order to minimize the amount of contact with the peddles.
I have tried lidocaine cream, but I don't find that it helps much. I think it doesn't penetrate skin very well.
I am in the process of experimenting with different combinations using DMSO, which does penetrate. I'm hoping the DMSO will carry the lidocaine (or other substances like ketamine, phenytoin, etc.) with it.
I'll post results when I have them.
Meanwhile, good luck!
I wonder if anyone else has tried Ugg boots, which have a shearling lining. They seem to help some. I have even constructed shearling insoles for my various shoes, including flip flops. Lastly, I find that Crocs help some, probably because they are so roomy.

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@jeffrapp

Hi Jim
Your driving experience is almost exactly like mine.
About 6 months ago we bought a new car that has a form of cruise control that maintains a set distance from the car in front of you. It works amazingly well, especially on freeways, and allows me to keep my feet off the peddles more.
Since shoes and socks cause burning, I have even been known to drive barefoot (don't tell anyone), and control the peddles with my toes, in order to minimize the amount of contact with the peddles.
I have tried lidocaine cream, but I don't find that it helps much. I think it doesn't penetrate skin very well.
I am in the process of experimenting with different combinations using DMSO, which does penetrate. I'm hoping the DMSO will carry the lidocaine (or other substances like ketamine, phenytoin, etc.) with it.
I'll post results when I have them.
Meanwhile, good luck!
I wonder if anyone else has tried Ugg boots, which have a shearling lining. They seem to help some. I have even constructed shearling insoles for my various shoes, including flip flops. Lastly, I find that Crocs help some, probably because they are so roomy.

Jump to this post

Gentlemen

I've enjoyed the car stories despite the cause of these stories and your pain. I'm sorry.

I just drove 5 miles to test whether my break from lidocaine infusions this week made a difference and boy oh boy did they ever! It was unbearable and a miserable amount of pain in my feet and legs. Cold, numb, cramping, aching, burning pain. After 3 months on infusions, I knew my progression was worsening but not until this week did I get the full effect. My point being that I'm not able to wear sneakers . Today they were just slipped on without tying and I can't do it. I actually had just thought of winter and using my daughters Ugg boots. Not sure about my son's wedding next year.

Thanks for sharing your info.
Rachel

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@jeffrapp

Hi Jim
Your driving experience is almost exactly like mine.
About 6 months ago we bought a new car that has a form of cruise control that maintains a set distance from the car in front of you. It works amazingly well, especially on freeways, and allows me to keep my feet off the peddles more.
Since shoes and socks cause burning, I have even been known to drive barefoot (don't tell anyone), and control the peddles with my toes, in order to minimize the amount of contact with the peddles.
I have tried lidocaine cream, but I don't find that it helps much. I think it doesn't penetrate skin very well.
I am in the process of experimenting with different combinations using DMSO, which does penetrate. I'm hoping the DMSO will carry the lidocaine (or other substances like ketamine, phenytoin, etc.) with it.
I'll post results when I have them.
Meanwhile, good luck!
I wonder if anyone else has tried Ugg boots, which have a shearling lining. They seem to help some. I have even constructed shearling insoles for my various shoes, including flip flops. Lastly, I find that Crocs help some, probably because they are so roomy.

Jump to this post

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I have seen those crocs, but haven't ordered them yet. I bought another similar pair that didn't work. I think it's because I bought my regular size, but the fur lining made them too tight. I might try buying them one size larger.
Has anybody had any experience with this?

REPLY
@rwinney

Gentlemen

I've enjoyed the car stories despite the cause of these stories and your pain. I'm sorry.

I just drove 5 miles to test whether my break from lidocaine infusions this week made a difference and boy oh boy did they ever! It was unbearable and a miserable amount of pain in my feet and legs. Cold, numb, cramping, aching, burning pain. After 3 months on infusions, I knew my progression was worsening but not until this week did I get the full effect. My point being that I'm not able to wear sneakers . Today they were just slipped on without tying and I can't do it. I actually had just thought of winter and using my daughters Ugg boots. Not sure about my son's wedding next year.

Thanks for sharing your info.
Rachel

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I have diabetic necropsy in legs and feet. I am taking 900mg of Gabapentin AM< NONON, PM. It helps a little. I hurt so bad I want to scream. I am not getting any help. It hurts to walk and stand. I am still working today.... I hope I can continue tp work.

I am trying CBD cream on legs and feet. it helps... ideas any help please

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Hi John,
Still trying to get a handle on cause, progression and end stage of SFN. Do you think anyone would be willing to set up a survey that members on this site and/or the Facebook site with 8000+ members would be willing/able to develop. It would be helpful to many of us, and, who knows, maybe to medical researchers, family medical background, injuries, medications prior to onset, amalgam fillings, epidurals, vaccinations fairly recent to the onset, illnesses, age, weight, diet, exercise routine etc. to see if there are commonalities we share.

Popular right now is the Medical Medium who recommends juicing celery as a cure for many chronic diseases including many neurological conditions. Has anyone mentioned this?

Just desperate along with the rest of you. I'm doing the celery juicing and the Bishop group protocol but still deteriorating.

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