Apparatus for Neuropathy

Thanks Helen!

Correction: I have been tested but last EMG/NCS was almost 3 years ago.

@rwinney

I saw a speech therapist a few years ago and had 2 different swallowing tests. I have to chew everything until it's puree, then swallow some and wait for it to clear the upper esophageal sphincter, then wait for it to clear the lower one. It took me 45 seconds to swallow a quarter inch piece of a shortbread cookie. Same for a piece of a french fry. Some things take longer and some seem just to slide on down. I find myself eating less because I get tired of the process, plus the food is cold long before I can eat it. An ENT doctor tested me and said that the movement at the back of my tongue is uncoordinated. So far, weight loss hasn't been a problem, but she warned me not to lose any more weight - I lost 60 pounds 3 years ago and I'm the size I was after college. But if I got sick and lost much weight, I'd be underweight. I'm near the bottom for my height, but I'm happy where I am.

I have an appointment with the urologist in February. I take Oxybutynin, the cheaper version of Myrbetric, and I don't have to go as often as I was, but I don't have much warning. When I feel the urge to urinate, I have 5 minutes at best. I've had to make quick stops when I'm driving, to find a bush. I'm afraid a cop will catch me at it one of these times.

The doctors can't tell me if any of the stuff is nerve related, only that it could be. The definitive answers are few and far between with regards to pn.

I met on Friday with the Abbott rep and he recalibrated my scs. I have 2 settings. The one that I'll usually have on is the Burst technology, which I don't feel. The second one is an adjustable one that I use for a little while at bedtime. It tingles from my thighs to my toes. I wouldn't want to have it set for that all the time, but it has a bit of a massage effect. My feet seem to hurt less after a session.

Life is complicated.

Jim

All I can say Jim ~ Is bless you for all that you endure! I think beneath all of your health issues lies a wild and crazy man who really enjoys the fun of falling into someone's lap at Church or peeing behind a bush. Haha! 😀

Ohhh the things we endure because of our health. If we don't laugh, we might cry.

I hope that you have better luck than I have had with neurologists. I have not had one that has helped me at all. One sold me the The Remedy, ( fancy Vitamins ) $60 a bottle, Amazon had the same thing for $20. I gave up after 4 of them only wanted to prescribe pain pills.

https://applehealthcaregroup.com/peripheral-neuropathy-and-cold-laser-therapy/ You can read this article and see if cold laser therapy is going to work for you. I have been using it and I really think that it is helping me. I do a 6 minute session with my portable cold laser device. I also own my own portable ultrasound device.(abt. 10 minutes with the gel) I bought the cold laser,and the ultrasound from Amazon for under $300. It was more reasonable than the keep paying for visits to the clinics. Just a thought. I was going broke with copays.

Yep, I hear ya.

I forgot to say that my tens unit did not help at all. I had such high hopes but i never got any results to report. I like to use Amazon as opposed to Ebay because if something isn't right, they let you return it if you read the policy for returns before you buy. Ebay usually stands by the seller not the buyer.

Back to your question about apparatus. One thing I have that helps me every night is my blanket lifter. I adapted it to accommodate my big feet. Most of the time it hurts to have a sheet or blanket touching my feet. It's kind of a pain to make the bed, and doesn't look great, but my feet thank me. It comes apart easily for trips, but I don't always think about packing it in the trunk.

In airports there are escalators and speed walking conveyors. Sometimes I take the elevator, but I often opt to take the stairs for a little exercise. My service dog likes elevators, and is really good on the stairs. I was surprised by how quickly she learned to go up and down at my speed.

I hope that the time for a cane or walker or wheelchair is still in the distance. But we're prepared. From thrift stores we've accumulated canes, crutches, walkers and toilet seat raisers. I was at a Lowe's store in Fresno several years ago and found a markdown table of commercial grade grab bars at a 90% discount. My brother is a retired plumber in Fresno, and he was totally amazed at the bargain. I have only used one of them so far, next to the bathtub. I'm thinking it might be wise to put one in my shower. Grab bars are great next to a door where there's a step. Showering is easier since I put in a hand held shower head.

We have a folding step in the pickup because the running board is high. I attached a string to it, to pull it up into the pickup.

A memory foam shower pad is so nice to step out of the shower onto it. Costco has good ones. And I keep flip flops in the shower, both to cushion my feet and to avoid slipping.

The apparatus that I'm using right now is my tablet, and it has warned me that the battery is low. But as a neuropathy aid, it's much easier to write messages with a stylus instead of the tiny letters on my phone. I need to learn how to send messages with my voice.

Enough rambling for tonight.

Jim