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Neuropathy: Numbness only, no pain

Neuropathy | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (503)

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@stefspad

I'd like to add a little to John's (@johnbishop) reply. I'm also lucky enough to be pain-free, dealing with hereditary polyneuropathy that's getting worse with time. I walk barefoot at home so my toes get some natural exercise -- shoes constrict! When I do wear shoes they're either sandals or flexible "sneakers" with a wide toe box: e.g., Merrell Vapor Gloves or Lem's (lemsshoes.com) -- expensive but last forever. I do lots of other stuff all day, probably have every exercise gizmo known to (wo)man, tho still don't have a home exercise bike like John B. (I live in a retirement community with a fitness center that's been closed since March. Fingers crossed that it will open in a few months.) Speaking of fingers, my hands are getting weaker and more numb, my wrists are prone to tendonitis, so I've started exercising my arms and shoulders too. The idea is to keep moving, even tho it can be exhausting. Best advice from my PT: whenever you think of it -- whether standing, sitting or lying down -- clench your buttocks for five seconds. You can't just think about your feet and hands, you have to consider the source: legs, arms, shoulders, buttocks and spine. And best of luck!

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Replies to "I'd like to add a little to John's (@johnbishop) reply. I'm also lucky enough to be..."

Experience numbness in hands and feet there is pain that may be from the arthritis. Along with the numbmess is the frigid temperature in the hands. Rice bags and Therabead mittens.
Any other suggestions?

Thanks, stefspad, for this suggestion: "Best advice from my PT: whenever you think of it — whether standing, sitting or lying down — clench your buttocks for five seconds. You can't just think about your feet and hands, you have to consider the source: legs, arms, shoulders, buttocks and spine." This makes so much sense to me. Appreciate it too because with hypotension, I learned that if my b.p. suddenly dropped low enough to make me dizzy, clenching my fists tightly until I could sit down helped the blood circulation.