Anyone here dealing with peripheral neuropathy?

Posted by rabbit10 @rabbit10, Apr 9, 2016

Anyone here dealing with peripheral neuropathy?

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

@artscaping

Good evening @stefspad......thanks for your information about that cute little Rollator. I will check that out as a second piece of balance hardware.
Chris

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Hello, Chris, @stefspad, @shamrock5jeg, and all. I have a couple of thoughts to share....

The rolling cane can be dangerous and get away from you fairly easily if you have a balance problem. I don't think I'd feel safe with that type of cane. I've never tried a 3 wheeled walker, rollater. I have a 4 wheeler and love it. I don't recommend, personally, a walker you pick up at all. It can be tricky....I go back and forth a lot re conditioning and actually find picking up a walker is cumbersome, painful for my back/shoulders/hands/wrists...everything almost.

The rollater w/4 wheels is fantastic for me. Easy to manipulate. Locks for safety. Rolls easily. turns well. I have a couple, with seats and baskets under the seats and bags on the back. convenient little buggers, they are.

The hurrycane doesn't stand well, so the standing feature may be a pain. Not as advertised. I don't find it important, as it will hang on your arm or on a doorknob or desk or whatever. That's not an important feature. I do like the folding aspect, as there are times it's good to have a cane if you need it. For example, it will fit in the walker basket, so when I want to leave the walker and need the cane for balance or support, it's available. Do be aware it has closed by itself on occasion if I lean on it a certain way, to the side. That's not good. Just be aware you need to use it straight up.

It's also good to keep a 2nd cane in the car so you always have one available, if you get in w/o it or leave it in the store or church or whatever. I started keeping one in the car, folded up in the pocket with a folded umbrella. Just in case. It's wonderful on uneven ground or driveway or sidewalk. But, also be aware of the feet....I stubbled because I didn't have the cane far enough away from my feet and it can trip you. You need to practice a bit and just keep it in front and to the side. I don't have the same issue with regular canes.

That's it. Love the purple myself.
enjoy with blessing and good health
elizabeth

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@artscaping

Good evening, thank you so much for your post. How many canes did you get out of 450 trees? Was that an orchard? Wow! How wonderful that your relationship has blossomed.....sort of like ours.....we met on E-Harmony and have been together 8 years.
May you be healthy and whole.
Chris

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@artscaping. No orchard just a lot of trees. Were there when we bought the land almost 30 yrs ago. I'm a retired advertising photographer and graphic designer and was bored after retiring. Found a branch that I thought looked neat and decided I could make a nice walking stick. Neighbor liked it, wanted one and for a friend and I guess I got carried away. Luckily I kept a couple, ended up needing one myself. Still have trees, land, and log home that is too big but can't seem to leave. My wife wanted lots of land, lots of trees, and a log home when we retired. We made it happen and she enjoyed it for a lot of years before the brain cancer took her away. Everything went downhill after that. Anyhow, long story shortened!

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@ess77

Please let us see your cane, @shamrock5jeg, @artscaping, @becsbecsbuddy, @stefspad and everyone....

I've been using a cane for balance assistance for more than 15 years. It was the first step in recognizing my balance and changing body issues and a big step in learning this new life. I wasn't a happy person, but it helped so much and saved me from falls. It's funny, but it also was kind of nice...folks got nicer, opened doors for me most of the time, stepped aside to let me go first in or out the door, or walking on the sidewalk folks were more observant and helpful. I saw positive changes in a lot of people and kindness that became more common.

And, Chris, that's when I first made the decision if this is going to be my life, dog-gone-it, it's going to be a good part of my life. I simply decided to make this an extention of my personality, to match my outfit or the occasion. My cane is with me always. I never go out of the house without it or I may end up on the ground on my nose. It has happened several times, even on my deck or patio. A cane goes with me now. It only takes one fall, one tiny trip or stumble.....

I have the same attitude now about the walker. I've mentioned my new hot pink walker with the black and white zebra seat and bag to hold things below the seat and on the back......bottles of water, phone, protein bars or nuts or banana or something for energy/sugar to keep me ok. I use it for paperwork when I go to the bank or to the doctor or Mayo. My keys - which I lost last Monday when I took Uber to Mayo for my endoscopy procedure. Please add a prayer for them to find me! Sunglasses, drinks, wallet or whatever you need. I still take a purse, but don't have to. For me now, the walker is certainly the easiest for carrying things.

Ck online, youtube probably has a good video with measuring directions. I sold canes in my shop in my last lifetime, and had a little hand saw we used to cut off the bottom, put on a rubber tip after we measured the cane with the person standing straight, arms to the side. The top of the cane, where the handle is, should hit at the break in the wrist. We have wrinkles there now! You should try several different heights of canes, stand straight and tall as you normally stand and walk, not at attention. Measure the height and cut the bottom to be perfect for you, The handle is of utmost importance, especially with arthritis and weaker hands, wrists and fingers that don't want to or can't grab/hold. There are some wonderfully comfortable handles. All really logical.

A good USA company I used to buy from for my shop is the Harvey Cane Company, in business since 1999? in Washington State, family owned. They will custom make, repair, repair antique sticks, use good hardwoods. I also got 'walking sticks' from the UK, the best in my opinion, but more costly. Since we have Harvey, I have several of them.....be careful to get a cane that is designed for your body-heavy, tall, short, slight....But, have fun with it. I've used a Hurrycane also, and liked it because of the added stability I needed at that time.

OK, now I've given you too much information. All you really need is to look online and find something well made from a good hardwood by a reputable company. Function and quality are first, then fun or elegant. Get several. One for shopping, one for walking, uneven ground w/added stability. Different colors, different occasions, fancy, simple...Enjoy your new steps with blessings, elizabeth

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@ess77. Poor old cane is ready for rehab! Getting ready to repaint the head and redo the feathers. It was getting beat up just like me. Thinking about carving more of them if I can start feeling and walking better. Shingles are driving me crazy and my forehead is on fire from the fluorouracil I am using. What a collection of canes you must have. You sure have good advice on making them. Sounds like you should be putting photos of yours on this forum. Anyhow, just drove in from Tampa, think it's time for a break and some chow. Worn out. Thanks to everyone for so much support.

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@artscaping

Good evening @stefspad......thanks for your information about that cute little Rollator. I will check that out as a second piece of balance hardware.
Chris

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And I should mention how light it is, easy to pick up and stow in my car.

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@shamrock5jeg

@artscaping. No orchard just a lot of trees. Were there when we bought the land almost 30 yrs ago. I'm a retired advertising photographer and graphic designer and was bored after retiring. Found a branch that I thought looked neat and decided I could make a nice walking stick. Neighbor liked it, wanted one and for a friend and I guess I got carried away. Luckily I kept a couple, ended up needing one myself. Still have trees, land, and log home that is too big but can't seem to leave. My wife wanted lots of land, lots of trees, and a log home when we retired. We made it happen and she enjoyed it for a lot of years before the brain cancer took her away. Everything went downhill after that. Anyhow, long story shortened!

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Good afternoon @shamrock5jeg, thanks for posting your nice neighborly story. I lived in a mountain village (6,000 ft) for 25 years. That item, the walking stick was in many of the shops and galleries. I, too should have kept one. I just bought a fold-up one for flying to see the grandchildren next month. We'll see how it works on the beach.

How wonderful that you were able to ensure that your wife retired to paradise. Our neighbors next door have a log home. We are on the river with acreage because my life partner has turned it into a 7-acre park that we call Adam's Landing. And he was an artist before retiring, I was in marketing and graphics for 30 or so years. Now I am a mentor and extremely happy to have this opportunity.

I am sad about your downhill fall after your wife's passing. Do you have great memories to visit? My life partner's wife was killed in an automobile accident 12 years ago. He found me or I found him and we are joining hands and sharing experiences even though we know they can't all be joyful.

May you have comfort and ease.
Chris

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Such talent in two people. Two fantastic careers. Good thing you all don't live close by, I would probably drive you crazy with questions and wanting to hear all about your careers. I became interested in photography in high school and have never changed my career. Love art, music, photography, video, graphic design and anything artistic. Your place sounds great. I'm on 10 acres on one of the highest "mountains" in Florida. About 200' above sea level! Hey, so it's a big hill, in Florida any Hill is a mountain.

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@artscaping

Good afternoon @shamrock5jeg, thanks for posting your nice neighborly story. I lived in a mountain village (6,000 ft) for 25 years. That item, the walking stick was in many of the shops and galleries. I, too should have kept one. I just bought a fold-up one for flying to see the grandchildren next month. We'll see how it works on the beach.

How wonderful that you were able to ensure that your wife retired to paradise. Our neighbors next door have a log home. We are on the river with acreage because my life partner has turned it into a 7-acre park that we call Adam's Landing. And he was an artist before retiring, I was in marketing and graphics for 30 or so years. Now I am a mentor and extremely happy to have this opportunity.

I am sad about your downhill fall after your wife's passing. Do you have great memories to visit? My life partner's wife was killed in an automobile accident 12 years ago. He found me or I found him and we are joining hands and sharing experiences even though we know they can't all be joyful.

May you have comfort and ease.
Chris

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Hello, Chris. I love that you found a life partner at this time in your life. I was quite shocked when my life partner was in a car accident and died about 12 years ago! I have not thought about someone in the near present or future, but now, you are making me think a bit out of the box I must be in.....how did the two of you meet? Were you from the same area....know each other? Give me some pointers, although with so many health issues, it makes no sense any man would want to be in my world. But. as we're finding almost daily, life has many twists and turns and we must be ready to walk the path as it presents itself, right? That's true for the changes in health and illnesses, I'm finding in the growing to be better changes in health of all kinds.....so, here you go. You, my dear friend, have awakened a tiny bit of my brain to the joys of something new. I don't want to spend the rest of whatever years I have alone, as I am, so I think I have just put that part of my life in my Lord's hands as well as the other parts. Interesting.....God is so wonderful, how He uses us to open up avenues in other's lives. You just did....bless you.
elizabeth

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@shamrock5jeg

Such talent in two people. Two fantastic careers. Good thing you all don't live close by, I would probably drive you crazy with questions and wanting to hear all about your careers. I became interested in photography in high school and have never changed my career. Love art, music, photography, video, graphic design and anything artistic. Your place sounds great. I'm on 10 acres on one of the highest "mountains" in Florida. About 200' above sea level! Hey, so it's a big hill, in Florida any Hill is a mountain.

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Hey, shamrock, it's a mountain! Anything above sea level here in our beautiful state is a mountain.....you should have seen how much trouble I had breathing in the Rockies! NC mountains/hills is fine, but Rockies and I had some issues. Loved them, but couldn't walk!
I love the thought of a log cabin....been watching on the discovery channel, I think, about homesteaders in Alaska building their home from the land. Fascinating and lovely. Part of me would have loved to do that, as I have this lvoe affair with Nature....but, my life went in other directions.
Glad you enjoyed your visit with your friend. That's a good thing.
Blessings. elizabeth

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@ess77

Hey, shamrock, it's a mountain! Anything above sea level here in our beautiful state is a mountain.....you should have seen how much trouble I had breathing in the Rockies! NC mountains/hills is fine, but Rockies and I had some issues. Loved them, but couldn't walk!
I love the thought of a log cabin....been watching on the discovery channel, I think, about homesteaders in Alaska building their home from the land. Fascinating and lovely. Part of me would have loved to do that, as I have this lvoe affair with Nature....but, my life went in other directions.
Glad you enjoyed your visit with your friend. That's a good thing.
Blessings. elizabeth

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@shamrock5jeg
@ess77
Hey kids,
I’m sure getting a kick out of what you two consider to be a mountain. Sounds like you live on top a big dirt clod to me, lol.
The U.S. Geological Survey doesn’t differentiate between a hill or montain but some say a hill is under 1,000 feet while others say a hill is under 2,000 feet. Both are hills to me.
Thanks for the laughs!!!
Jake

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@jakedduck1

@shamrock5jeg
@ess77
Hey kids,
I’m sure getting a kick out of what you two consider to be a mountain. Sounds like you live on top a big dirt clod to me, lol.
The U.S. Geological Survey doesn’t differentiate between a hill or montain but some say a hill is under 1,000 feet while others say a hill is under 2,000 feet. Both are hills to me.
Thanks for the laughs!!!
Jake

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Jake, you're showing your prejudice now, my buddy. I define a hill as any incline, as in a driveway or sidewalk or ant living quarters; In a Floridians life, a mountain is a large hill, as in more than 10-20 feet above sea level. That's perfectly logical. I generally don't have problems breathing when walking up a mountain in Florida. tho lately I've had problems breathing sitting in my recliner in my bedroom!

Breathing at sea level is quite good for you, the sea air is healthy, full of moisture that can make it tough to breath although it's very good for you as well. I love walking on the beach; The sand is so exfoliating, is pretty hard on the feet when you have arthritis. and is very tiring for your leg muscles, in fact all your musccles. But, you know, those hils you're used to out west, make walking very challenging.....ok, enough. Just know we love our sea, sand and tropical paradise, but often run to the mountains of the east for summer relief. Had a place in Blowing Rock in another lifetime that was marvelous.....oh, well. life is good here and now....blessings, elizageth

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