Recently diagnosed with Small Fiber Neuropathy - so many questions

My mistake there , has anyone been advised to stop driving their car due to their numbness and loss of sensation to their feet , or suggested they modify the car to hand controls .

My mistake there , has anyone been advised to stop driving their car due to their numbness and loss of sensation to their feet , or suggested they modify the car to hand controls .

@davelobb12, Thank you for responding to both @422 and me. That is an important question. It is a different kind of pain.....whatever the numbness and tingling create. When you add the cold, then it is quite irritating. The other thing you must do is be very careful that you do not fall. Sometimes I have gone to the grocery store and just walked up and down the aisles, hoping to get my feet to calm down.

There are lidocaine patches you can try or you can get a personal ointment created at a compounding pharmacy. These can work well for a few hours depending on the pain elements your clinician
specifies. Have you tried Voltaren? That topical medication has been around for many, many years. Another option is a cannabis balm. You can get them for chronic pain or acute pain.

May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris

I have neuropathy from spinal issues in my right lower leg, with numbness, tingling, and intermittent pain. The absolute best thing I did to feel I was safe to continue driving was to trade in my 2009 no-frills Nissan Sentra and buy a 2020 used Altima. The newer cars have WONDERFUL safety features: auto-hold (holds the car while at a stoplight so you don’t have to keep pressing the brake), automatic front braking (slows you down if you’re coming on too fast or too close), automatic lane-centering (keeps you in the middle), automatic rear-braking (if you are coming too close to something while backing up). Driving is SO much easier now. I use the auto-hold at every red light and while in the drive-thru at Dunkin Donuts!
Not to shill for Nissan, but they do have a factory hand-braking system that can be installed if it came to that, but like somebody said on this site- it’s a nerve issue much more than a muscle strength issue. I also looked at Subaru Outbacks- they have all the safety features above too.
For safety, I also don’t drive at night and go to stores at times working people are at work and children are in school (10-2:00, never on weekends)

I have neuropathy from spinal issues in my right lower leg, with numbness, tingling, and intermittent pain. The absolute best thing I did to feel I was safe to continue driving was to trade in my 2009 no-frills Nissan Sentra and buy a 2020 used Altima. The newer cars have WONDERFUL safety features: auto-hold (holds the car while at a stoplight so you don’t have to keep pressing the brake), automatic front braking (slows you down if you’re coming on too fast or too close), automatic lane-centering (keeps you in the middle), automatic rear-braking (if you are coming too close to something while backing up). Driving is SO much easier now. I use the auto-hold at every red light and while in the drive-thru at Dunkin Donuts!
Not to shill for Nissan, but they do have a factory hand-braking system that can be installed if it came to that, but like somebody said on this site- it’s a nerve issue much more than a muscle strength issue. I also looked at Subaru Outbacks- they have all the safety features above too.
For safety, I also don’t drive at night and go to stores at times working people are at work and children are in school (10-2:00, never on weekends)

I do wonder if there is numbness in the feet how do you deal with walking? Driving gets you there, but then what? The numbness messes with my balance and proper walking without aid. I still need a person with me.

I think it’s important to do what makes you feel safest and if that’s to have another person along, then best to do that. I would suggest that it’s worth a try to ask your Primary Care Provider to refer you for Physical Therapy. The PT will ask you your goals (maybe to walk without hands-on assist and to be given a Home Exercise Program for strengthening and balance?). The PT will evaluate your gait and offer training/suggestions for being able (if possible and safe) to walk with a recommended assistive device, rather than a human.
I use a straight cane at times (graduated from a rolling walker) to go into a store, I also try to park close to a shopping cart drop-off and snag one to balance myself while heading into the store. I also wait for people unloading their carts into the car trunk and chat 😊Everyone is always glad to hand off their cart. I never go up or down steps that don’t have a railing, try to avoid uneven surfaces (lawns, mulch), am very careful stepping off curbs, never back up/step backwards without something or someone to steady myself. Living with poor balance is a whole way of life, but better to be aware than on the pavement.

Thank you for your reply. I have tried PT and do many of the things you mentioned. The minute I put on shoes and walk on a hard surface I'm in trouble. At home in socks and walking on carpet I can manage quite well. Day to day is different. I do have a cane and a rollator but since I can't properly feel the car pedals I do not drive. SFN is a journey!

Good afternoon @442. Thanks for responding and welcome to Connect. Unfortunately, cold feet is one of my real challenges. I should say freezing feet because sometimes mine are freezing cold with what I call liquid ice. They don’t respond to movement because they are also numb in places……especially on the bottoms. I have them treated twice a week so that I can continue driving. Let’s put out a request from other neuropathy members to see what works for them.
Have you been diagnosed with a form of neuropathy?

Please let @422 and me @artscaping know about any tips you have for keeping your feet warm.

May you have contentment and ease,
Chris