Neuropathy after TKR: I'm 68 and fearful of future

Thank you John for your words. I have thought about going to a podiatrist . I think my fear is not being taken seriously. So I just keep moving (more slowly than I'd like) and not let it get me down 😊 It is just nice to hear from someone with a similar situation!

I find some help against "cement foot" if I wear compression socks when I am active. But, I also need extra squish in the shoes or soles to reduce pressure of the ground. I like men's socks when I'm walking a lot. I do have orthotics, but finding that it is important for shoes to have some squish as well. You are right to keep active!

most of you I see on here can walk and still be some what active. I have been in a wheel chair 7 months now. Post op neuropathy. PT with home health has made very little progress. I go Back to the doctor tomorrow, I dont even know what questions to ask !

Don't give up! Keep doing as much as you can. Medications may be helpful, but I would not trust anyone who thinks that is the only solution. Try lots of new things. So sorry you have to face this, you are not alone!

Hi everyone! I just joined. My first post disappeared before I was ready to post. I will rewrite it. I have the nerve disease CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome type 2). This immediately started from misplaced steroid injection March 2007. The year before I had just recovered from Chronic Pain from a horseback riding accident. I have tried about everything for help. Two Spinal Cord Stimulators. The trials worked well, but permanent ones failed. Neurosurgeon will not remove the battery that is compressing nerves on my spine where I fractured back at T-11 and T-12 in riding accident. He wants to put a new SCS in. This makes no sense. Research shows SCS are not for CRPS and many other types of Neuropathy. They may work for hours or years. What does all of the electrical stimulation do to your nerves? Destroy or cause more injury? Now I am using Positivity, Mindfulness, Retraining the Brain in connection to nerves, Physical Therapy including water therapy help. Also Bio-feedback and guided imagery to help with sleep. Sometimes self-hypnosis helps with relaxation techniques. There are several positivity groups for Neuropathy. Avoid groups full of negativity. They may cause more stress than any of us need. Staying in the present moment opens an entire new world. This is difficult for me to get there for a few seconds. I have seen a different world with this. CRPS is now causing trouble with heartbeat and blood pressure. Cardio doctor had nerve heard of this disease. I have read it is now the most painful disease known to man. A 42 out of 50 on the McGuill pain scale. I hope to get to know everyone
. Hoping everyone's day goes well. Your friend, Doreem

Look up questions to ask the doctor. Take them with you. Get answers. Many doctor's avoid the questions. Stay assertive.

I am 82 and have suffered with Motor Neuropathy for a number of years. My legs and feet are numb and freezing cold, and my hands are now also becoming numb, which means I constantly drop things. I do get that awful burning itching soreness, particularly in my feet at night, which makes sleeping very difficult. I have tried various remedies, but the Specialist I saw seemed to think that I now just have to live with this. My worst problem is lack of balance, especially on uneven ground. I have already had a broken pelvis through a bad fall, and am constantly wobbling like a drunk! Most embarrassing. My salvation is my electric scooter, on which I can go for miles and walk my dog at the same time, as trying to walk at all now is extremely exhausting. I do relate to everyone on here, it is such a miserable illness, and we seem to hear little about it - apart from on here. I now try hard to 'switch off' from thinking about things, I realise I have achieved a very good age, and I am grateful for that. Difficult though things are - it is still better than the alternative!

Please don’t give up; I spent 6 months in a wheelchair when I got my sudden onset of idiopathic PN at age 51. Today I drive - my brain finally learned how to help me balance again, restore confidence in where my feet were positioned, and walk with walker or cane, or waddle about short distances on my own. I have no advice on what questions to ask doctor though, as I feel I have asked them all over my 5-6 years with this, and my answers have always been “we don’t know”, (hence idiopathic). A couple university medical center doctors said to just sit and wait and see what happens (did I mention 5-6 years?) What DID happen was physical therapy; in rehab nursing home first, then in my home, then outpatient. Yes, it was hard getting around without my support system, but today I am grateful for where I am and am having fewer pity parties for myself. It may be different when neuropathy is caused by post-op, we’re all different on here, but I’m praying you stick it out with PT and are able to enjoy some freedom out of that wheelchair very soon! And keep communicating here on Connect, I have learned more on here from experienced people than I have from my doctors since neuropathy is so befuddling.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU SOO MUCH
just what I needed to hear, That's what my pt folks tell me. I was pretty down until I read your comment.

Greetings to you @drorvick. What a strong and aggressive (in a good way) patient you are. I applaud you for reaching out to learn and practice non-traditional methods like Mindfulness. It is my chosen way of coping with the pain and discomfort of SFN (small fiber neuropathy). My only medication for pain is medical cannabis. In addition, I use Duloxetin to keep the lid on my anxiety. I will keep this welcome short and just simply say.......positivity creates possibilities. You will find the best direction for you and we on Connect will do everything we can to help you along the way.

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