Diagnosed with moderate/severe poly neuropathy: sensory motor

Thank you for sharing. I am young & had a bad car accident damaging my cervical spine w/infusion 12 years ago. It also damaged my spine causing the balance, neuropathy in my R foot, broke R hip/pelvis… 2 years ago I fell on my R almost my ankle now I have a metal rod from my knee to my ankle to screw the bone. This is all R side…. A few months later I get Rabdo causing total neuropathy in my L foot & couldn’t walk, touch, swollen, red…. That eventually led to MSRA in my bloodstream from the acute dialysis. Went to my heart ( surgery went well) then a few months later it went to my lower lumbar ( MSRA) obviously this has been a train wreck but my L fot has drastically improved ( almost 2 years) but still very numb, hard to walk on, balance awful, tennis shoes only, drop foot, can’t hold sandals on at all… still taking antibiotics for the MSRA yes almost 2 years later ( new MRI coming up to check progress) ok…. So I say all this to ask…. Those braces in your shoes/calf I just can’t imagine wearing 1 on each leg but obviously that would be more ideal but with your experience using one on my worst foot now ( my R doesn’t affect me like it did but still the weakest & hip & hardware in my knee) would just 1 work enough to give me some relief? Do you experience any back pain before yours? I obviously have it because of the MSRA eating away at the tissue but also from my MVA. I was already off balance & limping ( very little) but I believed my back pain then was just being uneven with my hip/pelvis surgery ( doctor said it was shorter now) so I have 2-3 contributed factors on my back pain. Did the brace relieve any of yours if you had it? Like I said I’m young & this is going to be a long road ahead I’m sure. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also did you get those through your PT? Or DR? I have yet to do PT for this new setback because I just wasn’t mentally able. It destroyed me. Im just now getting to be able to try & be independent ( thank his I have a 17 yr old daughter at home) so I know I have to get in gear to take care of ALL the things physically crippliling my body ability to be real mobile & Any little thing to get me 20 more min on my feet is my goal. Sorry for the over information. 1st time posting & im sure some of this could have went to the spine group maybe.

Thank you for sharing. I am young & had a bad car accident damaging my cervical spine w/infusion 12 years ago. It also damaged my spine causing the balance, neuropathy in my R foot, broke R hip/pelvis… 2 years ago I fell on my R almost my ankle now I have a metal rod from my knee to my ankle to screw the bone. This is all R side…. A few months later I get Rabdo causing total neuropathy in my L foot & couldn’t walk, touch, swollen, red…. That eventually led to MSRA in my bloodstream from the acute dialysis. Went to my heart ( surgery went well) then a few months later it went to my lower lumbar ( MSRA) obviously this has been a train wreck but my L fot has drastically improved ( almost 2 years) but still very numb, hard to walk on, balance awful, tennis shoes only, drop foot, can’t hold sandals on at all… still taking antibiotics for the MSRA yes almost 2 years later ( new MRI coming up to check progress) ok…. So I say all this to ask…. Those braces in your shoes/calf I just can’t imagine wearing 1 on each leg but obviously that would be more ideal but with your experience using one on my worst foot now ( my R doesn’t affect me like it did but still the weakest & hip & hardware in my knee) would just 1 work enough to give me some relief? Do you experience any back pain before yours? I obviously have it because of the MSRA eating away at the tissue but also from my MVA. I was already off balance & limping ( very little) but I believed my back pain then was just being uneven with my hip/pelvis surgery ( doctor said it was shorter now) so I have 2-3 contributed factors on my back pain. Did the brace relieve any of yours if you had it? Like I said I’m young & this is going to be a long road ahead I’m sure. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also did you get those through your PT? Or DR? I have yet to do PT for this new setback because I just wasn’t mentally able. It destroyed me. Im just now getting to be able to try & be independent ( thank his I have a 17 yr old daughter at home) so I know I have to get in gear to take care of ALL the things physically crippliling my body ability to be real mobile & Any little thing to get me 20 more min on my feet is my goal. Sorry for the over information. 1st time posting & im sure some of this could have went to the spine group maybe.

mhuddy4 - The braces are a prescription. I was in PT at the time. My physical therapist felt that the AFO's would be helpful, he contacted my primary for a prescription and I took it to the company that sells them, got fitted and my insurance did pay for the cost. The company I dealt with actually fits patients with prosthetics and orthotics. If you google walk-on flex ottobock, you will see what I am wearing. The back part does flex backwards to a degree. First week or two, wore them a few hours a day. Oh yea, felt a little weird. Each week added an hour. I now wear them from time I get up until I go to bed. I am not in the medical field. I am only providing info on what works for me with my type of neuropathy. You have a lot of issues for sure. But, if you go to or return to PT, I would start with my phys therapist, they will know what is best for you based on your individual issues.
Wish you the best! Ed

I have neuropathy and dropped foot caused from chemo and it is both in my hands and feet. I wear the AFOs but two years later I am still wearing them and using a walker. I can not walk without the walker. My hands are no better either. My neuropathy doctor only wants to increase my meds but I do not want this. I want something that works for me wether it is a shoe or a different natural medicine. I would be thrilled to hear from somebody who shares my issues. I could walk on my own two years ago and now I am handicapped doing my best to take care of a husband who has dementia.

I like your enthusiasm! I pretty much have your condition, though more severe. I may have to give HOKA shoes a try, I’ve read where a few here like them. It’s just hard changing from the shoes that are working so well for my feet, Skechers. The only drawback with Skechers is that I’m only getting 3 months out of a pair. I realize our gaits and issues are all different on how we wear out shoes, but do you mind me asking how much life you tend to get out of your HOKAs?

Welcome @tessie63, So sorry to hear what you are going through with the chemo induced neuropathy and dropped foot. You might want to join the following discussions and learn what other members have shared:
-- Need hope: Neuropathy from chemo: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/needshope/
-- Member Neuropathy Journey Stories: What's Yours?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/member-neuoropathy-journey-stories-whats-yours/

The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy has a list of complementary and integrative therapies that you might want to take a look at to see if anything might help:
-- https://www.foundationforpn.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Complementary-and-Alternative-Treatments-Revised-2020-final.-1.pdf

Have you done any research on your conditions?

Hello, I have CIDP and also have similar problems with my feet and legs. One thing that does help me is physical therapy and exercise. I find if I don't exercise the pain and numbness can be unbearable.
hope things continue to get better.
Kim

At the encouragement of my family always complaining about my ugly toes, I have been getting pedicures and without reservation I recommend this for men and women with PN...treat your feet neat. They love it and so will you.

At the encouragement of my family always complaining about my ugly toes, I have been getting pedicures and without reservation I recommend this for men and women with PN...treat your feet neat. They love it and so will you.