1. < Neuropathy

Neuropathy in lower legs causing difficulty standing

Posted by helpwanted132 @helpwanted132, Mar 12, 2023

I have neuropathy in my lower legs and feet. Aside from the lack of sensation or numbness, my biggest problem is that I lose my balance while trying to stand still. I don't fall but I need to take small steps back or forward to balance myself, which is really abnormal especially if I'm in a public place.

I think the problem is that my calf muscles are so tiny now. My lower legs and feet are colder than the rest of my body. I'm not a doctor but it seems to me that the coldness indicates there is poor circulation to my lower extremities and this caused or contributed to nerve and muscle deterioration in my lower legs and the inability to build muscle now. My thighs, on the other hand, have gotten bigger and more muscular. The balance problem has gotten worse during the pandemic to the point where standing on two feet is now a problem while prior to the pandemic it wasn't even though I still had numbness.

I'm trying to strengthen my calves but I'm making very little progress. I seem to just be strengthening my thighs. If I take a walk my lower leg muscles feel stiff for a few days. Can anyone suggest a way to strengthen or enlarge my calf muscles?

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

davelobb12 | @davelobb12 | Mar 25, 2023
In reply to @schuelle "Drop foot has a variety of causes and different ways to approach those casues. The common..." + (show)
@schuelle

Drop foot has a variety of causes and different ways to approach those casues. The common symtom seems to be not lifting toes as you walk even though your brain thinks they are being lifted. Pain with drop foot seems to vary from really bad to little or none. Keeping your balance while standing is part of it. In my case, I attribute my lack of much pain is taking collagen on a daily basis. With drop foot support is needed to keep the toes up. I have braces inside each shoe to keep the toes up. I wear shoes with a soft sole and support in the sole and use a cane inside to help when I stumble and walking sticks on uneven ground outside. An ankle sleeve with an attachment to the middle or front of the shoe probably would work and be much cheaper.
I am trying to get my toe and akle muscles to react better to my brain again. I have tried acupuncture, shock wave (softwave) treatments, redlight/infrared (Rebuilder sleeves and LZR Ultrabright) treatments. Currently going through Sanexas treatments and PT treatments using a Tens/NMES with exercises.
1.5 years of treating dropfoot (I will be 74 later this year) has improved my drop foot to where I can use my right foot to controll both the brake and gas when I drive - used left foot to brake early on. My walking speed (with walking sticks) has speeded up to where I can keep up with people walking at normal walking speeds. It is not getting worse and the improvements are very slow in coming.

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Thanks for replying. Nothing but good news with PN. It dosn't seem like the Medical establishment care much about this insidious condition.

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1 reply
as143 | @as143 | Mar 26, 2023

If you haven’t already you might want to be evaluated for circulation issues aside from neuropathy.
Physical therapy is very helpful for gait and balance issues and strengthening muscles. If not PT, there are many videos on You Tube.

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NJ Ed | @njed | Mar 28, 2023

@as143 - How true about PT - I've been in PT for about 3 months - about 1 - 2 times a week and it has helped. Anyone with balance issues due to PN, give it a try. When not avail to attend PT, I do exercises at home. .Good therapist will do evaluation and determine best exercises where weakness exist. Main issue I have is with Medicare...pay only a certain amount per calendar year which makes zero sense. Some weeks, I go only once a week to stretch it out to Dec.

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1 reply
bcool123 | @bcool123 | Mar 29, 2023

Per PT suggestion, I sit on straight chair with feet flat on floor. Hold a 5lb weight on each knee and do 5-10 heel lifts. I can really feel it in my calves. No marathons yet but I’m working on it! Wishing you a warm wonderful spring,
Bcool123

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1 reply
cher27 | @cher27 | Mar 30, 2023
In reply to @davelobb12 "Thanks for replying. Nothing but good news with PN. It dosn't seem like the Medical establishment..." + (show)
@davelobb12

Thanks for replying. Nothing but good news with PN. It dosn't seem like the Medical establishment care much about this insidious condition.

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I purchased a "StrongTek Portable Slant Board" on Amazon. There are a number of similar products available & many have free returns if you are a Prime member. You might want to check it out. "Insidious" is how I describe this condition too but hard to explain to people who don't have it. I'm currently back to a cycle of foot cramps wrecking my sleep every night. No sleep = worse cramps & burning pain. It's exhausing. Good luck.

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srm2009 | @srm2009 | Mar 31, 2023
In reply to @bcool123 "Per PT suggestion, I sit on straight chair with feet flat on floor. Hold a 5lb..." + (show)
@bcool123

Per PT suggestion, I sit on straight chair with feet flat on floor. Hold a 5lb weight on each knee and do 5-10 heel lifts. I can really feel it in my calves. No marathons yet but I’m working on it! Wishing you a warm wonderful spring,
Bcool123

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Good tip. Standing toe raises while facing a corner wall area can help, too.

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harley22 | @harley22 | Mar 5 10:36am
In reply to @lecowing "I have the exact same symptoms resulting from numbness in my feet and lower legs but..." + (show)
@lecowing

I have the exact same symptoms resulting from numbness in my feet and lower legs but my hands are also numb. I have just learned to live with it by being very careful not to fall.

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I have same symptoms except besides both of my legs and feet being numb, only my right hand is numb.
I try to do what I can with my left hand,but it’s not easy at times.

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harley22 | @harley22 | Mar 5 10:39am
In reply to @njed "@as143 - How true about PT - I've been in PT for about 3 months -..." + (show)
@njed

@as143 - How true about PT - I've been in PT for about 3 months - about 1 - 2 times a week and it has helped. Anyone with balance issues due to PN, give it a try. When not avail to attend PT, I do exercises at home. .Good therapist will do evaluation and determine best exercises where weakness exist. Main issue I have is with Medicare...pay only a certain amount per calendar year which makes zero sense. Some weeks, I go only once a week to stretch it out to Dec.

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Found PT a waste of time for me.
I don’t need to learn how to walk backwards, jump inboxes on floor,etc.
I need regular exercises that I can function on a daily basis with.

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