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Neuropathy: Numbness only, no pain
Neuropathy | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (508)Comment receiving replies
I have numbness in my feet and calves, but never pain with my neuropathy, and that's a blessing. Originally started with just the toes and part of my feet, but it has progressed up to the top of my knees now after 25 years. Nothing I have taken has caused nerve sensation to return even though medical literature says non-spinal canal nerves can frequently regenerate. I took no treatment or meds for probably 20 years, then took Gabapentin for 5-6 years, and now I'm on Pregabalin 50mg for about 1 year because Gabapentin made me sleepy. Of course, I have a balance issue while walking or standing due to the lack of sensation in my feet. I'm 79 years old, walk 3 miles everyday, and find that walking at a fast pace greatly improves my balance (only during the walk). I'm interested in finding something that will improve the numbness so as to avoid accidental, undetected injury to my feet and legs.
Ray
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Follow-up comment --
No improvement in my PN, but still no pain, thankfully. My new issue is that I developed a sudden instance of footdrop in my left foot while walking about a month ago. I fell, but caught myself on a fence alongside the trail I was walking on before I could hit the ground. However, progressive OA in my hips and knees has caused considerable difficulty in walking the speed I am used to. So much so that the new left foot side footdrop suddenly 'grabbed me' and caused me to fall again, this time with no fence alongside. I did a knee/hand plant on the concrete trail, leaving considerable skin and other tissue on it instead of on my body where it rightfully belonged... I had done home PT to resolve the footdrop in my right foot enough that I no longer had to fear falling while walking. I've improved my left-foot footdrop through some home PT, but I'm concerned that the footdrop in both feet may be related to my PN. The result of all this is that, while still walking everyday, I have slowed my walking pace down by about 20%, which gives me more time to recover from catching my toes if footdrop recurs while walking. None of my PN has improved, possibly moving even further up around my knees. My doctor recommended MRI's of my cervical spine and sacrolumbar spine a couple of months ago, but my insurance company declined to approve them even though I've previously been diagnosed with moderate/severe stenosis of C2/C3 and L2/L3. Currently gathering justification from my doctor to reschd the MRI's. Even with the MRI's, I don't anticipate significant improvement in my PN. I'm still able to drive by feeling the pressure in my foot. Worst change is that when arising from a sitting position, I have considerable imbalance and fear that I'll fall before I can gain a sense of balance, and I have pitched forward into a nearby chair once while getting up - very disturbing. I hope everyone can find some relief to their PN and are able to convey how they improved to those of us on this forum.
Ray