I was just diagnosed with PN. I do water aerobics, strength training, and my physical therapy exercises. I have gotten strong enough to where I can stop my PT.
I have not tried yoga yet, even though we have some balance exercises in both water aerobics and strength training.
In short, I think yoga would probably help. Hope this helps!
Pat
I have had PN for 22 years and swore that exercise helped me to tolerate it. However, almost three years ago I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma and about the same time noticed my balance becoming a problem. I started Tai Chi about four months ago and find this helps my balance.
It is worth a try.
I was just diagnosed with PN. I do water aerobics, strength training, and my physical therapy exercises. I have gotten strong enough to where I can stop my PT.
I have not tried yoga yet, even though we have some balance exercises in both water aerobics and strength training.
In short, I think yoga would probably help. Hope this helps!
Pat
I really think I would prefer Tai Chi I don't know why except it doesn't seem like it would be as strenuous and that it might possibly cover more areas also my balance with my feet having neuropathy and my legner pain also my bad back with degenerative disc and sciatica I know a little bit of martial arts and I can go through some of the movements slowly but I never really learned Tai Chi which I would really like to
I wrote you a long reply based on my T'ai Chi practice for around 50 years, but this was lost someway and I haven't been able to recover it. I will try to remember what I wrote:
To summarize my medical situation:
I developed neuropathy and rheumatoid arthritis from frostbiting my feet too many times with skiing when I was younger. I kept forgetting how far it would be to get back home. I found neuropathic ulcers on my feet are aggravated by rubbing, so I got boots four sizes too large that are not that much wider. I massage my feet every morning with Vaseline intensive care and wear thick, soft ski socks. If the ulcers start bleeding I wash the sores with rubbing alcohol and put on a mild antibiotic cream and band aid only until the bleeding stops. My rheumatoid arthritis is progressing, but the autoimmune system is so unpredictable and erratic, it seems drugs are too risky, as what helps can later make things worse. This seems especially true with
the depression and anxiety that goes along with it. On this website it seems there are as many people trying to get off addictive drugs as people wondering what they should get on.
When I was learning to do T'ai Chi in a remote arctic community in Canada, I didn't have a teacher, there was then only the book with photos and feet position diagrams. This took many years of practice looking at the photos and trying to copy the positions. Later there were tapes and videos, but there is an issue with watching
someone doing T'ai Chi as they move in different directions, as you watch them and move from your own constantly changing angles. Years ago I was able for one time, able to join with a group. I was shy and stood on the edge of the group. This is a big mistake. When you are in a group, go to the center of the group. Then as you go through the movements, there will always be someone different you can watch to see how you should be moving. You can blend with their energy flow, and your body will learn fast.
They use the word "forms" for distinct positions. This is only partially helpful as you don't simply go from form to form. T'ai Chi is a fluid thing with continuous coordination of body movements and smooth breathing. Over time the "forms" are not the object. The goal is fluid, water-like harmony of mind, body, breathing, and motion.
It is good to practice outdoors, preferably on grass or sand. Cement blocks the connection with the earth. This goal is called "rooting". Everything has Qi or energy, of course obvious living things, like trees and plants, but the earth itself has an awesome Qi. You can detect Qi in a waterfall. The goal in T'ai Chi is to get to a point where your body knows how to do it, like touch typing, and you with your mind are in every way open to Qi from all sources. If you lose your balance, lower your center of gravity, bend your knees more and root yourself. Learn to walk with continuous rooting.
It is very good to do T'ai Chi in the morning outdoors when the birds are getting up and wildlife in general is active. They like to watch you, and they are your T'ai Chi best friends. Trees moving in the wind are great teachers to follow in your own way. I remember one time practicing on a flat rock half way up a hill. I looked down in the water below me and saw around two dozen black ducks in the water, all staring up at me. To me interactions like this show you are on the right track. It seems they take you as one of their own and everyone can become unafraid.
Once you get the idea of T'ai Chi, you can go freestyle. Seeing a tree moving with the wind, you can dance with it. You can swim with an otter. You can run with caribou or deer.
It is good though to learn one of the traditional T'ai Chi forms. Your body will learn it and take over, and you can observe different aspects like your breathing, rooting, release of tension, etc. , bringing everything up to the same harmonious level, like with a musical instrument.
It seems helpful to think of your body like a horse and your brain as the rider. I think it is best to use your brain to work on your brain. On this website it seems as many people are trying to get out of addictive drugs as those considering which ones to take. With the "horse and rider", the goal is an equal , balanced and harmonious partnership.. T'ai Chi promotes this very much. The brain can function at a much less hectic pace. T'ai Chi is not a mind game. The rider doesn't demand obedience from the horse. It is all about a cooperative interaction and building each other to their healthiest and happiest level, by lowering unnecessary things to a much less demanding energy level. Sounds contradictory, but it is never boring. Boredom is not healthy.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUICK AND KNOWABLE REPLY. i DID BELONG TO A TAI CHI GROUP A FEW YEARS AGO. I DEVELOPED NEURAPATHY AND LOST A LOT IN BALANCE. I WILL REJOIN THE GROUP. THANKS.
I was just diagnosed with PN. I do water aerobics, strength training, and my physical therapy exercises. I have gotten strong enough to where I can stop my PT.
I have not tried yoga yet, even though we have some balance exercises in both water aerobics and strength training.
In short, I think yoga would probably help. Hope this helps!
Pat
I joined a sofa yoga online only because I cry knowing that I have to put my feet on the floor just to stand. Sofa yoga, I don’t have to stand. I love it.
I joined a sofa yoga online only because I cry knowing that I have to put my feet on the floor just to stand. Sofa yoga, I don’t have to stand. I love it.
T'ai Chi is very effective for balance issues as well as flexibiity and stretching. It's very relaxing as well. There are many exercises on online you can do at home at your own convenience. In my opionion, it is a basic warm-up excecise everyone should do and add other exercises as you choose.
Yes. Just, yes. I see you're planning to rejoin your class and I think that's a great idea! I have 20 years practicing and a handful of years teaching Tai Chi and balance is the number one benefit I hear from both classmates and students. And me! I've faltered in my practice and I can see it in my balance, so, yay! Go back to Tai chi! It will never let you down.
Yes, I do Tai Chi twice a week and am supposed to practice at home. I am sure this is why I have not fallen. Tai Chi forces you to use both sides of the body. It is a challenge to the brain and body and is a continuing journey as the forms get harder and harder. I enjoy taking a Tai Chi class as we are all dealing with idividual aches and pains but still keep laughing. We have a very skilled instructor that explains the chinese history and language which is applied. I encourage everyone to find a class. This should be a prescription from all neurologists who have PN patients.
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I was just diagnosed with PN. I do water aerobics, strength training, and my physical therapy exercises. I have gotten strong enough to where I can stop my PT.
I have not tried yoga yet, even though we have some balance exercises in both water aerobics and strength training.
In short, I think yoga would probably help. Hope this helps!
Pat
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Helpful -
Hug
7 ReactionsI have had PN for 22 years and swore that exercise helped me to tolerate it. However, almost three years ago I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma and about the same time noticed my balance becoming a problem. I started Tai Chi about four months ago and find this helps my balance.
It is worth a try.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
12 ReactionsI really think I would prefer Tai Chi I don't know why except it doesn't seem like it would be as strenuous and that it might possibly cover more areas also my balance with my feet having neuropathy and my legner pain also my bad back with degenerative disc and sciatica I know a little bit of martial arts and I can go through some of the movements slowly but I never really learned Tai Chi which I would really like to
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 ReactionsI wrote you a long reply based on my T'ai Chi practice for around 50 years, but this was lost someway and I haven't been able to recover it. I will try to remember what I wrote:
To summarize my medical situation:
I developed neuropathy and rheumatoid arthritis from frostbiting my feet too many times with skiing when I was younger. I kept forgetting how far it would be to get back home. I found neuropathic ulcers on my feet are aggravated by rubbing, so I got boots four sizes too large that are not that much wider. I massage my feet every morning with Vaseline intensive care and wear thick, soft ski socks. If the ulcers start bleeding I wash the sores with rubbing alcohol and put on a mild antibiotic cream and band aid only until the bleeding stops. My rheumatoid arthritis is progressing, but the autoimmune system is so unpredictable and erratic, it seems drugs are too risky, as what helps can later make things worse. This seems especially true with
the depression and anxiety that goes along with it. On this website it seems there are as many people trying to get off addictive drugs as people wondering what they should get on.
When I was learning to do T'ai Chi in a remote arctic community in Canada, I didn't have a teacher, there was then only the book with photos and feet position diagrams. This took many years of practice looking at the photos and trying to copy the positions. Later there were tapes and videos, but there is an issue with watching
someone doing T'ai Chi as they move in different directions, as you watch them and move from your own constantly changing angles. Years ago I was able for one time, able to join with a group. I was shy and stood on the edge of the group. This is a big mistake. When you are in a group, go to the center of the group. Then as you go through the movements, there will always be someone different you can watch to see how you should be moving. You can blend with their energy flow, and your body will learn fast.
They use the word "forms" for distinct positions. This is only partially helpful as you don't simply go from form to form. T'ai Chi is a fluid thing with continuous coordination of body movements and smooth breathing. Over time the "forms" are not the object. The goal is fluid, water-like harmony of mind, body, breathing, and motion.
It is good to practice outdoors, preferably on grass or sand. Cement blocks the connection with the earth. This goal is called "rooting". Everything has Qi or energy, of course obvious living things, like trees and plants, but the earth itself has an awesome Qi. You can detect Qi in a waterfall. The goal in T'ai Chi is to get to a point where your body knows how to do it, like touch typing, and you with your mind are in every way open to Qi from all sources. If you lose your balance, lower your center of gravity, bend your knees more and root yourself. Learn to walk with continuous rooting.
It is very good to do T'ai Chi in the morning outdoors when the birds are getting up and wildlife in general is active. They like to watch you, and they are your T'ai Chi best friends. Trees moving in the wind are great teachers to follow in your own way. I remember one time practicing on a flat rock half way up a hill. I looked down in the water below me and saw around two dozen black ducks in the water, all staring up at me. To me interactions like this show you are on the right track. It seems they take you as one of their own and everyone can become unafraid.
Once you get the idea of T'ai Chi, you can go freestyle. Seeing a tree moving with the wind, you can dance with it. You can swim with an otter. You can run with caribou or deer.
It is good though to learn one of the traditional T'ai Chi forms. Your body will learn it and take over, and you can observe different aspects like your breathing, rooting, release of tension, etc. , bringing everything up to the same harmonious level, like with a musical instrument.
It seems helpful to think of your body like a horse and your brain as the rider. I think it is best to use your brain to work on your brain. On this website it seems as many people are trying to get out of addictive drugs as those considering which ones to take. With the "horse and rider", the goal is an equal , balanced and harmonious partnership.. T'ai Chi promotes this very much. The brain can function at a much less hectic pace. T'ai Chi is not a mind game. The rider doesn't demand obedience from the horse. It is all about a cooperative interaction and building each other to their healthiest and happiest level, by lowering unnecessary things to a much less demanding energy level. Sounds contradictory, but it is never boring. Boredom is not healthy.
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Helpful -
Hug
24 ReactionsTHANK YOU FOR YOUR QUICK AND KNOWABLE REPLY. i DID BELONG TO A TAI CHI GROUP A FEW YEARS AGO. I DEVELOPED NEURAPATHY AND LOST A LOT IN BALANCE. I WILL REJOIN THE GROUP. THANKS.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 ReactionsI joined a sofa yoga online only because I cry knowing that I have to put my feet on the floor just to stand. Sofa yoga, I don’t have to stand. I love it.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
14 ReactionsGood for you!
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Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsT'ai Chi is very effective for balance issues as well as flexibiity and stretching. It's very relaxing as well. There are many exercises on online you can do at home at your own convenience. In my opionion, it is a basic warm-up excecise everyone should do and add other exercises as you choose.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
10 ReactionsYes. Just, yes. I see you're planning to rejoin your class and I think that's a great idea! I have 20 years practicing and a handful of years teaching Tai Chi and balance is the number one benefit I hear from both classmates and students. And me! I've faltered in my practice and I can see it in my balance, so, yay! Go back to Tai chi! It will never let you down.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsYes, I do Tai Chi twice a week and am supposed to practice at home. I am sure this is why I have not fallen. Tai Chi forces you to use both sides of the body. It is a challenge to the brain and body and is a continuing journey as the forms get harder and harder. I enjoy taking a Tai Chi class as we are all dealing with idividual aches and pains but still keep laughing. We have a very skilled instructor that explains the chinese history and language which is applied. I encourage everyone to find a class. This should be a prescription from all neurologists who have PN patients.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 Reactions