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Living with Neuropathy - Welcome to the group
Neuropathy | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (6026)Comment receiving replies
Good morning ona snowy day in Chicago area.
I am GardenerBob. Having just join the neuropathy group just now l wish to introduce myself. As my name implies I am an active gardener but not ine typical sense. I am a nature gardener striving to bring a nature like environment to an urban yard.
My neurology is genitic and as I age an increasing “limitation” to my outdoor activity. Particularly in balance. I wear braces most days due to foot drop and when walking distances use hiking poles, particularly on uneven surfaces. Have fallen many times with no injury in the garden.
My outlook is positive, have done physical therapy to improve leg strength and balance. This I would encourage all such neuropathy suffers to avail themselves. A good therapist is a valued life partner. Regular exercise for strength and flexibility is important.
As is weigh control with good dietary practices.
Peace and joy to all, GardenBob
Replies to "Good morning ona snowy day in Chicago area. I am GardenerBob. Having just join the neuropathy..."
Hello, Gardener Bob! (@gardnererbob)
I want to welcome you to Connect and to the neuropathy forum. I’m hardly a long-timer. I joined only a little over a year ago, about the time I received my diagnosis. I’m 78 and was diagnosed with idiopathic peripheral neuropathy in the summer of 2022.
Like you, I do all I can to maintain a positive outlook. I like how you call yourself “Gardener Bob”! That alone suggests a man with a super positive attitude. I’ll have to confess, however, that I’m not a gardener. My partner is, though, a high-octane gardener; at 81, she still does phenomenal things with an English garden. She’s spoiled me. She lets me sit in the garden and do little else but admire her skill and hard work. 🙂
A closing note on my neuropathy: I’m fortunate in that I have no pain; only balance and git-around difficulties. I’ve done lots of insurance-covered PT (with so-so success), but today make do with balance and leg strengthening work around the home. I look forward to seeing you around the forum.
(Snowy in Chicago, eh? Flurries on and off here in Denver; darn cold, though.)
Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)
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Hello @stewie4215 and @gardenerbob, I would like to welcome you both to Connect.
@gardenerbob you are so spot on about maintaining a regular exercise program and flexibility being important along with weight control and good nutrition. @stewie4215 you asked what can you do to control the pain. We have a lot of existing discussions that you both might find helpful in the Neuropathy Support Group. Here is a link to the discussion group with a list of all of the discussions: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/neuropathy/.
The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy also has a lot of helpful information here: https://www.foundationforpn.org/living-well/