Driving with Numb Feet.

Posted by davidpn @davidpn, Jul 25, 2023

Over the past year the numbness in my feet has increased and at times I find my foot slipping off the brake. I’ve kept my driving to less than 2 miles and this might occur about once per drive.

My license is due for renewal and the medical form filled out three years ago (numbness not as bad) is due to be resubmitted. I can’t lie to doctors and pretend everything is okay but I do have a question.

Can any one recommend a shoe, currently using skechers which has helped with walking, that might help this problem.

Thanks much.

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@thurlibier

I can still have feeling in my feet and would like some advice and comments on anyone who does drive with numbness. Thank yyou

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I have the same my entire right foot is numb sometimes shoes fall off my feet while walking driving.

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@thurlibier

I can still have feeling in my feet and would like some advice and comments on anyone who does drive with numbness. Thank yyou

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Hello @thurlibier. I combined your discussion with another discussion of the same title: "Driving with numb feet" - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/driving-with-numb-feet-f/. You can meet the many members discussing this very topic and how they are coping.

@thurlibier - you mentioned you do still have some feeling in your feet, but are you slowly losing your feeling and concerned about what that will mean for driving if and when that happens?

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@thurlibier

I can still have feeling in my feet and would like some advice and comments on anyone who does drive with numbness. Thank yyou

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@thurlibier, I, too, still have feeling in my feet, but not the same measure of feeling I once had. Although I'm hoping I'll not lose the remaining feeling, I'm realistic enough to know I can't count on that. In preparation for what may come, I'm already driving more cautiously. For example, I now back my vehicle up my driveway so that, as I'm leaving, I'm going forward, which gives me a clearer view of the avenue, both left and right. Stopping in traffic, I'm leaving more distance between my vehicle and the one in front. Also (among several other cautions), as my vehicle is a somewhat high-spirited Jeep, especially on starting up, I'm now letting the engine rev down before I put it in Drive; it's sort of an "Easy, big fella!" moment. That way, as I drive off, both my Jeep and I are reasonably calm. 🙂

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@ray666

@thurlibier, I, too, still have feeling in my feet, but not the same measure of feeling I once had. Although I'm hoping I'll not lose the remaining feeling, I'm realistic enough to know I can't count on that. In preparation for what may come, I'm already driving more cautiously. For example, I now back my vehicle up my driveway so that, as I'm leaving, I'm going forward, which gives me a clearer view of the avenue, both left and right. Stopping in traffic, I'm leaving more distance between my vehicle and the one in front. Also (among several other cautions), as my vehicle is a somewhat high-spirited Jeep, especially on starting up, I'm now letting the engine rev down before I put it in Drive; it's sort of an "Easy, big fella!" moment. That way, as I drive off, both my Jeep and I are reasonably calm. 🙂

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@ray666 My husband says I drive like a little old lady. You probably are like me and have the greatest respect and admiration for them and a lot of drivers now, in realizing they are being extra careful for their own benefit and more importantly, for the benefit and safety of others. I feel a little sorry for those times in my life I might have gotten frustrated behind one of those drivers. We are seeing the world through much different lenses now.

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@dbeshears1

@ray666 My husband says I drive like a little old lady. You probably are like me and have the greatest respect and admiration for them and a lot of drivers now, in realizing they are being extra careful for their own benefit and more importantly, for the benefit and safety of others. I feel a little sorry for those times in my life I might have gotten frustrated behind one of those drivers. We are seeing the world through much different lenses now.

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Thank you, Debbie for your kind words.

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If your numbness hasn't been long term try alpha-lipoic acid. There is research to support it is helpful in diabetic neuropathy to reduce numbness.
I have small fiber peripheral neuropathy and started taking it. Almost all of my foot numbness resolved within 2 weeks. I had about 50% of the bottom of my feet and toes numb when I started taking it. As long as I take it daily, the numbness is pretty well controlled. I take 600 mg daily now.

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@madje

If your numbness hasn't been long term try alpha-lipoic acid. There is research to support it is helpful in diabetic neuropathy to reduce numbness.
I have small fiber peripheral neuropathy and started taking it. Almost all of my foot numbness resolved within 2 weeks. I had about 50% of the bottom of my feet and toes numb when I started taking it. As long as I take it daily, the numbness is pretty well controlled. I take 600 mg daily now.

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Thank you for your suggestion. I will definitely try it.

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@thurlibier

Thank you for your suggestion. I will definitely try it.

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Do you take a specific brand?

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@rkjb1951

Do you take a specific brand?

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Most of the info I have checked references diabetic neuropathy. Thankfully no diabetes here. I tried 1 supplement with vitamins n ALA ,no help with numbness after 30 days. Dont recall how much ALA it had.

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@dbeshears1

@ray666 My husband says I drive like a little old lady. You probably are like me and have the greatest respect and admiration for them and a lot of drivers now, in realizing they are being extra careful for their own benefit and more importantly, for the benefit and safety of others. I feel a little sorry for those times in my life I might have gotten frustrated behind one of those drivers. We are seeing the world through much different lenses now.

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Debbie - if you are driving like a little old lady, I suggest you do not drive in New Jersey. If you don't do 5 mph over the speed limit, you will get hit. All kidding aside, I too have found myself to be more cautious. I have more people passing me and that's OK....by the way, never got a speeding ticket in 58 years of driving.
Stay safe, drive safe and keep looking thru the steering wheel. 😉 And, yes, I agree we do see things a little different.

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