Neuropathy & Exercise

@pfbacon Sounds good let me know how hard to peddle My knees are giving me some trouble but think it might be good for me

@user_che214927, Barry, you look fit and well at age 89 yrs young. Let us know how the adult trike bike works out for you. Looks like fun and would be great for a trip to a nearby store. Hope you and all of our Aussie friends are staying well and healthy.

It is a great fun, family and workhorse. Peddling is really great exercise for your knee9, as it builds up your calves and quads (thighs) and glutes ( bum muscles) , thus providing great support for ankles , knees and hips, and there are no jolting actions. . Try initially peddling 5 to 10 minutes in low gear. It is also very beneficial, for your breathing (cardio) and your brain. ride only on your sidewalks and bike paths initialy, and, with time, the world is virtually at your feet. Also great for picnics, shopping, or accompanying kids to school.

One of the best decisions you will ever make. Good luck and enjoy you new healthy habi and freedom.

@user_che214927 Hi Barry you certainly look fit for your age

Lioness, Is the land in your area rather flat? The Sussex Peninsula where I live, is very flat. The trike didn't hurt my knees but I
only did a short ride around the neighborhood. I'll try it again, a longer ride to the store, then back with a heavy payload. It doesn't have gears so I wouldn't be able to do hills. Peggy

My wife has a lot of trouble being able to exercise, given her 3 main issues that zap her energy, neuropathy in her feet, migraine headaches and severe tinnitus. And if she were to do a regular workout routine her fibromyalgia kicks in and makes her very stiff (we used to say "like an old person" back in the nineties but now we are old so it's silly to say that). So one thing she does do to keep her body moving is to stand on a vibration machine. It might sound like a silly concept but you'd be surprised how effective it is. I included a photo of it. She says that by just standing on it it forces your body to compensate for its movement thus causing your muscles to firm up and it also improves your circulation. And even if you just sit on it you get a workout! It comes with different positions you can put your body in to work different parts of your body. I an including a snap of it. You can find it on Amazon and perhaps Walmart has it, not sure. It's gotten pricier since we got ours in May '19. On Amazon it is called

Confidence Fitness Slim Full Body Vibration Platform Fitness Machine

I can tell you, we've had exercise bikes and rowing machines, etc. etc. and this thing actually gets used even after a year of owning it, whereas everything else just catches dust. My wife swears by it. Best, Hank

They all have gears. There is also an electric trike that you can swith to if you are fatigued or facing steep hill.

@pfbacon Hi Peggy Yes out land here is almost flat I can't do the one hill but just the flat area Thanks for replying Linda

Thanks for the suggestions. I use an elliptical at the Y when I exercise indoors that I really like. The motion feels like it works the range of motion of my hips and knees, and also hardly anyone uses it. I've always liked that machine, but now our Y has over half the machines blocked off for social distancing the bikes are usually always full.

I thought about a trike, and looked at them online, but it isn't really what I want. I think I'd rather work on my balance so that I can try and use what I already have instead of spending more money on something I end up never using. Like the indoor cycling trainer, the weight machine, the indoor bike, etc, etc. I've found that I'm not a fan of exercising at home - too easy to be distracted by things I usually don't care about like "what is the dog barking at?" I may decide to hang up cycling and walk instead. Then I can take the dogs, and we can enjoy outside time together!

I've looked at some neuroplasticity websites and found some things that really spoke to me: meditation, stress reduction, reading, learning new things, and postitive relationships. I've been furloughed since March because of COVID and have really enjoyed the easy pace and the time to cook healthy meals for myself and walk, and I get two hours more sleep a day. I've gone down a pants size as a result. I've taken online courses and am now learning how to use Excel. I have to go back to work in two weeks and I am not looking forward to it. I can already feel my pace changing in anticipation. This may be the straw that breaks the camel's back and gets me into retirement.

I've really tried hard to do the sudoku and computer games, but haven't found a way to enjoy them. I get bored, and go grab a book instead!

I appreciate all the ideas and suggestions - it has been great food for thought and just what I'm looking for! Maybe what I'm really realizing is that the ultimate solution to my problem is to stop working and just enjoy life as it presents itself every day!