How do you manage neuropathy and loss of balance and walking ability?

> Remember you are only required to give your rank and serial number.
> And not even what invading country you are from which is also your
> privilege. Finally one should never take issue with a raccoon inside a
> dumpster having its breakfast. Have a wonderful half day X 2.
>
> On Sat, Jul 25, 2026 at 11:48 Mayo Clinic Connect < > nf+a3e6cf00+133398995@n1.hubapplication.com> wrote:
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>> ## reply above this line ##
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>> Mayo Clinic Connect
>> @ray666
>>
>> mentioned you in comment on Sat, Jul 25.
>>
>> *Message*
>> I like that, @galliganwirth: The Halfway Rule. Anytime you reach the
>> halfway mark, you have permission to declare completion! I'm going to try
>> that. Next time I'm halfway through a PT session and feeling too tired to
>> go on, I'll just announce, "Well, that's it. I'm done for today." Or
>> halfway through a dental visit, hop out of the chair, and say, "That's
>> enough 'open wide' for me. I'm going home." Or (and this happens to me a
>> lot) you find yourself at a boring dinner party, quietly fold your napkin,
>> stand up, and say, "I'm beat. It's been a long day. I'm turning in."
>> Definitely, @galliganwirth, I'm going to try it: The Halfway Rule. (Have a
>> wonderful day, @galliganwirth! –Ray (@ray666) )
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" … one should never take issue with a raccoon inside a dumpster having its breakfast."

You needn't worry, @galliganwirth. I've had my share of run-ins with raccoons to know better. When I was working in Boulder, the town was rife with them. And that was back in the days when my wobble wasn't quite so wobbly. Now that I PN … well, need I say more? 🙂

Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)

@amota I believe that fear or the thought of fear, is just that. I have Peripheral neuropathy, I'm 80, today I went fishing and walked to the end of the pier - 2340 feet. It wasn't easy, I m sure some people thought i had my shoes full. I thought about falling in (no rails) but stayed away from the edge. When fishing i stood at the edge 8 feet above the water. I asked myself am I afraid to get hurt, embarrassed or what others think, it hard to say but you'll never run if you don't walk. You'll never walk if you don't stand. Sitting in fear must be terrible. Have you tried double walking sticks with elbow and knee protection? Just how badly do you feel the need to get out.

@galliganwirth
"never take issue with a raccon ..." etc is appropo in all phases of life, not just PN. " Tis better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and prove it".

@raebaby Please share with me how you use the Liberty Patch for balance? Where do you place the patch? And HOW does a patch help with your balance? Were these recommended by your doctor? And do they really HELP you to stay balanced when walking?
Thanks and best wishes!
Mike

I'm not deep into the technology. I apply one every 48 hours, though the directions say they only last for 24 hours. The keep me from being so stumbly. I've been using them for at least 3 years. It is subtle, but I wear one most of the time. I'm 85 years old. they help me enough that I will continue to buy them even if the company service is awful.
I tested myself and I can still trot even if I can't run.
They claim they let you try for 30 days, but I wouldn't count on them honoring that. If you buy from Amazon,I bet they would. I've had several other people try them and continue to use them. Amazon is $20 cheaper and doesn't charge a huge amount to ship it like the Super Patch Company does because they are located in Canada.
I apply one to my upper thigh. You want to put it where you w ll not be constantly hitting it while pulling your pants up over it. I take a sharpie and put the date and time I applied it so I know when to change it.
I didn't have a doctor recommend it. I can't remember where I learned about it. They also make socks but I don't like them as well as the patches.

I am not sure if you are willing to use a cane. There are two steps in my answer here ( maybe more) first is is a personal opinion if you are feeling worse after physical therapy, the only ones getting better are the therapists. I understand doctors wanting to refer their patients to them, however most doctors do not personally know how they operate. If you do not use a cane consider it, They have folding canes you can keep it with you in case you feel like you are losing balance. Second, someone who has fallen should in my opinion use a cane just so you don't end up in the hospital and then be forced into a wheelchair. Third, for those who do have a cane I strongly recommend a four-prong cane, it is so reassuring. I actually will hold the cane without using it on a flat surface ( no incline or decline) so I can strengthen my muscles. I do get a few sideways glances , however I feel like while I can if I do that I I won't developr the wobble that tends to come with uneven muscle strength. I had a stroke when I was 39 at about the same time I had my first seizures and then because of Type II diabetes I have gotten the whole Shabang, old age has worn down the advances I made before but I've learned alot. Oh! for those who are still going to a physical therapist, the one thing that my physical therapist showed me before I stopped going was to help me stand up from a seated position without using your hands, it sounds easy it took me about three sessions to do it but it is the one thing I continually do - sometimes it is hard but if you practice is will keep those muscle in shape which one, the everytime for woman going to the bathroom people do not think of it much but when you have to start relying on people that will be the last place you'll want. Oh if Rachel44 ever reads this EKG stress test can be done with medicine. I can't do one and I am going to have one scheduled.