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PN & Confidence: Is there a connection?
I had an interesting phone conversation last evening with a fellow PN sufferer. His name's Frank. Frank and his wife, Elaine, are dancers. Frank has been diagnosed with the same PN that I've got: large-fiber, so no pain, but increasingly bad balance. Frank has had to quit performing; he's teaching instead. As two guys with PN do, we spent a chunk of time talking about the "usual": Have you found a doctor you like? What supplements do you take? Have you found a pair of shoes that help? Etc. Then Frank asked something that surprised me: "Has your PN affected your self-confidence?" My self-confidence? I asked him what he meant. He explained that a dancer's self-confidence, especially in performance, arises from good balance: the better a dancer's balance, the more self-confidence a dancer has. That got me wondering. Has my poor balance affected my self-confidence? Am I less sure of myself when I'm in public or with people, especially strangers. I used to be pretty self-confident, not cocky, just at ease. Am I less at ease now that I'm wobbly moving about –– the way I was earlier yesterday when a friend treated me to lunch at iHop and I had to wobble my way all the way to a back booth in a busy restaurant. I remember feeling not at ease but ILL at ease. This morning, I'm still wondering if my PN has impacted my self-confidence, and if so, to what degree. I'm wondering, too, if any of you have found that your PN has lessened your self-confidence. Under what circumstances? Have you developed techniques for counter-acting it? I'm thinking this might make for an interesting conversation.
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I suppose it has, somewhat undermined my confidence, or at least my self-image which is much the same thing.
One doesn't like to look one's age - at least, I don't, I prefer to be the age I am in my head - so one doesn't like to look infirm.
And I do waver around when I walk, especially if I've been sitting a while.
When descending steps, I tend to hold the rail, never used to.
Years ago, we went to Madeira where there are many walks, some of them by the irrigation channels they call levadas. The paths can be pretty narrow and uneven and sometimes there's an unfenced drop of hundreds of feet.
I wouldn't dare do that now.
Countering? Aside from taking a moment to stretch and steady myself when I first stand up, or get out of the car, and consciously trying to walk straight which of course I used to do automatically, I don't have any techniques.
I just try to console myself with the thought that it doesn't seem to be getting any worse. Yet.
As we Brits say, "mustn't grumble!".
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1 ReactionA bit. I am 74. At the age of 52 I had an experience with verigo which left me with bi- lateral sensory balance disturbances. The little hairs in your ears were 50% destroyed Idiopathic of course😂 They never repair
One of the standard test for impairment- standing in a corner - arms crossed- eyes closed. I lasted about 10 seconds. I guess if falling was a good grade. Inpassed with flying colors. Walking straight lines was a hoot
I was sent to Physical therapy at Emory University and we worked to restore some sense of balance. And to some degree successful. Most people in my life are unaware of this issue. Yep, sometimes I do walk a bit like a impaired sailor but normally do fine.
So roughly 25 years later- I find I am losing touch with the ground because of neuropathy- pre-pro- preception is decreasing as numbness increases.
I have amped up my balance work and challenging myself with more complicated foot work - light aerobics.
I have found myself thinking of what might be to come. I do limit myself to uneven terrain. I find I am becoming more intentional. This year I did make the choice not to zipline with the tree top challenges. I have great upper body strength but not trusting those feet.
I think neuropathy and the issues that come with me has shifted my self perception. I see my self moving slower and more carefully holding a rail. Using hubby’s shoulder when stepping off a curb- more and more. Maybe actually thinking before I leap🙄
I think I see myself as older
And well, I am😳😂😂but I thought I had fairly well learned to work within the perimeters of the handicap. And now i find regression is difficult.
I know that I am in many ways very mobile and I am very thankful.
Hello, v8auto (@v8auto)
Your way of managing your PN dovetails nicely with mine. I have to be especially careful on rising after sitting for even short periods of time. Consequently, I've been dodging occasions in which long-term sitting is unavoidable: air travel, auditorium events, lingering dinner parties, and such. When I've been seated for an even comparatively short time, I'll still stand with deliberation ('talking' to my knees: 'Come on, come on, hold steady now!' 🙂 ), counting to myself from 1-to-30, shifting carefully to face my destination, all before stepping out. I, too, have not descended a staircase without holding the handrail in many a-year. If there isn't a handrail, I'll ordinarily ask myself: 'Do I really need to go down there?' Your Madeira adventure reminds me of our last European trek: Greece, and other locales around the Mediterranean. Do I think today I'd be able to hobble my way up to the top of the Acropolis? I don't thing so. 🙂 I remain reasonably self-confident, just more aware of my limitations.
Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)
Hello, debbieod (@debbieod)
I have to be twice as careful––if not ten times as careful––on uneven ground. Although it wasn't the only reason, the challenge that uneven ground presents is why my partner and I gave up the mountain cabin we'd had and enjoyed for many years. My increasing balance difficulties had made high-country living more of a menace than a pleasure for both of us. I've come to realize that balance work––along with core and leg strengthening––are my best bet if I've a chance of extending the reasonable even-ground mobility I currently possess. I work at such exercises most even day.
I wish you the very best.
Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)