I had written about needing help, calming when I thought I had PN a couple of weeks ago. It looks like it was actually my CHAIR that caused my symptoms. A year of sitting still most of the day, or in bed. I have Chronic Fatigue syndrome. Well, we bought a new recliner for me with electric controls. I can change position a lot. Also, my ottoman was making problems for my feet also. The chair and ottoman were SO nice, but just cut off the nerves and circulation.

My feet are doing great now. I do take Alpha Lipoic Acid also. I massage my legs and feet and make sure I get lot of circulation. Exercising by moving them didn't do as much as rubbing them.

The CFS doctor tested and found no PN so that is good. It is amazing how you can hurt your feet by not giving them enough circulation! I learned my lesson.

I've found that since I've gotten my PN stuff, chair heights, pressure points and all of that makes me a VERY FUSSY person when considering an expensive piece of furniture that I'll likely and do [mostly] LIVE IN!
I do believe The Chair I bought several years ago.. a year after I'd come down with this all? I have now worn out!
Even finding a good chair on-line is a challenge! Be sure to GULP! at the prices to boot? But, ya gotta do what ya gotta do!
You have to both massage AND move 'em? Why? Gotta get that circulation 'circulating'! And, you have to move or become a stultified couch potatoe! Before my last injury? I MADE it a point to get up and out on my own, driving somewhere... each and every day! It's part keeping active, and part-keeping INDEPENDENT!
When Being on ENFORCED couch potatoe time during my last year's injury? I was soo buggy to get moving I wanted to crawl up the walls and cling to the ceiling & hang out like Bill the Cat!
Now you need to talk to your doc and neuro about getting PT and getting FIT to walk? Sitting in a chair isn't FUN. Getting around even slowly and shakily is far, far better! Go and ask and do and try! It's better for you, and I KNOW how hard it is to move when you can't and try to move when you aren't able! You know you must, you simply don't know how to do it! That's what the DOCS are for! ASK THEM Make them do their jobs to help you!
Then, let us know please! We care and have been there in heaps of different ways, some similar others not so? But we can help IF you get the help from the docs.
Keep faith in yourself. You KNOW what you need. Go get it! 's - j

I move, walk, etc. But the rubbing and massaging has really been great. Deep in the muscle, different that just walking, etc.

I have CFS and P.O.T.S. so I cannot walk that far without getting dizzy. I sit a lot. My new chair is wonderful. No pressure on areas like before. My old chair was really nice, but not for sitting so much. You really do wear them out. I agree, my new chair was so expensive, but worth it.

My cfs doctors are excellent, they are definately doing a great job. I am blessed with them and a wonderful family and hubby. I am working with my doctors very hard to get well. Rest is very important for CFS as well as my supplements.

I just wanted to let everyone know just in case they did the same thing I did.

I am sorry, I do understand somewhat how you feel. I have connective tissue disease (arthritis), Fibromyalgia/CFS, SFN and am being worked up for dysautonomia. From what I have read my condition sounds like POTS or autonomic neuropathy. It makes me feel just terrible. I hope you feel better... I know it is not easy.

I just joined a gym that has an arthritis approved pool. I am going to try to exercise and see if it helps me feel better... even though I cannot get off the couch sometimes, I am still going to try. I am getting so skinny and de-conditioned.

Mere

We have a La-z-Boy rocker and a 2 recliner sofa (also La-z-Boy).
I use a steel frame, mesh lumbar support with it and am very comfy.
No issues when I fall asleep for hours in it.

You can see 5 docs and get 5 diagnoses. I agree with Mere. POTS, CFS, Fibro, dysautonomia, Sjogren's and many other 'diagnoses' could be variants of an undiscovered small fiber neuropathy, likely with autonomic and sensory components.

Then the question is, why do SOOOOO many people have small fiber neuropathy? Was it always this common?

Rest may be indicated in CFS, whatever the criteria for that diagnosis is, I don't really know....however, REST, can be a boondoggle in Neuropathy and autoimmune disease. If you get deconditioned, woe to you....it is nothing short of hell to get back into workable shape. PACE is more of the course to follow for PN.

BTW, I have a horrible time with pressure neuropathies of any area...from the feet to the hands to the butt. If it is in a position too long, it goes numb. I would not be surprised if I had HNPP. It is awful. Night time is a nightmare with this issue....so is sitting and working on the computer. I am exhausted from moving continuously to keep from feeling overwhelming discomfort.....what a way to live. UGH. This is why I have all my little 'hobbies'....to keep distracted while I keep moving. No rest for me!

No I don't think it was this common. I've been licensed for 40yrs and rarely did we have PNers, and they were mostly diabetics.

But drugs commonly used today, well, they cause neuropathies.
Even Lasix will. (depletes thiamine).
Fluroquinolones and statins, just about everyone has had these at one time or another!

Also there are alarming reports coming out about air pollution and nano particles:

http://sciencenews.org/view/feature/...tination_brain
I hope this article is open for non-members... It is very disturbing.

Here is another...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18217626

I believe these poisons can act anywhere in the body. Time will show this, I think.
Just Google nanoparticles and pollution for more.

The first one would not open for me (maybe you can copy and paste and still cite the web address?)....but the second one did, and it is darn depressing. When you think of what 'progress' has brought about....I dunno....maybe wonder cures for diseases we brought about??

Seems like we are cr@pping in our own nests.

Well, I am going to watch the Dow drop some more and then go pull weeds...and wince in pain due to my dumb thumbs....anudder one of doz days.

Possible reasons that rates of chronic diseases are increasing:

*Lower quality food. We are eating far less whole foods than our ancestors, that is unprocessed whole grains, vegetables, fruits. To make foods more palatable (creamy, sweet, etc.) and have a longer shelf life, most of the nutrients are removed and what is left is often refined carbohydrate with high glycemic index that raises blood sugar producing an insulin response, contributing to disease. We are missing sufficient quantities of the hundreds (maybe 1000s) of nutrients found in plants. Plus all the bad fats being added. And we love our hamburgers, french fries, ketchup, & Coke.

*Life is more fast paced than before. We want it all and we want it now. This leads to eating more low-quality foods, that is eating out or eating something instant or microwaveable at home. The quick pace also means less relaxation, less time to exercise, less down time. Also leads to less sleep and so less time for our bodies to heal.

*Most Americans are overweight, probably for a variety of reasons, leading to all sorts of problems.

* Toxins in our air, food, & water. Thousands of substances from plastics to metals. Is our world getting more toxic lately? I don't know. Maybe someone has some evidence on this. It's certainly more toxic than it was 1000 years ago.

Notice that we have control over all of these factors. Maybe we should work on changing all this, huh?

My 2c
Electron

yet life expectancy age continues to increase. Im sure the things around us definitely affect our well being but to what extent or what does what i have no idea nor do i think anyone else has a firm handle on this at the present time.