I've just answered your update post!

I bought some Solpas patches and Epsom salts today (to soak my feet, a very Elsie Tanner thing to do LOL). Mrs D recommended both so I'm going to give tham a go.

I will keep badgering the neuro appointment phone line, no harm in trying. You never know they might squeeze me in if they get fed up with me ringing every day. The great thing about the NHS is it's free, the downside is the waiting and the fact that it's a bit of a postcode lottery.

Karen

kazzar i get that heavy feeling in my legs when i try to walk too fast. it was one of the first symptoms besides numbness that told me something was seriously wrong. i was a runner. ran back and forth to work, 6 miles each way, so i was in shape but then my legs started to feel like lead and i had to stop running. my arms also get very tired and heavy very easily when i am doing something with my hands at or above shoulder level. its all just pn symptoms to me.

I am also a runner but have put that on hold for now. I'm worried it will make my foot pain worse afterwards.

I'm planning to go to the gym tomorrow to go on the stepper. It's less impact on the feet and legs. Last time I used it was for half an hour 3 weeks ago. When I came off I had tingling and numbness in one foot for ages afterwards. I don't know if I dare attempt any of the weight machines. I'll get too depressed if it sets off more symptoms.
I've had a relatively normal couple of days recently (due I'm sure to a great deal of physical inactivity), but I don't want to turn into a hermit. (It's my birthday tomorrow so I have to go out!).

I am undiagnosed at the moment, so I should have more of an open mind, but with all the reading I've done about the different types, causes and symptoms of PN, both on this forum and elsewhere, I have too many of the symptoms for it to be anything else.
Meanwhile, I'm taking as much advice as I can from all the supportive members on this forum...

Karen

I would like to make a suggestion re: the gym.

I'd avoid that stepper machine, and do a nice gentle elliptical instead. Steps are the absolute worst thing for foot pain. The stepper will stress your feet big time!

I live in a house on a hill --20 steps to the front door and additional interior second floor stairs. I credit them for my knee pain, and mechanical foot issues.

You can do a nice aerobic workout on the elliptical. Far less impact than on that stepper machine!

Thanks for the advice! I decided to go for a walk instead. I wore running trainers, put some gel pads under the balls of my feet and plenty of ibuprofen gel on my toes. This worked pretty well. Having said that, I have good days and bad with no rhyme or reason really. I'm getting a lot of pins and needles particularly in my legs at night now. I'm still getting periods of weak arms too, mainly after exertion. At least I'm starting to eat more now. This at least has given me a bit more energy recently.