[zorro1]

Its finally occurred to me that my Pain diminished to the point its a 1-2 when Im letting blood flow to my feet for very long periods.

All three trips away this year to parts of Thailand where I live have led to dramatic improvement in systems due to the fact Im walking all the time all day.
My feet tend to get a bit puffy due to blood flow /fluids?

Could excessive blood flow to my feet lead to Pain Loss? anyone have any thoughts? I spend most of my time in a recliner with my feet UP that leaves me with constant zapping and burning, crawling ants etc etc

[Stacy2012]

This is somewhat the same as the exercise for pn post, do a search here on that, we all discuss how circulation, exercise, etc. helps pn or not for us.

I say yes. Exercise and my chi machine both bring circulation to my feet and help way more than if I baby my feet and do nothing. Yes my feet hurt afterwards but it is brief, and once they cool down they feel better. However, simply standing hurts more than exercise. I would way rather exercise than just stand.

[zorro1]

Stacey, so its good to know that its not just me. I used to love walking long distances in my previous life and walking a long way now doesn't cause much damage and your right the feet are a bit red and raw when the runners come off but like you say they are okay after cooling down

Zoran

[Wide-O]

Zoran, this is the thread Stacey mentions: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread192742.html

Personally, I have some pain when I sit or lie down. I never have pain when I start walking/working around the house.

If you can stand it (pain wise), moving around is the best you can do.

[Electron]

Yes I think it's quite possibly the circulation, and general benefits from exercise. Even when you have to sit or lie down, just keeping your ankles & feet moving will increase circulation there. I have just read in Foods That Fight Pain of foods to eat to increase circulation. I think it's important.
Ron

[Dr. Smith]

My feet (and PN pain) are all over the map with walking; sometimes it helps and sometimes it's the opposite. Either way my spine usually gives out long before my feet do.

Doc

[Idiopathic PN]

I walk 5x a week, except during days when the pain is bad.

Every morning just a few minutes after waking up my feet/legs will start to hurt. But still I walk, and after getting some momentum, the pain becomes tolerable. Generally, I can tolerate walking but not standing. We know that when we shop, we do the "stop (we look at items) and go(we move to other items)". This activity of "stop and go" is sometimes okay and sometimes difficult. Because of its unpredictabilty of the pain, its hard to make plans.

[St George 2013]

Because of balance issues, swollen soles of feet, ankle cramps and pain I walk like I'm extremely old or drunk

My doctor described it as walking 'gingerly'. I hate it......wish I could walk more. Maybe when I titrate up to the 2700 mg of gabapentin I'll be able to walk better (or think I can anyway with as crazy as it makes me to begin with).

Debi from Georgia

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by St George 2013

Because of balance issues, swollen soles of feet, ankle cramps and pain I walk like I'm extremely old or drunk

My first few steps look more like Frankenstein, so that's what we call it—the "Frankenstein Walk". After those first few, things usually begin to loosen up a bit... Good days & bad days...

Doc

[ElaineD]

Originally Posted by zorro1

Its finally occurred to me that my Pain diminished to the point its a 1-2 when Im letting blood flow to my feet for very long periods.

All three trips away this year to parts of Thailand where I live have led to dramatic improvement in systems due to the fact Im walking all the time all day.
My feet tend to get a bit puffy due to blood flow /fluids?

Could excessive blood flow to my feet lead to Pain Loss? anyone have any thoughts? I spend most of my time in a recliner with my feet UP that leaves me with constant zapping and burning, crawling ants etc etc

I wish I COULD exercise, do Tai Chi, walk and stand. But my profound PN makes that impossible. I do exercise in the water and I do the circuit machines at our health club.

But I couldn't even do Tai Chi in the WATER. I lost my balance and got very dizzy. I have some hearing loss, so my balance is very fragile.

We rely upon eyes, ears, and nerve messages from our feet and legs to balance on our feet. With two gone, I have fallen backwards out of the shower onto my back twice when closing my eyes to rinse my hair!

I soon learned to stand with my back to the opening of the shower at the Y!

And now always use the handicapped shower where I can sit to shower and rinse my hair.

I know the exercise is the key to continued health and sanity. So I'm off to the pool right now!'

Oh Cymbalta helps with the pain.
Hugs, Elaine