Exercise does make me feel better in many ways. However, with my PN the soles of my feet sometimes burn for several hours. Also, the numbness creeping up above my knees on outer thighs becomes more pronounced.

haha, well, RedRoan was asking for studies, so that's what I wanted to provide, along with my own experience with swimming.

Unfortunately, mine is the kind of idiopathic neuropathy that is painful. I've found basically four kinds of exercise that help me without increasing pain: swimming, stationary bicycle (one that I can use my hands on part of the time), yoga, and stretching. I can gain some fitness without increasing my pain levels with those activities. A friend who instructs in therapeutic yoga says that "triangle pose" is most helpful, and it does seem to help.

I've looked at a dozen pages just now, and I don't see any good instructions on triangle pose. I don't do as much yoga as I might, because there can be a fair amount of standing. But if pain isn't a problem, I'd really, really recommend taking yoga classes. There are various styles (and any particular teacher may be more or less helpful to you), so I'd recommend trying multiple classes. If your neuropathy shows up as numbness, the advantage is that it's a controlled environment with less opportunity for stumbling over things.

I saw a physical therapist once who remarked that stretching doesn't just stretch tendons and muscles, it also stretches nerves and that can stimulate them. Maybe that's why I find triangle pose helps--it's basically stretching both legs and arms.

I used to be a runner and I wish I could tolerate even a 1 mile run or the much longer ones I used to do. The idea of using a step machine just boggles my mind--no way! My limit is about a mile of gentle walking before I'm in more pain than I want to handle.

A doctor I saw suggested that any kind of fitness would be helpful--even if it didn't help my neuropathy in particular, it would help me feel better overall. I haven't followed that idea consistently enough yet, but it sounds true enough. Idiopathic neuropathy is so individual, and so unstudied, we each have to find what may help and what doesn't harm. Good luck.

Hiking or Tennis do not aggravate my PN at all. I did stop running a couple of years ago but it is due to the cartilage in my knee taking a permanent vacation.

Hi, I am new here. I also suffer from SFN (non length dependent) with extreme pain in my hands, fingers starting from my wrists (especially in this region the pain is sometimes unbearable)

Before the illness, I was usually running ten km every day. When my health issues started I tried to continue it until last year. I tried to run at least 5km a day. Additionally I was always working out in the gym, which I also tried to continue as good as I could.

After I was hospitalized last year after a (botched) lumbal puncture, resulting into a sinus venous thrombosis, I stopped running. I tried it after that couple times, but my pain in my hands worsened every time (I think the movement of the arms did it!). Nowadays even using my phone or typing result in increased pain. So I changed to cardio on my stationary bike, which frankly sucks.

As for working out in the gym: you can imagine with pain in my hands, it's almost impossible. I try to be extra careful, use extremely ridiculous low weights, but still the pain intensifies.:(
As for my gait problems and my pain sensations in my face, after worrking out (usually the day after) it gets worse too - although not immediately like with the hands.




To summarize: I love working out but it is getting more and more difficult and aggrevates my pain significantly..

Hi, I'm new too. I have idiopathic, axonial polyneuropathy, with weakness as my main problem. I think that exercise makes my pn worse. I definitely get more crampiness and twitching after exercise, as well as worsening weakness later....Still trying to figure out something that works for me...very frustrating!

Same with me :(
 

Exercise in the area where I suffer from SFN (legs) always makes my burning worse. I can do upper body exercises without a problem.

sport helped me
 

Sometimes, more importantly than reading articles - you should check out what works for you and makes your situation better.
Study takes years. From initial one, to then many others followed, until it becomes excepted among doctors and academy.
I personally, don't have that time. I know it doesn't rlly answer your question, but it is a matter of perspective.
For me sport worsen the pain when I don't listen to myself and don't do it gradually.
I think this is what it is about. After receiving treatment, my health got worse and sport allowed me to come back to normal function.