help, I have had two MRI's due to my right foot slipping, but not actually moving. My doctor thought it was a pinched nerve, tests came back negative. My nerologist wants to see me in three weeks-what to do in the meantime besides walking with a cane. this feeling/movement starting in the middle of November. K.

I have neuropathy - I am only 38 years old. I stepped out of the house onto a concrete one step to my garage, twisted my ankle and took a nasty fall. This was Tuesday night. I am still very store. My 5 year old son was so scared - he was saying "Mom, you ok?". I said "I don't know honey, I just need to lay here and figure that out for a few minutes". I got up and felt ok. I hurt my ankle and foot - it swelled only a tiny bit - the back of my leg - the other knee and my arm. I was VERY LUCKY because the door on the Jeep was open that I didn't hit my head on that corner which is very sharp. I DO consider myself lucky this time. I am going to post a regular post on my update too, I havent' posted in a while.

For those having balance problems, I suggest taking at least the initial Tai Chi class . They are usually given in centers in most cities. I took the initial class and it did help my balance considerably. The class I took did not involve any physical exertion, only balance and slow movement.

A few years ago I took a tai chi class and fell and fell...I kept it up until it
was suggested i stop...We do what''t best,and it was best I stop falling
into everyone...Hey Joe 3 weeks ago I was in a fancy restaurant,got
up to walk just a short distance holding on to the table...A friend came
up and whispered in my ear where's your other shoe,what,I walked
right out of it and didn't know it. it was kinda funny..We are all different
a real bad drop foot can really through you off balance.. Sue

you have a good memory...ha....yeah im still doing that... a few days ago i was letting the dogs out in the rain and i was standing in a deep puddle with no shoe on that foot..ha....actually someone was just talking to me about tai chi, i said ill do a class if you agree to catch me when im falling...

I was just revisiting this thread and reading my own posts too and realized, I haven't tripped like that in some time now. I do find myself taking a corner at work too sharp and after the fact, reminding myself that I am being an idiot! When I go from my desk to the insurance desk, I have to walk to the left, around a corner, and then to the left again around another corner, and I realize sometimes that I do it too quickly and I feel myself going off balance and the shocks I receive off the wall is proof of it! I hate those metal strips on corners!

Last week, a patient walked out of her shoe, turned and came back to get it, she looked at me with this sad look. I said, "It happens to me too!", she smiled and walked away. Well, now that I have said it isn't happening to me, it probably will! For now, my feet are having other ailments, it seems to go in stages with mine!

Everyone keep warm--tis cold here on the island--15 this morning!

I think I've posted before about being fitted for inserts to brace my feet. I received them today and they were checked and cut down to fit my shoes. They increase the feeling of not making contact with the floor. They are molded to my foot then a heel is attached that is flat. The primary reason is to stabalize my heel and ankle which is deteriorating due to the osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and neuropathy. I only have one brand of shoes that fit the things. They have a schedule of wearing them in order to get all the muscles in the hip, back and leg area accustomed to them.

The doctor said this is critical to the health of my feet. Has anyone else had this done? And did it help the pain in your hip, back and leg areas?

Billye

I just read about a guy who looks to be older than me, with hereditary neuropathy, and he just finished a marathon with 'action adapted' orthoses, that don't look all that much different than prosthesis for amputees...work on similar principles but lighter, and slightly cheaper. (Think a second mortgage).

I am going to have a talk with doc, before I get another tibial fracture...and I just might try to find out how this guy trains....

Billye

I have molded orthotics. I am on my second pair. the first pair was not very good but I had to make due for 2 years. They are custom molded plastic. I assume yours also have a heel cup or are more L shaped?

Regardless of the orthotic, they take a LONG time to get used to, and every time they change them, it is the same old thing, same weird sensations, same pain. I have had custom molded orthotics since 2002. I like the ones I have now, as far as being used to them, but they are not off loading my tib/fib area anteriorly and I can feel the stress. I feels very much like a stress fracture....which means I suppose I need to deal with it. I am just to tired to complain about another thing.

I have less and less sensation of contact with the floor anyway, but, orthotics may often increase the pain you have, for a while. You will feel really funny and even unstable for a while. I suggest using a walker or cane if it really bothers you. Watch your toes for clearing of thresholds or changes in levels.

If properly done, it should help your entire body alignment considerably. The key is 'properly done'. My first pair back in 2002 was not properly done.

Most insurance co. will pay for custom orthotics every two years.

The braces I pm'd you about are different....and very costly. I was shocked at the cost. Those I am sure they do not replace every two years, I assume those come with pieces that can be altered as the body changes. I am very relieved to see they make those kinds of things. I figured they should, but, didnt know they were out there and did not need all that custom casting.

I always wondered if they could make such good artificial prosthetics, why not do it for the gait impaired neuropathic....Any one with a history of unexplained fractures of weight bearing bones and a diagnosis of neuropathy, as well as inability to feel the limb, should look into those orthotics. Seeing the picture of that man crossing a finish line was inspirational.

They did cast your feet for the orthotic? It sounds like your orthotics are custom, so they must have fitted you.

I have noticed a lot of PTs lately seem a bit, disinvested or something lately...kind of like they know they can't do much of a job with the visits they are allotted by insurers...

I was fortunate that my last OT and PT were pretty good....but, it has been three and a half years on these orthotics and though they keep me from hyperpronating seriously, I can feel they are not working any more. I am going to ask about the ones I PM'd you about, and I am prepared to shell out some money....I do not expect insurance will cover the entire cost, and even the copay would be very, very steep I am sure.

I also have activity splints for my thumbs, which really do help but, once again, are very uncomfortable and limiting, but they stop the severe pain. They are white clunky things and you can't miss em'.

I also have night splints, which are custom molded, plastic, from an inch above my finger going to almost my elbow...they keep my thumb in a certain position relative to my hand and keep my fingers from contracting and my wrist from flexing, which is what happens to me if I dont wear them.

They are heavy and not comfortable, and can only be worn one arm each night, as it causes one to panic if one wakes with both arms substantially strapped into a splint that one can not get out of. Even with one on, it is very hard to get that super velcro off to free the hand...I have learned to do eye drops one handed...but opening a pill bottle requires 2 hands.

Regardless, my arms are often numb, splint or no splint...but the splints do stop the contractures that can occur when muscle spasms pull joints.

Hang in there for a while with them...I know it is like walking with a big flat rock in your shoe....it should get better. But you may have pain in joints quite a distance from the orthotic.

I know they are really hard to get used to....if things do not get better in a few weeks, call them back. Just be careful for a while so you dont lose your balance.

And stick to the usage schedule.

Im not sure how common this is but my insurance, and i believe that medicare has the same rule, will only cover orthotics for diabetic neuropathy and , not PN from any other cause. The result of all of the drug trials and research being limited to those with diabetic PN? One cause deserves treatment and another does not? I dont get the logic.