Definitely understand Marty,

i also have numb feet,legs arms and hands at times. I am 45 and very limited to what i can physicaly do.its awful to me. i hate not being able to walk, run, ski or hike. i am falling more now than i ever have, but my doc. is getting my chronic pain and nerve pain under contro. i am thankful for that.

It started in my left toes 7 years ago progressed in the left foot only for the following 4 years, then I noticed a stiffness in my right toes and now it has progressed in that foot as well. I am very dejected and have thus far received nothing from the medical community as to why this might be occurring!

Hi Serafinogm,
What specific symptoms are you having, what doctors have you seen, and what kind of tests have you had?

Also, What are you doing to relieve your symptoms?

There's unfortunately numerous causes for PN, and many of them are very difficult to find and diagnose - let alone treat them effectively.

I have been fighting the advance of numbness and didn't do any good at the expensive PT clinic. In fact they sent me home because at that time I had muscle wasting going on. I found a spin bike for sale and spent 75$. I use it four or five times a week and listen to music as I scrunch my toes, roll my ankles left to right, front ot back, it helps maintain range of motion for knees and hips also. I have started standing up and pedaling and have increased to 40 before I give out. Have not gained or lost in numbness but feel that I would have lost otherwise. Good Luck, Ken in Texas.

I wear ankle winter boots almost year round for stability when I am out and about, slippers at home to protect my numb feet.

I have limited allodynia, so the enclosed feet don't trouble me until I break the seal at the end of long days and find how I may have walked too much on my toes, though I do feel overall the boots help move me more toward walking further back.

I agree with Ken that pushing yourself to tolerance is key. Do it slowly, keep track.

My arms have been a mess. I work them playing video games of all things. Not too much because it causes its own issues, but I play hockey and it is fun for me. With my daughter I play other kinds of games.

Best of luck finding something that works for you.

Jon

It's important to stay as active as possible.
Easier said than done, I know.

My neuropathies are sensory and motor.

I, too, wear boots -- more often than I like. I used to enjoy stylish boots. I am wearing various styles of hiking boots because they stabilize my ankles, have thick soles and large toe boxes. My feet are more protected. I can also more easily find hiking boots which will accommodate orthotics.

Desensitizing toes/feet is also important. I have found I could change/improve some of the sensations if/when I worked on desensitization daily, or even twice a day. I use different textures of cloths, the green pot scrubbing pads, sometimes soft brushes, in order to change the sensations and to tolerate more touch.

I've been at this for a long time, so I have quite a bit of loss anyway. I feel I would have had much more loss at an earlier date, or more quickly, if I did not keep up with these types of approaches. I could be wrong, of course... yet, I know this had enabled me to do more with my feet at times.

There are times when I feel compression is very helpful. There are times when I cannot tolerate compression. I just try to stay flexible regarding approaches and modify according to today's symptoms.

My PN neurologists have always told me to keep stimulating/encouraging nerve growth via activity and simple stimulation.

It takes commitment to keep pressing forward with activities/strengthening, etc. I have had periods of time when I have gotten discouraged and have not kept up in the ways that were best for me. I usually get back into the routines and find them helpful.

I am currently looking forward to some new insights for strengthening, etc. I hope to meet my new PT soon.

We can only keep trying to do our best.


DejaVu

Yes, mine are more like hiking boots I suppose. I know many on here likely cringe at the thought of being bottled up in them, but I honestly don't think my stability would be as solid without them.

Now if I had the sensitivity issues others had I would capitulate and cave man my way through the world, crocing it up where I had to. Instead I look out of place in July and August in my Vaderish boots.

"What is your bidding my master?"

I often joke with people that it is easy to see how he went to the dark side, nerve pain to his extent certainly driving evil to the forefront.

Anyway, rambling on lunch, as I am likely to do...

Jon

You are a funny guy!
I enjoy your sense of humor!

Yes, I find I need the stability offered by hiking boots.

I have also found I need the varied sensations of walking on carpeted floors, even though it's very painful. Littlepaw wrote a post about this, needing the varied sensory input, and... ouch... I agree. I have been walking more, whenever possible, without so much protection between my feet and the carpeted floors. I cannot tolerate the hard wood floors though.

It's getting too cold here to walk barefoot in the grass. Snow soon.

There's some truth within your joke.

I think I should go turn on some upbeat music and hope for the best.

Glad you are around, Jon. You add a lot to the NT family... and you make me laugh, often.
Thanks so much!