They say exercise can only help, but-
 

It is said that exercise can only help peripheral neuropathy, never worsen the actual disease, or so I have read. But, is anyone aware of any actual evidence to support this beyond "famous neurologist X says it is so" or similar low-quality evidence? For example, are there any peer-reviewed journal articles supporting this commonly repeated advice?

Thank you,
RedRoan

Couldn't resist a quick reply. Exercise is always good, however, with SFN it just seems to make it worse or add additional symptoms. It may be just my case, but the normal numbness, tingling in my hands becomes an additional burning sensation after playing a round of golf or working in the garden. The studies you refer to certainly didn't include me, but they were probably geared toward leg neuropathy where blood circulation is usually a contributor. Exercise in this case would certainly be healthier for the patient. On a side note, I have heard that nerves are not nourished directly through the blood supply, but better blood circulation may increase the exposure of the nerves to the nutrients they need.
Good luck in your continued research.

Also couldn't resist a quick reply.

Exercise definitely seems to make my symptoms worse. I went for a fairly long (for me) run this week. The next day, at work, my usual symptoms (fasciculations in calves) spread to my feet, groin, shoulders, and abdomen--along with a horrible sensation of prickling and tingling all over my lower body.

My neurologist insists that activity cannot make the neuropathy worse, and is overall a good thing. That said, at the very least in the short term, exercise seems to aggravate damaged nerves.

Incidentally, my first ever symptoms (last fall) began when I started a vigorous exercise program. My first symptoms were tingling in my fingertips, which I associated with my new program of weight-lifting.

Moderate exercises is likely a better idea than anything vigorous. Moderate exercise and activity always make me feel better. I don't think anyone with SFN or PN should be doing any vigorous exercise, or at least they should be careful before venturing on the path.

I’ve been wondering the same thing. Every Dr I have talked to has said you can’t do further damage by exercising, but I don’t exactly have much confidence in their knowledge of this condition. I have also read stories from others whose symptoms have gotten considerablely worse and debailtating after pushing through the pain during exercise. Seems like it is not a good idea.

if your feet, ankles, or lower legs are numb you certainly can hurt yourself with vigorous exercize. i have broken my ankles a few times not knowing where and what angle my feet were landing on.

my legs and arms gets very tired and heavy feeling very quickly.

My neuropathy improved tremendously last year with exercise alone,but fell back cause of substance use.I'm slowly getting back to exercising.
Exercising shouldn't have any negative effect on your neuropathy and has been proven to induce small fibre nerve regrowth.
The machine i recommend using is the stepper at a medium pace for more than 30 min,nothing less than 10 min so you can let the blood flow through out your legs properly.This machine is also good for people with balance issues.

Here’s three studies. By my reading, none of them exclude the idea that exercise could increase nerve damage. They do suggest that exercise can improve nerve function, increase nerve healing, and/or reduce the perception of pain. They use both experimental studies in animals, and observational studies in humans (hard to do a double-blind study in people). They note that there are many causes of PN, so YMMV.

Neuroprotective Effects of Exercise Treatments After Injury: The Dual Role of Neurotrophic Factors
Emerging Relationships between Exercise, Sensory Nerves, and Neuropathic Pain
Benefits of exercise intervention in reducing neuropathic pain

My PN pushed me to take swimming lessons and swimming can help me out, when I get to the pool. Hoping you find something that works for you.

Hi,

was watching this thread as thought - hoped! - it would generate lots of follow-up comments/suggestions/ideas but that doesn't seem to be the case

Tried to get to grips with the 3 links provided by nilram but "I am a bear of very little brain & long words bother me!"

Like many others my neuropathy is idiopathic - & no pain, just numbness in feet & lower legs

have never used a 'stepper' but is there anywhere within the forum of how different forms of exercise help/worsen the different types of neuropathy?

on a related subject has anyone tried walking barefoot, walking thro' hot sand or, gulp :eek: firewalking?

none really appeals to me but, like many I guess, would try anything if there was a fair chance of getting some improvement

I think the cause of a persons neuropathy plays a part in the effect that exercise may have. I have idiopathic small fiber neuropathy which makes it scientifically more difficult to determine. I suffer from chronic burning in my legs. Leg workouts usually trigger my symptoms as does deep tissue massage of my lower body and especially my feet. The burning doesn’t usually last longer then a day but it’s enough to discourage from the activity. I think if you are able to do moderate exercise it would be a help for reasons already stated.

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.