NeuroTalk Support Groups - Bean bucket experiment for massage, stimulation, balance, small muscle therapy

Hello,

I am trying an experiment which I thought I'd share.

I was roaming around in foreign neuropathy forums using google translate and I saw in some German neuropathy sufferers were talking about using home made "bean buckets". Of course, later I couldn't find the thread, but I think I got the jist of their idea.

Then, I bought in bulk 16kg of different size dry beans ranging from big broad beans, kidney, chickpeas, mung, lentils, etc and poured them into two buckets. Then I stood holding onto something and marched with each foot in a bucket.

Apparently the idea is that it is a cheap, easy way you can set up yourself to give you a foot massage, stimulate your feet sensation, strengthen the small muscles in your feet and calves, practice your balance to reduce falls.

My conclusions are:

- This seems to fit for mild-moderate neuropathy sufferers. I think it would be too uncomfortable for very painful sufferers.

- This seems to fit for someone like me, a recent chemo induced mild/moderate neuropathy who might still have a shot at the neuropathy slowly recovering.

- It is also still probably good for anyone who's feet aren't too sensitive and they want to keep their feet/ankle muscles strong, tune up their balance skills to avoid falls, massage some healing blood and oxygen into their nerves, and try to keep up the ability to feel different sensations.

- It's also interesting, yet very challenging, to incorporate some balance exercises by trying to stand on one foot, or close your eyes. I have been subject to some big accidents from trips and falls due to dulled sensation, so trying to practice balance keeps me mobile and from debilitating injuries.

- If your feet are not too sensitive, then a mixture of big and small beans seem to work. However, most neuropathy sufferers might want to go soft on their feet and try mostly smaller beans (lentils, mung) and / or rice.

- When I first started using only very small beans the sensation was quite nice and refreshing as they move between all your toes, etc

- I am next going to have a set of two "workout" buckets of the mixed sizes and a set of two "soothing" buckets of nice cool, softer, massaging feeling.

- Don't over do it, start in small doses. There seems to be a balance between stimulating your feet's sensations / strengthening feet muscles and over stimulating / annoying the nerves and setting them off.

- Make it a no-brainer, super easy, routine and fun. It seems to work best if I have the buckets sitting somewhere that is just one braindead part of my daily routine, I do it quickly, closely listening to when my feet tell me to stop, perhaps listen/watch/do something so I don't get bored.

- Over time, use sturdy buckets.

I'm curious what other's think of this. I did a quick search and haven't seen any mention of this type of thing on this forum.

I am particularly interested to hear what other's think might be good or potentially harmful about this practice.

P.S. I should add that I haven't consulted a doctor about this practice .... but then again, it's my experience that people in this forum know more than most of the top doctors I have seen so far.

Natalie