Balance Problems
 

Hi there,
I posted this in the B12 forum but did not get an answer. I have neuropathy in my feet. I can't bend my toes. I don't have the burning that some folks talk about. I noticed a slight limp about 5-6 years ago and thought it was an old accident. It got worse and my neurologist told me it was neuropathy. I went to St. Louis University and they ran all the tests but could not find a cause to the problem. It has gotten a little worse this past year, but I blame that on a cancer deal that I went through. Otherwise I am very healthy, work out a couple times a week on a cross-trainer and will be 58 in a couple months.
My B12 levels were 286 last time they were taken a year ago, so I started taking B12 pills about 6 months ago. My feet used to be numb and tingley. Now I can feel the bottom of my feet again. But, my left foot and calf are very cold. My right foot used to be colder also, but not as much now.
It just sucks that my balance is out of wack. I used to be a carpenter years ago and could walk a 3 1/2" board 15 feet or more off the ground without a thought. Now I have to put my hand out to steady myself like an 90 year old man. Hopefully it will get better.
Thanks all!

Hi there. I have many of the symptoms you describe including one side colder than the other and one leg causing me to limp. Sometimes I have to drag my right leg along the floor. You said that you did not get an answer in the other forum. I'm not quite sure from what you've written what your question is. Could you please clarify this? maybe I'm just being dim!

anyway much of what you describe certainly sounds like neuropathy. I hope you can get some answers here all the best (:

Included in this post is MrsD 3 important things to take for PN. I remember seeing this and found it. Magnesium is important and Omega 3. I take them all.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread233611.html

Years ago I noticed it as a slight limp. Now I just walk flat footed because I can't bend my toes. I guess my question is, any idea why I might have one leg with a foot and calf very cold and the other foot almost normal temp? Like I said I know my B12 levels are low and I am working on them by taking 5000mcg one time a day.
It took a long time for the feet to get this bad so I don't expect any results for a while. It could always be worse is my motto. :)

Here is the link to your longer post in the B 12 sticky thread..
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post1206267-865.html

Replies can be made on your thread here, helps to keep the sticky threads for the basic B12 info.

Usually it is best to take the B12 (methyl type) on empty stomach - most do it first thing in the morning.

Quite often no exact cause can be found for PN. Since you mention the past injury , it could be scar tissue or perhaps it you used crutches & limped back then? the spine might have gotten tweaked out of alignment and now is causing troubles..
I would try to verify that there are no pinched or impinged nerves , that could be part of the problem..

A sensory neuropathy does not prevent bending or
movement of the toes.

Have you been to a good podiatrist?
Have you had neurological testing?
Or a skin biopsy?

Do you smoke?

I am on my phone tonight..so I can only type briefly.

Quite often no exact cause can be found for PN. Since you mention the past injury , it could be scar tissue or perhaps it you used crutches & limped back then? the spine might have gotten tweaked out of alignment and now is causing troubles..
I would try to verify that there are no pinched or impinged nerves , that could be part of the problem..[/QUOTE]

My injury involved a broken right femur and hip at 21 years old in a car accident. I had a plate in my leg with 14 screws in it. It was all taken out after a year when the bone has mended. I was very lucky. I never, ever, had the slightest limp until a few years ago.
I take the B12, methyl plus I just started taking Potassium and Magnessium pills as recommended by Mrs D. So, we will so how that works.
Gene

I see a neurologist for epilepsy, which is controlled. I have never smoked. When I went to Washington University and they ran the wide range of tests, they decided not to do a skin biopsy. They said they didn't think they would find anything useful.
What would the neurological testing entail, and what exactly are you looking for?
A podiatrist, no, I wouldn't know where to look for one. I don't want to sound stupid, but could it be that simple?