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The neuropathy in my feet isn't caused by anything relating to my j-pouch. The problem is I keep falling while causing huge thuds, bouncing off of my nightstand, bed, toilet and etc.during the wee hours of the morning when nature calls me to the restroom.  It's not more than 15 feet from the bed.  While I sleep my feet and legs fall into a deeper sleep. When I'm half awake, making my way to and from my glorious bidet, I'm having regular accidental falls. I wrote about one a while back where I fell asleep while sitting on the throne and I fell off with my forehead meeting the tiled floor before the rest of me.(I now know how thugs can hit people with their foreheads. My head didn't hurt as much as my knees did and they hit a split second after my head did.

 

Last night he rushed in again as I fell hard on to the floor - at least the bedroom has carpeting. While I'm fully awake I fall too. 3-4 weeks ago I missed the last step coming down to the main floor and my body slammed on the tiled floor.  That resulted in a bad sprained ankle, that made sounds like it was breaking, and bruises down my side. I fell stepping up a concrete curb in December. I again made contact between my head and concrete sidewalk.  That one hurt as it wasn't such an equalized hit. I broke my fall with my hands while trying to keep my head from hitting.  These falls happen quickly and in looking back I see everything in slow motion. My body parts automatically try to soften the blows. I've had around a half dozen "accidents" the last 3 months.  My husband sleeps in another room because of my multiple restroom trips and insomnia. So it is a loud thug when it wakes him up.  

 

He put up rails on the other side of the stairs from the basement to the main floor and from there upstairs to the bedrooms.  He did it before his surgery last fall as he thought he might need to hold on both sides.  He's leaving them up. We put the shower chair, I got around the time of my surgeries, next to the bed and I brought up one of my canes. He was threatening, in a concerned way, to get me a walker!!!!!

 

My Internist told me to use my cane all the time and that will help me remember to pick my feet up higher instead of shuffling.  After my February pouchoscope the nurse at Mayo's wheeled me out to the reception room and told my husband that I needed to stay in the wheel chair all the way back to the hotel we were staying at. It is connected with the walking subway that people use to go between buildings. It is nice there are wheelchairs all over the place so we just left the chair in the subway.  They always ask if we've fallen recently and I told the truth. She was right. I was woosie enough to fall after being put under for the scope and balloon dilation. So now you know one of the reasons they ask us that. I think a bigger reason is they don't want lawsuits......

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I'm a grandma but not even 60 yet.  The worst part of using a cane is the looks people give me. I see pity, disbelief, irritation and other facial expressions including nice smiles. I always use it in airports and it does get me through the shorter handicapped line where TSA is. I don't get to bypass the not so random checks.  I had to go into a room with 3 ladies for a search 18 months ago.  It wasn't a strip search but pretty close to one.  I found out later than some hand and body lotions set the sensors off.  

 

It is damn hard walking, yoga, exercising or going on public transportation when handicapped including numb feet.  It drives me crazy when people tell me I need to get out and walk more. I agree but the problems I have on indoor surfaces only get worse when on sidewalks.etc.

 

There are a million benefits sleeping through the night affords us.  I have streaks of insomnia followed by times I sleep almost the entire day and night. I don't dare take a sleeping pill because I'm afraid I'd do more damage.

 

I know you gals and guys would like to help me with suggestions but I think I've heard and tried most of them to get me through the night. I've used almost every trick in the book not counting my neurologist, internist and other doctors.  I am fortunate to be able to walk and just need to be more careful. I also count my blessings daily.  They tend to get overlooked when self-pity starts rolling in.  

 

You are fantastic people!  I count you all and this site as some of my blessings.

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As we become older, falls can be deadly (literally) for us.  In my younger days, I had numerous falls while alpine skiing and getting thrown off horses, but I always recovered.  Then, I was hit by a car in a crosswalk and have had significant lower back, sciatica and mobility problems ever since.  My mind is that of a much younger person, so I also feel self-conscious about using aids like a cane or walker, especially in public.  I hate wearing the foot brace my doctor prescribed for my drop foot condition, but fortunately have developed an automatic response to lift that foot and avoid stumbling.

 

After returning home from BCIR surgery, the pain getting up at night to use the bathroom was so severe that I had to use a walker.  That condition improved within a couple of weeks.  My bathroom is about 20 feet from my bed and there are no stairs. I strongly suggest that you use a walker for getting to the bathroom at night for the security it provides. No one will see you using it.   Earlier, I had replaced the carpeting on our main floor with oak flooring that made walking safer.  I always hold onto the railing when doing stairs and sometimes take one stair at a time.  To avoid falling off the john if you fall asleep there, I suggest installing a safety strap, somewhat like a seat belt in a car.  I use a cane when walking long distances or for support when I will be standing for a while.  When I go shopping, I use a shopping cart for support and have no problem getting around our large Walmart store.  Sometimes, my wife asks me to slow down since I can really go quite fast with the cart.

 

Quite frankly, I don’t give a s@&% what others think when I rely on a cane, foot support or walker to get around in public.  The last thing I want is to get stuck in a four wheel chair because I fell and broke something like a hip or leg.  I want to be able to do the things in life that I enjoy and to not be a cripple around my grandchildren.  I wish you the best, and take care of yourself!

Bill

Thank you Bill. I opened this up planning on deleting my post. After reading your response I changed my mind.  I appreciate all of your suggestions.  I use the carts at Walmart and every other place that has them too. They have carts at Kohl's too  I do most of my shopping on-line and rarely go grocery shopping alone.  

 

I fell again while using my cane early this morning. We'll be purchasing a walker for the bedroom soon. I'm having a difficult time accepting my limitations and health problems. You are right about how fast we bounced back when we were younger. 

 

Thanks again

Oh, TE,

I am so, so sorry...I know how hard it is to face these limitations with zen and calm....I hate them!

When I was doing PE for my hip (gota go back again) the PT was using electronic deep tissue stimulation pads on me (they sort of vibrate or buzz and contract the muscles deep down). He would first use heat lamps, then massage and finally after 20 mins the pads. I was having problems getting up out of bed in the morning and putting my feet on the floor. Pain. Numbness. It would take about 15 mins for the feeling to come back and the pain to ease. When I saw my Rhumy he said that it was age and that there was nothing to be done (his wife has it too). I refused to accept that so while on the PT table I asked him to try putting the pads on my feet. We experimented with just 1 foot for 5 weeks. It was pretty darn startling...within 3 weeks I felt a real improvement. By the 5th I was begging him to put them on both feet. 

It took 10 weeks in all but I managed to get 95% of the feeling back in the mornings and am 90% painfree.

I am due to go back for more treatments for the pelvic/sacroilitis pain and will ask for a few extra one on the feet. 

It is worth a try.

By the way, Bill is right. Better a cane than a cast. 

I aspire to be a purple haired old lady in a floppy hat and hot pink open toed sandals with my toes facing 10 different directions! I am not afraid of being rediculous...I deserve it!

Don't trade pride for safety.

Loads of hugs

Sharon

Oh my! I don't even have your challenges Paulette, and I use a cane. Not all the time, but anytime I am going on a walk further than from a parking lot to the store. I fell down once, and that was enough (two black eyes, big knot on my forehead, bone bruise on my knee). I now know I cannot trust myself if the ground is uneven and/or if there is low lighting.

 

I have no idea what looks people give me, since I am paying attention to where I put my feet. I never even blow my nose while I am walking.

 

Please take care! 

 

Jan

To the energizer bunny of the site, aka Sharon,  Your tenacity constantly amazes me!  Unfortunately my neuropathy in both of my feet is permanent. The neurologists I've been to both said the same thing and my current one is at the Mayo Clinic.  They don't know what caused it either.  They've tested my legs with some impressive gadgets and I have small nerve damage which isn't anything to worry about - they say! I recently stopped taking flagyl as it can cause or make neuropathy worse in my case. I don't know if it made things worse or not - just that it has a lot of side effects I'm not going to tolerate anymore.  

 

 

TE,

Thanks for the Energizer Bunny nickname...it suits me down to my batteries!

The question about exercising is simple...you set up a 'home gym' with elastics, pullies and a stationary bike or some other contraption. 

They use these itdy-bitty trampolines that you use by sitting on a chair and putting your feet on them and bounce, or sitting on them etc.

There are also vibrating plates and other products that can be bought second hand cheaply.

I have 3 sizes of Yoga/pilates balls, dozens of elastics, a yoga mat, stationary bike (used as a clothes rack!) and other gadgets. 

Other than the last year I have used them faithfully for the last 20+yrs. 

You develop tricks too. You get a better workout using weights or walking uphill than flat...so I walk uphill with a backpack (not intentionally for sports, just transportation) or exercise with elastics or a water bottle in my hand rather than emptyhanded.

Anything to add a level...that way you need to do less to get more of a kick...my home gym has saved me from having to go to a gym and humiliate myself, travel back and forth or  get undressed in front of people.

There are tons of things you can do sitting on a sofa or laying in bed (stretches)...

Not to mention in a tub of hot water...internet is my friend for that stuff...just start very slowly and work your way up...you need to keep your muscles strong and your balance healthy.

huge hugs

Sharon

My doctor suggested swimming for my back condition and a PT showed me some exercises to do in the pool.   Swimming exercises all of your muscles without irritating the joints.  I swim 30-40 lengths of the 25 yard pool at our local YMCA ,which provides good cardiovascular exercise. Then I hop into the whirlpool for 15 minutes.  Afterwards, I can walk straight up and with little pain.  Even a lower activity level in the pool should help.  Our “Y” offers low impact exercise classes that meet 3 times a week.

Bill

Sorry about your permanent nerve damage.  I have constant numbness in my right foot after my neurological stroke.  I feel I need to constantly wear socks (even on the hottest days), because my right foot always feels numb and cold. 

 

I am happy to report that  I have just graduated to a walker from the wheelchair after my car accident.  Progress while slow... is still progress!  It has been a very painful journey and I am not certain that I will ever be able to walk without some kind of "crutch".  I did a banana peel slip and fall in the kitchen 2 weeks ago (melted ice cube on the tile floor) and managed to "save" my leg from further damage, but put most of my weight on my recently healed broken wrist.  I suffered scaphoid fractures in my hand, but I was able to finally return to work 2 days later. 

 

At this point, I drive better than I walk, but it is such a pain in the *** to have to put the walker in the back seat and hop to the front seat and back and forth, etc.  Physical therapy is helping me to re-learn the motion of walking again, but ugh... it is so exhausting.

Thank you all for the good suggestions.

 

I still couldn't sit on my stationary bike 4 years after my surgeries. It increased my pain, so donated it to the Salvation Army at the end of the year Sharon  

 

Lesandigo, I know what you mean about your foot always feeling cold, wearing socks, cold in a hot bathtub plus my mine feel cold in our hot tub! They are numb but hurt at the same time. I know that sounds weird.  My dad needs a walker so I know what you mean about loading and unloading it in the car.  He can't do it for himself anymore but at 83 is the eternal optimist and says if he "had" to he could.  He was in intensive care with about 16 things sticking in and going out of him and he said if he "had" to he could drive home. I'm glad your are improving!  

 

I've been swimming but am too slow to do laps now. I get in everybody's way.  I think it is awesome that swimming is doing so much for you Bill.  I'm going to tell my husband about how it's helping you. He use to swim all the time but has been doing on the water sports more often.  His newest thing is kayaking, he just got a new "dry" suit so he can get in the water ASAP.  I don't understand why the rubber looking suits he wears water surfing won't work for the kayak.  He has never understood why I need more than 3 pairs of shoes and so many different purses so I just smile.  He is very tall so this suit was custom made and just about as expensive as the kayak he purchased to accommodate his long body.   

 

I emailed my doctor this afternoon requesting a prescription for a walker and am over my self-consciousness of using my cane. I never had or do have negative thoughts about people using canes, walkers and wheel chairs.  I'm the type of person that sees an overweight person walking, running or doing anything athletic and think "go girl" or go guy. After pregnancies, prednisone and thyroid disease I know what an uphill battle loosing weight is. If someone wants to look at me thinking I'm faking by using a cane then that is their problem. The only place I've really noticed people giving me the eye is at airports.  I use to stand in the long and winding TSA lines but can't anymore.  

 

You are all wonderful   

 

 

Last edited by TE Marie

TE,

My dad had a cerebral hemorage 20yrs ago and ended up hemiplegic...it took him 2 full years and tons of physico to come back about 40% from that...he never got his language skills back, remained hemiplegic (full side including face) but refused the chair. He learned to walk, climb and do just about everything he could for himself including shower.

Most of the time he refused the cane (4 footed) and  held it up high in the air when walking...that alone was the reason for a good number of falls.

He always remained optimistic and when asked how he was doing replied 'so far, so good'...I think that I get my optimism from him.

He's had a good number of mini strokes over the years and honestly, the indignities of losing bit by bit his autonomy would have killed 1000 times but even after full leg amputation last summer he is optimistic.

I don't know how he does it. He still loves life, fights like the dickens to stay alive and maintains whatever dignity that he can.

He has never ceased being my dad...

So dignity is wherever you want it to be. No matter what you have to do to be 'well' you do it...canes, walkers, chairs or other...you are a fighter and a winner...you do not quit, you do not give up and you do not give in...You a beautiful lady and a cane cannot change that.

Sharon

I emailed my doctor this afternoon requesting a prescription for a walker and am over my self-consciousness of using my cane

 

Actually, I use a "rollator" (sp?)  The kind that has wheels and a seat with a carry-all pocket underneath.  I had saved it from my recovery after my initial surgery to remove my colon.  I love it!  So much better than a walker or crutches, because I can put things on top of the seat to carry to another room and/or take a break when I need to rest.

 

Just beware, that these medical devices may / may not fit in your bathroom.  At least, not in my tiny narrow 24 inch doors to the bathrooms in my house.  And I have to park my car "just right" in my single-wide garage, or I won't be able to use the walker on one side or the other of the car.

Lesandeigo, I know which one you are talking about.  That's what why we call my dad's walker a Cadalliac.  The seat has been invaluable for him. He uses it to take his water, mail and other things around the house.  The wood framing of their master bath had to be removed for the walker to fit through it.  

 

Sharon, your dad's triumph over and through his medical problems sounds a lot like my dad.  Different but similar problems.  He's 83 and says that he's not afraid of dying but isn't ready to go yet.  They don't think he would survive the removal of his leg.  I've lost count of the number of surgeries related to his hip.  The femur is dead and he is getting around with just the titanium that was hammered down through it during one of his surgeries. I wish they could remove it as he has an infection that won't go away related to that area of his body.  He had MRSA than morphed into something else.  He's had a quadruple bypass, abdominal anurisym, toe removed, A-fib etc.  He had 4 surgeries on that hip one summer.  They can't do anything else for him.  A lot of his femur muscle has been removed and the doctor's are some what amazed that he can still walk at all.  These guys are good role models for us.  I'm glad I had one awesome parent.  My step-mother was pretty awesome too.  Unfortunately she died over 20 years ago.

Last edited by TE Marie

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