Walking with neuropathy is hard because damaged nerves (sensory and motor) disrupt balance, coordination, and muscle control, causing numbness, weakness, pain, and poor proprioception (knowing where your body is), leading to a shuffling gait, foot drop, instability, and a fear of falling, making every step require more effort and focus.
Peripheral neuropathy can lead to difficulty walking, loss of balance, and a reduced ability to sense pain or temperature in the feet. As feeling diminishes, there is a higher risk of unnoticed injuries that could develop into foot ulcers or become infected.
Hiking poles.
Some of our members have moved from a cane to hiking poles, one for each hand. Poles are strong, lightweight, adjustable walking sticks that aid regular walking, inside and out. Walkers: Walkers are more supportive than canes and are ideal for seniors who require substantial support.
If the condition is allowed to progress, the more obvious motor and sensory symptoms of neuropathy begin to develop. "Numbness, muscle weakness and the other sensory symptoms lead to problems with balance and coordination, making everyday activities like walking and climbing the stairs difficult," says Dr.
If you experience balance issues or have difficulty walking due to peripheral neuropathy, consider using assistive devices such as canes or walking poles. These tools provide added stability and support, reducing the risk of falls and helping you maintain an active walking routine with confidence.
Regular exercise, such as walking three times a week, can lower neuropathy pain, improve muscle strength and help control blood sugar levels. Gentle routines such as yoga and tai chi also might help.
People with peripheral neuropathy should wear properly fitted shoes and avoid walking barefoot to prevent injury. If you have diabetes, it's important to control your blood sugar as well, because out-of-control blood sugar leads to increased nerve damage.
In fact, some individuals with neuropathy eventually end up needing to use a wheelchair because of the lack of balance, numbness, and discomfort that tends to accompany late-stage neuropathy.
Usually a peripheral neuropathy can't be cured, but you can do a lot of things to prevent it from getting worse. If an underlying condition like diabetes is at fault, your healthcare provider will treat that first and then treat the pain and other symptoms of neuropathy.
Neuropathy can be triggered by various factors such as diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, medication side effects, alcohol use, and autoimmune conditions. Identifying these triggers is key to managing symptoms effectively.
Physical Therapy and Exercises
Your podiatrist might recommend exercises to help with your neuropathy. These exercises can improve blood flow to your feet, which is important for nerve health. They can also help maintain muscle strength and flexibility in your feet and ankles.
Camphor and menthol are topical analgesics that may help ease peripheral neuropathy. This is nerve pain in the feet and hands that causes "pins and needles" or burning sensations. Peripheral neuropathy can result from medications, diabetes, and other conditions that damage nerve insulation, known as the myelin sheath.
Peripheral neuropathy can result from traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems, inherited causes and exposure to toxins. One of the most common causes of neuropathy is diabetes. People with peripheral neuropathy usually describe the pain as stabbing, burning or tingling.
Nerve deterioration from peripheral neuropathy weakens the connected muscles. That can cause paralysis, which may cause difficulty moving the toes, foot drop and hand weakness. Weakness can also affect muscles in the thighs, arms and elsewhere. Muscle atrophy.
Neurologists are the primary specialists for diagnosing and managing peripheral neuropathy. They perform detailed nerve function tests such as Nerve Conduction Studies, Electromyography (EMG), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Nerve Biopsy.
Eventually, in people with ALS, the brain loses its ability to start and control voluntary movements such as walking, talking, chewing and other functions, as well as breathing. ALS is progressive, meaning symptoms get worse over time.
Over-the-counter (OTC) options like capsaicin cream and magnesium, and herbal supplements like chamomile or L-theanine, may help manage mild pain and anxiety.
Essential Things To Avoid If You Have Neuropathy
Conditions like peripheral neuropathy, common in diabetic patients, can benefit from improved circulation achieved through regular leg elevation. Taking a few moments to put your feet up can also reduce stress and promote overall relaxation, which is great for your mental and physical health.
One of the most common side effects of neuropathy is loss of balance – which results from a loss of sensation, therefore hindering the ability to coordinate movement. Some neuropathy patients avoid walking altogether as they fear falling.
The most effective treatment for neuropathy depends on the cause, but often involves a multi-faceted approach: medications like gabapentin, pregabalin, duloxetine, or amitriptyline for pain; physical therapy for strength and balance; treating the underlying condition (like diabetes control); and lifestyle changes like gentle exercise, stress management (meditation, yoga), and topical treatments (lidocaine, capsaicin). A comprehensive plan combines these strategies to manage symptoms, improve function, and potentially slow progression.
The SSA considers neuropathy a disability if it significantly impairs your ability to work and perform daily activities. The condition must be severe enough to cause notable functional limitations, including mobility issues, coordination problems, sensory impairments, and chronic pain.
If your case is in the early stages, your podiatrist will first recommend conservative measures to decrease your pain. These includes managing diabetes better, pain medications, physical therapy, casting, acupuncture and message.
You can start with a simple walk to your kitchen, then the mailbox and perhaps even down the block of your neighborhood. In case you need that extra motivation to start walking, consider its many benefits. Make it your new weekly routine to walk 30 minutes a day with a 20-minute stretch prior.
Stage 4: When peripheral neuropathy reaches this stage, you will feel complete numbness and loss of sensation in your hands and feet. The risk of amputation increases in this stage.