Peripheral Neuropathy Rears Its Ugly Head
I went to the Physical Therapist this morning for evaluation of my knee and shoulder problems. The news was not good. It seems that I have significant weakness in my right leg and hip muscles, and also in my left hip muscles. My hand strength was markedly less in the right hand than the left, but that didn’t surprise me.
She said it was no wonder I was having trouble with my knee, or with walking, as my muscles were so very weak. She does not want me to walk so far at the track, but to concentrate on walking with full use of my hip muscles. I had already realized that I wasn’t doing that. When I do take a full stride from the hip I feel like I’m drunk, with a wobbly unsteady sensation. I don’t know any other way to describe it, and I look drunk, too. She wants me to use my cane on a regular basis, because she doesn’t want me to reinforce my unnatural gait. I’m to see her two more times this week, plus she’s given me a set of exercises to do here at home.
She thinks the knee is so irritated because the muscles that should be providing support just aren’t doing their job well at all. And she said the same thing about both hips. So, I’m going to be busy trying to build up what I can, before I end up on the floor LOL!!
I also had an ultrasound treatment on my knee and an electrical stimulation treatment on the shoulder and the knee, with moist heat, too. That felt wonderful, and it’s supposed to improve and speed up the healing process.
The PT is a very nice lady, and I felt comfortable with her immediately. It’s just as well, as it sounds like I’m going to be going there for awhile. Of course, insurance has a lot to do with how many sessions they’ll let me have, so I need to learn as much as I can about how to do the exercises at home.
It’s good that you got specific feedback about what’s going on. Walking is a very complicated thing which people don’t realize until our bodies don’t cooperate! Hang in there, sending you hugs…
We take so much for granted when things are working as they should. It seems so trivial to be talking to you about this, though, Ruth, as I’m sure you would be happy to be having my problem with walking.
Thanks, as always, for checking on me and for the hugs …
I’m so glad you’re going for PT, DB. She will give you great coping skills as well…I hope your insurance will cover lots and lots of sessions.
I think I have five massages and 20 PT sessions a year on our insurance. Between the two, I have changed my “funny” walk back to something resembling normalcy, lol!
I hope going for PT will help. It has to be discouraging but maybe you will be able to strenthen those muscles. She sounds good and it’s nice you feel comfortable with her. I’ll be thinking about you. You are so nice to leave an encouraging comment at my blog.
I have no idea how many sessions my insurance will allow, Marion, as I’m on a different one than I was the last time I went to a PT. I’ll just have to make sure I make good use of each time, plus do all the home exercises she gave me religiously.
I see the Orthopedist in a couple of weeks, and if I’m not noticeably better by then I’ll be going to the Neurologist as soon as I can. The problem with PN is that you don’t really communicate with your muscles the way you should, Sheila, so it’s hard to know if I can strengthen the muscles.
I am hoping to get some advise about surgery for PN….have you guys had surgery yet and can tell me what to expect..
I am 80 years old but in darn good shape…..
Many thanks
I can’t help you out on the PN surgery information, George. Compared to the PD, it’s just not been that much of a problem for me. The Physical Therapy I had for my knee and hip and thigh muscles helped me tremendously. Have you been to a PT yourself?