Tips dealing with foot neuropathy

Sources of peripheral foot neuropathy can vary. One common form is a result of diabetic foot neuropathy. For many, pain can result continuously throughout the day, becoming almost debilitating. However, its more commonly experienced at night when one reclines to go to bed for the evening.

Symptoms can range from tingling, lack of circulation, or even minor shaking that focus on toe/foot and ankle area. I have worked with many people of different age groups with neuropathy in their feet. For some, it became a wall or stumbling block to make any progress because it prevented prolonged standing or it would impede balance.

Here are some quick tips to help aid in pain reduction:

1 - When it comes to corrective exercise, gravity isn't always your "friend". Standing upright forces the feet to take on the brunt of the body's weight. Fluid retention/edema can result, all compressing soft tissues around nerves that run through the foot. A pool is invaluable here. Start in the shallow end off the steps to have slow, controlled flutter kicks.
                 
                          Try gentle toe points and foot rotations to open up the foot / ankle.

                          

 

                       

          Use one of the foam tubes to exercise the glutes, hamstrings and foot/ankle

 with controlled Leg Pressdowns

Ideally, once you've worked the structures, you will want to move out of the shallow end. (Your feet are still supporting your weight while in contact with the floor of the pool) Move out more towards the deeper end where you float and use your feet more freely. Simply treading water here is a great, low impact exercise, while gently pumping out excessive fluid and improving circulation.

2 - When a pool isn't available, a foot spa is still a great option to perform the above foot exercises. The jets help stimulate nerve endings and using warmer water helps to promote circulation in the feet before bed. Try getting into a habit of using it 45 min or so before you go to bed.

Additionally, try working the glutes and hamstrings to help free up the sciatic nerve and circulation down the leg after you have finished your foot soak...

Try these simple tips and see how they can make a difference for you!

"What's contributing to this pain!?!" - Thinking outside the box

Frequently, there was a question asked when I worked with people both as a body-worker and now through Corrective Exercise. "What's causing this pain??"

Many of my clients can come with a range of pre-existing conditions brought on by illness or physical trauma. There are, however, a growing number of people seeking advice for pains that surface from NO APPARENT cause. 

"This knee pain just started...", "I haven't lifted anything heavy or done anything out of the usual routine, but my neck and back are suddenly killing me..." 

The truth of the matter is, we live in world that has become symptom relieving. When we hear WHOLISTIC, we tend to think health store / spa-indulgence. In reality, wholistic is referring to the BIG PICTURE! So we start small and look at the area of pain, then we look at moves and muscle groups that directly impact that area. Finally, we step back and look at the big picture. Day to day activities or the things that we do regularly and how they affect us as a whole.

Justin Price, the creator of the BioMechanics Method gives a really good look at 3 examples of this. Lasting pain relief comes from understanding the contributing causes as well as addressing the immediate symptom.

Check out this video and see if it can help you think outside the box on some of your own pain issues.