Finding Relief from Neuropathy

How Physical Therapy Helped One Patient Get His Life Back

Have you ever sat for too long in one position and had your leg or foot fall asleep? That numb, tingling sensation can be extremely uncomfortable, but at least it disappears after a few minutes. 

However, when you’re living with neuropathy, that uncomfortable numbness becomes part of your day-to-day life, making it hard to stay active, take care of chores and other tasks, and participate in the activities that matter most to you.

This was the case for Jim (not his real name). Jim was in his sixties,  but he loved to be on the move. Whether spending time in his workshop or walking the trails with his grandkids, staying active was a big part of his life.

But last year, he noticed a tingling in his feet that wouldn’t go away. Then came the numbness, the sharp jabs, and finally, a growing unsteadiness that made even short walks risky. 

He didn’t know it then, but he was experiencing peripheral neuropathy. Fortunately, the team at Lycoming Physical Therapy was here to help.

What Is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy refers to damage to the nerves that connect your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body (called peripheral nerves). This condition often causes various symptoms, depending on which nerves are affected, including:

• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

• Sharp, stabbing, or burning pain

• Muscle weakness

• Loss of balance or coordination

Jim’s symptoms progressed slowly. At first, he chalked it up to getting older. But eventually, he could barely feel his feet on the floor. Simple tasks like climbing stairs became challenging. His quality of life was slipping away, and he feared that his independence would follow, especially when he learned that neuropathy can’t always be reversed.

However, it can be managed, particularly with the help of physical therapy, which focuses on:

• Improving muscle strength and joint stability

• Restoring safe movement and balance

• Reducing fall risk

• Teaching strategies to manage symptoms in daily life

At his doctor’s suggestion, Jim scheduled an appointment with Lycoming Physical Therapy.

Does Stress Cause Neck Pain?

Finding Help with Physical Therapy

Jim’s first visit involved a comprehensive assessment to help our PTs fully understand his symptoms. We listened to Jim’s story and ran some simple tests to evaluate his strength, balance, and nerve response. Using this information, we created a comprehensive treatment plan blending several treatment approaches:

• Manual Therapy

Hands-on treatment techniques, including gentle manipulation of his soft tissue and passive stretching exercises, helped Jim loosen tight muscles and improve blood flow. He noticed that the sessions helped him move more easily over time.

• Strengthening Exercises

Muscle weakness can worsen neuropathy symptoms, so we guided Jim through targeted exercises to strengthen his core and lower body with resistance bands and bodyweight movements. This approach helped reduce muscle fatigue during daily tasks.

• Balance and Gait Training

Like many people with neuropathy, Jim had developed a habit of shuffling his feet to avoid falling — but this actually made his balance worse. We guided him through personalized exercises to improve his stability and correct his walking patterns, helping him regain confidence in his footing.

• Sensory Reeducation

With reduced feeling in his feet, Jim had trouble recognizing textures and movement cues. We worked with him to help his brain relearn how to process signals from his legs and feet through proprioceptive training, which helps the body sense its position in space.

Does Stress Cause Neck Pain?

Getting His Life Back

After eight weeks of consistent therapy, Jim’s symptoms had decreased significantly. While he still struggled with numbness and tingling, his balance was vastly improved, and he could walk on uneven ground without fear. He returned to woodworking and even took a weekend trip with his family, where he had a blast exploring the woods with his grandkids.

He now continues a modified home exercise program to help manage his symptoms and checks in with his PT every few months.