PN Tips have been received from the following individuals. Use the Menu provided or just scroll down to see all the Tips:
Menu For PN Tips (Page 1)
Jo Nell Wilder (Granny Jo)
Sue Lowing
S. Jones
Barbara
Allen Gallant
Cile
Jim Taylor
Edna Cardwell
Herb
Jane
RoseAnna
Elaine
Lynne
PN Tips, Page 2
If you are still cooking, but have painful hands because of PN, these are some ideas that I have found to be helpful, making meal preparations possible:
Boil enough eggs at a time for a week supply. Refrigerate them and when needed, peel them easily and carefully (sharp edges of egg shells can be painful). I crack them all around, then slip a plastic spoon under the cracked edge and continue slipping it all around under the shell. A metal spoon can cut into the egg white so plastic is better.
I use the same method when peeling an orange or grapefruit. However, use a metal spoon with this. Score the rind first into four sections before slipping the spoon under the peeling.
If you have trouble squeezing a slice or chunk of lemon or lime into what you are preparing (water, tea or anything), place it in a garlic press to get the good stuff out. If you place the lemon or lime in the Micro for a scant 10 seconds, you can get more juice out as well as some of the essence from the oil in the rind.
Don't give up, here are some more ideas that work for me---that keeps me working.
Use tongs to get ice cubes out of the freezer storage bin.
Keep handy a special pair of rubber gloves to wash fresh fruits and veggies in cool water.
Do you find it hard to pick up and hold onto all those pills? Put them in a cup and pick up with a spoon. I use a plastic spoon---easier to handle.
Keep a special set of tools in the kitchen that have rubber handles to pry open, cut and hold things. I use scissors, tongs, pliers, screw drivers, small hammer, & etc. to help me do things when no one is around to lend a hand.
I have a roll-about chair with six inch caster wheels that permit me to do most of my kitchen chores. It saves my knees a lot as I don't have to keep getting up and down. (A little secret---I don't have to try to keep my balance either in my roll-about, so can concentrate better on what I'm doing. Those of us who can't feel the floor when we are walking know what I'm talking about.)
I am a "two-caner" now. That works better for me than a walker. My daughter commented that I use my walking canes like a "cross-country" skier uses ski poles. Gives me more balance. I use the kind I can lengthen so they support balance better. I don't need to put my weight on them---just to balance. It is better if you have a pair just alike in weight and length.
The gloves I use are: cotton glove liners, rubber gloves, gripper gloves that have soft lining or else, I use the cotton glove liners with them. Test all your gloves before purchase, to make sure they will be easy to pull on and soothing to your hands. I keep some type of glove on most of the time. I cut off the fingertips of worn-out gloves so I can type and do other tasks that require dexterity.
I have found that keeping my wrists and forearm warm with old socks (with toe cut open) helps comfort painful hands. If you want to use this method when dressed up, you can find children's leg warmers that do the trick nicely---or be creative, use your own imagination.
Likewise, I use leg warmers to comfort my ankles and legs (up over my knees when sleeping).
By now, I'm sure you know I also have on soft, warm socks. My shoes are supportive walking/running shoes with thick soft padded lining. AND this isn't just for cool weather. Cool air-conditioned rooms even hurts sensitive PNer hands and feet, legs and arms. I love cold weather, but my PN doesn't.
Hi PNers, it's been awhile since I wrote about some things that you might find helpful.
As I've gotten older and my type of PN pain and weakness progresses, I found ways to keep being independent even at age 83 yrs. One of my sons is helpful in designing things that will help me. Since I sleep on a hospital bed because of chronic back problems, but need a support like being on the floor, he made a support out of 3/4 inch plywood that would cover the frame (not rest on the springs), then cut sections to fit the divisions of the bed (for lifts as needed) and joined them with hinges. Voila, that was just what I needed to keep my back in shape. Since he engineered that contraption, I figured he could configure other appliances, which he has done.
Now to the PN tip, I have had problems with high blood pressure for years and my primary doctor asked me to get a blood pressure gauge to keep a check on it. With loss of muscle in my fingers, I was having to call my son over to pump up the cuff and talked to him about a possible solution. He understood the problem, went home to his shop and designed a method similar to a Bellows that would squeeze the air out of the bulb easily that I could use. Watching how I used it, he had an idea of how he could make it better. WOW, so much easier. Now I don't have to trouble someone to help (which I hate to do, everyone is so busy these days).
In using tools in my kitchen that I've already told you about, I now have to use in even more ways when I can't use them for the work they were designed for ---- such as: When I don't have the hand power to use the sharp end of the "Church Key" ( you oldsters will know what that is) to open a large can of juice, I take the old time can opener (like you took on camping trips) with the sharp punch, measure where I need to place the sharp point of the "Church Key", hit the can opener handle, tap-tap-tap- to make a little hole; insert the point of the Church Key into that, then pull up ---- making the necessary opening. Now that took a long time to tell, but only a moment to accomplish.
When walking, I found thick carpets put too much strain on my leg and feet muscles, causing cramps --- similar to walking in deep dry sand. So I had my carpets removed and now walk much easier on my bare hardwood unwaxed floors. Before I took this drastic measure (as I loved my carpet), I walked on the sidewalk ( the Shopping Mall will also tell you the difference). I can't get to a shopping mall now, so have to do walking exercises in the house until cooler weather.
When there is a lull in what has to be done, I prepare some *easy to do* healthy snacks that can be kept in the freezer for when I need a quick healthy pick-up. I keep staples on hand with this in mind. Did you know that Ensure makes great Popsicles? Also fruit juices? Let your mind get carried away. For those with diabetes, Glucerna which is sold where Ensure is available, also is great for frozen dessert. If frozen in a cup, place it in the Microwave for about 5-8 sec on Defrost will soften it up enough to eat with a spoon.
Keep doing the things that you love to do --- figure out a way to keep on.
Love all y'all, (Texas Talk for loving you and all you love)
Granny Jo,
Don't forget to walk and exercise---take nutritional supplements and eat well balanced meals.
E-mail me if you need more information on these tips... E-mail: jonellwilder@sbcglobal.net
More later---maybe you have found some good ideas too.
Granny Jo ~~
if you have reynauds as well as pn, keep cotton garden gloves handy before opening the freezer.
good grips now makes ice cubes trays that have a sliding cover allowing you to slip out a cube one by one instead of twisting a tray (i use many of their utensils).
for those with painful hands, look for blown-glass mugs with large handles to hold your drinks rather than trying to hold onto a regular round glass.
if your feet hurt from the weight of a blanket, the selfcare catalog offers a metal prop for the end of the bed that works wonders. it has held a sheet, blanket and bedspread off my feet for several years already without breaking.
Sue Lowing
slowing@aol.com
(Web Host's Note: Thank you to Sue Lowing for her PN Tips...notice she has included her
e-mail address in case you have any question(s)...)
For feet that are cold, or that just have that "freezing cold" pain even if they are warm, I put on a pair of down booties that are made for people who camp in cold weather. They are sold in good camping supply stores or catalogues. I saw some in Restoration Hardware store before Christmas. They are much more warming and soothing than just thick socks. Also, I find that Birkenstock shoes are the most comfortable for me. Lots of room for my toes and they keep some weight off of the metatarsal heads (painful joints below toes).
(Thanks to S. Jones for sharing the foregoing with us)...
Here's one I use now after 7 years with PN. At night if my feet and legs are restless and in pain I put my hands down at my sides and push them under my body enough to raise it a little. I then bend my knees and "ride a bicycle" flexing my feet as much as possible down and away and/or towards my body. I do it for as long as I can. It helps me get to sleep usually right away. More tips later.
Barbara
(Note: Barbara...thanks for the tip...we look forward to additional ones
from you...ed.)
PN TIP: Foot care is so important--in fact, my doc has a handout that is for diabetics AND PN sufferers. Check your feet often and maintain vigilance for injuries, nail care, etc. If you cannot stand wearing shoes, be very careful to not wear shoes that are too loose. Sometimes a 1/2 shoe size or width larger can be helpful with comfort, being careful not to have them too loose or you could break an ankle.
My neuropathy is painful and sometimes I do not know where my feet are, so I must constantly watch when I walk, especially on uneven surfaces like brick sidewalks or stairs. I have take many spills and the only thing I have broken so far is 4 toes on one foot (stepping off of a step stool) and 1 toe on the other at the beach walking over rocks barefoot (how do you say-duh-don't walk barefoot). I also had orthotics inserts made for my shoes--insurance sometimes covers this item once a year.
Allen Gallant
PN is such a crazy disorder. Sometimes I get on fire if I take a tub bath and sometimes the warm water soothes it. I use a product called WHIRL SOL. It is a blue bath additive that is sold at most pharmacies and all the Home Health and Equipment places. I use it full strength sometimes like a lotion. It keep me from damaging my skin when I claw and scratch from the burning pain. I have spent hundreds of dollars on medications that don't help. Its strange, but at the present time, only a hot water bottle seems to bring some relief. I am blessed that I am not bothered much at night.
Cile
cile@canufly.net
I am a diabetic with dpn. It is almost impossible for me to inject my syringe into the insulin vial. I bought a small vise and put it on a table. The vise holds the vial still so that I can easily load my syringe.
Jim Taylor
jimtay@sbcglobal.net
Thank you to Edna for the following:
Edna Cardwell
1113 Roselawn Way
Bowling Green, KY 42104
ercard@webtv.net
Herb: Thanks for the following comments:
I have used an enzyme in one form or another for the past 10 years to alleviate the symptoms
associated with PN, and it has been about 95% effective fr me. Look at
web site: www.vrp.com/scripts/vrpMoreNews2.asp?ART=128
Also look at: www.bioscanlight.com
I have not used this device but it is worthy of consideration.
Herb
I never knew this website existed until today. I can hardly use my hands because of arthritis and pn. I cannot keep house without a pliers ..I use it to pull the tab off of sealed cartons and also to open drinks of soda etc. If I have turn my ktchen timer, or set my clock..the pliers is my helper. I had to use a pliers to turn my lamps on at night til I found some plastic molds that fit over the switch and work great.
Keep up the good work I shall tell my friends about this website
Jane
Here is a small addition to Jo Nell's idea about nuking lemons before squeezing them: If you cut a small slit in the skin and put the lemon into a small bowl, cut side down, you will have a head start on juicing it. Be sure that the cut is DOWN or you might have a spurt of lemon juice up to the top of the microwave!
This site is a great idea. I shall bookmark it. Thanks, Win.
RoseAnna
Ann Arbor, MI