[JoanieBlon]

So sorry that your dad is having problems with peripheral neuropathy and that you and your family then must deal with the side effects.

My husband Mike, who is currently 56, has suffered from peripheral neuropathy in his legs and feet for about 8+ years now. It started up while he was in his 40s. He has JUST NOW been diagnosed with diabetes problems. Back when the neuropathy first started up, he was tested for EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN (from AIDS to brain tumors and everything in between) with NO results for why he has this. Thank goodness we have excellent health insurance. Peripheral neuropathy IS a common condition that comes with diabetes. However, Mike did NOT have diabetes at the onset ~ or for years afterwards.

Mike has never fallen as a result of the pain, tingling and numbness in his feet and legs. Also ~ over the 8+ years that he's had it, it hasn't gotten any worse, nor has it gotten any better. He's learned to live with it. In the beginning, a neurologist that Mike was seeing wanted him to take massive doses of Neurontin which helps mask the feelings, but it made Mike so dizzy and loopy ~ even at 1/30 the dose that the neurologist wanted him to take ~ that he refused to take it and stopped going to that doctor. A few years ago, our family physician prescribed Lyrica which Mike takes occasionally if he is having a brief "flare-up" of pain. The Lyrica REALLY helps him for pain when he flies. For whatever reason ~ cabin pressure, sitting still for too long, being cramped with too long legs in a too small seat space ~ or perhaps all of these ~ flying REALLY aggrevates the peripheral neuropathy. The Lyrica makes it bearable (actually comfortable) to be on an airplane. Good thing ~ we LOVE to travel! Lyrica can have side effects ~ such as swelling of the feets ~ so Mike only takes them when absolutely necessary.

Because Mike cannot feel his feet, I take a good look at them every evening to make certain that he's not injured them in any way. Good skin and foot health ~ including taking care of toe nails and heels ~ is imperative when you have this condition.

Good luck to your dad (and you too) with all of this. Be prepared for him to go through a battery of tests to try to determine the cause of the problem. Is it possible that he might be having mini-strokes that are causing the falls instead of the peripheral neuropathy?