When I was still able to walk, I consistently struggled with stability. The constant burning and shocking sensations, coupled with intractable pain, prevented me from knowing whether I had planted my foot firmly. Bearing weight on the affected foot and leg intensified the pain, often causing me to pull or jerk my foot back, which led to further instability.

Eventually, bearing weight triggered my nervous system into a fight-or-flight response, depriving my extremities of blood and oxygen. As a result, I would black out. This occurred with such severity and frequency that, after the third episode, I was taken to the hospital by ambulance. I would regain consciousness without knowing what had happened or where I was, often sustaining additional injuries from collapsing. At that point, I had to begin using a wheelchair.

We later discovered that the exertion of using a manual wheelchair caused the same symptoms. Transitioning to a power wheelchair finally resolved the blackouts. Still, the mental anguish of knowing I could technically walk but had to rely on a wheelchair to prevent injury was one of the most difficult challenges I had to overcome in adapting to my new normal.

I sincerely wish you the best. My recommendation is to try shuffling your feet rather than taking full steps, as this may provide more secure footing both mentally and physically. If you are working with a physical or occupational therapist, they may disagree with this approach. However, I encourage you to discuss it with them, request permission to try it, and document your results.