Is it advisable to do exercise when affected by Small Fiber Neuropathy? Which activities would you suggest and how intense should they be?

Disclaimer, I hold a diagnosis not a medical degree.

YES! However - Stop before feeling worse! Exercise should keep you in bed for a week when you're done. Even if you can only walk for 5 minutes, that is OK! Every little bit will slowly help you in the long run. It will take time to get to where you would like to be, give it time. Each day if you can do even just a minute of bending/stretching/walking etc. it will add up and help you improve your goal. Helping your blood flow in general is a good thing - However, if you notice things getting worse - I mean considerably worse after an extremely short amount of time STOP and place that call into your dr. Do not force your self to overdo it - or make your self-worse than before.

Some people have found relief with exercise while others are unable to exercise due to autonomic issues and lack of sensation and balance. Many find relief with wafer/pool exercises.

I had some very bad experiences that wasted many months and made conditions worse.

IF you are unfortunate enough to live in a country who's health system is financially based, BEWARE of Physical Therapists.

I found for my pains, which are not my top complaints, that I had excellent results for most areas, almost all, via "Deep Tissue" Massage from an exceptional chiropractor who did labor intensive massage and one other massage therapist. Many times I found people who were PTs who did this work ONE DAY and then gave you a bunch of exercises to do and 100% of those made my motor nerve issue pain WORSE. The point was to do no work and get paid by my Medicaid insurance.

I can't afford the massage therapists because I am on Medicaid and not Medicare but that worked for me for most areas and most exercises that PTs gave me were COUNTER-productive. However, IF/when I am well enough to use SMOOTH MOTION MODERN gym machines at a gym, I can improve my strength and support muscles that would atrophy much faster. Unfortunately for me the year round flu symptoms limit my going to a gym but in a perfect world I would go 2x/week.

Most gyms are going to better and better quality motion machines and you only have to try them at the lowest or zero weight to see how it will feel and stretch you. In the USA Hammerstrength and Cybex are good examples and the cable types are poorer quality. In Europe the more expensive lines "Argento/Silver" of Technogym from Italia have most of the best machines but for shoulders and chest I would say PANATTA Sport were way better. You want the smoothest motion that builds muscle while not irritating any ligaments or nerves. Ideal gyms would have the best of each line but this is never the case. If you are well enough and have enough money and time, go to 2 or 3 gyms to get the best equipments for different muscle groups.

Consider that everyone's body is different so you have to try things to see what will work and most personal trainers at gyms know zilch about SFPN but may have heard of ASL, if they are informed.

To me it is clear what is exercising the muscles and growing them and what is irritating the nerves which can come in form of innocent stretching exercises since your PT does not have SFPN or even Fibromyalgia and in either case, does not live in your body. Pay close attention and reject anything that aggravates your nerves. In MY experience, the Physical Therapists do not listen or take this into consideration. If it makes you worse, don't do it.

I am going to leave my contact with a lot of caveats. I will respond to folks who are polite enough to write with a first, last name, location and share info about their SFPN or loved one's SFPN prior to questions. Think polite Victorian letters. MarkLazersonATLiveDotCom - Consider that I respond usually on the first part of the weekends, DEPENDING on weather changes and how miserable I am. I am not compatible with folks who use Zombie Phones or Social Media sites as I do not "text" and am emoji-free. Computer E-Mail is my level of comfort. Please think of me (2022) as 88, not 58 which is more accurate. I'm empathetic, direct, honest but also tactless at time and a bit of a curmudgeon. A little bit of Bert, a little bit of Ernie.