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Peripheral Neuropathy - Shooting Foot Pains at Night

Posted by tlund @tlund, May 6 9:58pm

Does anyone have experience with symptoms like the following? I apparently have bilateral peripheral neuropathy in my feet. The worst symptom is, if I've been active on my feet during the day, overnight I get shooting pain that seems like it's coming from my plantar fascia. Depending on the night, pain feels like cramping to an electrical shock feeling. Pain lasts only a second, but then repeats every 30 seconds or so until I get up. I get awakened 2-5 times a night by this - very disrupted night sleep.
During the daytime, no foot pain while I'm active. But shortly after, the bottom of the feet have a pins-and-needles sensation.
Lyrica reduces the night pain level somewhat. Any suggestions on causes or therapies to try would be greatly appreciated.

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bowersra | @bowersra | May 8 11:38am
In reply to @dlydailyhope "@tlund Have you been formally diagnosed with PN? Do you know the cause? Did they do..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

@tlund
Have you been formally diagnosed with PN? Do you know the cause? Did they do EMGs/nerve conduction studies? Were you tested for small fiber neuropathy with a skin punch biopsy? I have PN and Safe and take 100 mg Gabapentin at night, alpha Lipoic acid and Acetyl l carnitine supplements for nerve pain, Calm magnesium supplement to help nerves, especially at night, Salonpas lidocaine pain patches, capsaicin or lidocaine creams, etc.

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I have tried them all
Really ever cream, pill…
Lyrica cause double vision right away.. grabention makes everything worse
Hot and cold treatment help some…
When you have neuropathy ever Doctor doesn’t make sure there aren’t other problems that are Cather pain..
I also have both ankle very stiff…

REPLY
tlund | @tlund | May 8 12:19pm
In reply to @dlydailyhope "@tlund Have you been formally diagnosed with PN? Do you know the cause? Did they do..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

@tlund
Have you been formally diagnosed with PN? Do you know the cause? Did they do EMGs/nerve conduction studies? Were you tested for small fiber neuropathy with a skin punch biopsy? I have PN and Safe and take 100 mg Gabapentin at night, alpha Lipoic acid and Acetyl l carnitine supplements for nerve pain, Calm magnesium supplement to help nerves, especially at night, Salonpas lidocaine pain patches, capsaicin or lidocaine creams, etc.

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Thank you! Yes, diagnosed with bilateral idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, even though nerve conduction studies/EMGs showed no damage to long nerves and skin punch biopsy at Johns Hopkins did not support small fiber neuropathy.
Like you, using Salonpas lidocaine patches - they help with needles-and-pins sensations in the feet. A new doctor has started me on alpha lipoic acid and vitamin B1. She also prescribed magnesium - seems to upset my stomach, but may try it again since you've had some luck with it. I tried Rugby capsaicin cream but feet had burning sensation when I exercised, and no help on night pains.
Appreciate your experience and advice!

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tlund | @tlund | May 8 12:29pm
In reply to @kathyv66 "I have chemo-induced neuropathy. Initially, I experienced pain overnight like what you are describing. I tried..." + (show)
@kathyv66

I have chemo-induced neuropathy. Initially, I experienced pain overnight like what you are describing. I tried accupuncture for about 6 months. The pain went away completely, however the numbness remains. My practitioner did say up front that he had experienced good success with relieving pain but wouldn't likely be able to resolve the numbness (although it did improve a bit). I also started wearing barefoot shoes - initially in the house and outside, now just in the house.

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Thank you kathyv66! In the area of "misery loves company," was interesting that someone else has/had similar overnight pains.
Glad that acupuncture worked for you. I tried 4 sessions, but no help in my case.
On footwear, I now never go barefoot. I wear Hokas with orthotics while outside and often inside. One doctor recommended Nike slides with good arch support for inside, and I've had good luck with them.

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1 reply
tlund | @tlund | May 8 12:54pm
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @tlund, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @kathyv66, @dlydailyhope and..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hello @tlund, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @kathyv66, @dlydailyhope and others. There is another discussion you might find helpful for suggestions:
-- Neuropathy Pain at Night: What helps?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/night-pain-2/

You might also find the list of complementary and alternative treatments on the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy helpful - https://www.foundationforpn.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Complementary-and-Alternative-Treatments-Revised-2020-final.-1.pdf

Have you looked into any complementary or alternative treatments?

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John, thank you for being a mentor and thank you for the great links to related discussions! You are right that I have two overlapping initial messages - the first one did not show up on the web page, so I prepared another similar message. Now both messages appear - sorry.
The complementary treatments I have tried, and results, are as follows. Lyrica 50 mg reduces night foot pain, but higher doses or a daytime does leave me too groggy and spacey. Could not tolerate Cymbalta (stomach issues and headache). Ice gel packs on feet help at night. Surprisingly, so does taking a hot bath. Plantar fasciitis boots help a little.
I'm a fan of using lidocaine patches on the bottoms of my feet at night. Tried Rugby capsaiscin cream but it made the bottom of my feet feel burning, and it didn't provide any relief.
A sports medicine doctor is doing nerve blocks on individual foot nerves. When she's found a nerve contributing to foot pain, she is doing prolotherapy (injection of a sugar solution near the nerve to create more space for the nerve and nourish the nerve) - that is helping someone. She suggested alpha lipoic acid, vitamin B1 (I already get ample B12 from a daily vitamin) and magnesium. Just started them 2 weeks ago, so too early to tell. Plus, the magnesium seems to irritate my stomach.
I occasionally use a TENS unit when daytime pins-and-needles sensations are bad. It seems to reduce those sensations.
I tried acupunture, but it didn't help me.
Hope this summary helps others.

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kathyv66 | @kathyv66 | May 8 3:33pm
In reply to @tlund "Thank you kathyv66! In the area of "misery loves company," was interesting that someone else has/had..." + (show)
@tlund

Thank you kathyv66! In the area of "misery loves company," was interesting that someone else has/had similar overnight pains.
Glad that acupuncture worked for you. I tried 4 sessions, but no help in my case.
On footwear, I now never go barefoot. I wear Hokas with orthotics while outside and often inside. One doctor recommended Nike slides with good arch support for inside, and I've had good luck with them.

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I did alot more than 4 sessions of accupuncture before it made a difference. I think initially, it was 2-3 times a week for a month or so and then reduced to twice and then once per week for months

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