Night neuropathy pain

Hello @waters, Sorry to hear you haven't found a treatment that helps with the terrible pain at night with your feet. You aren't alone and many others have shared similar symptoms. Here's a search of Connect using "neuropathy pain at night" that lists the discussions and comments on the topic - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/.

If you haven't already checked out the list of treatments available on the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy, you might find it helpful to scan through them - https://www.foundationforpn.org/therapies/.

@waters, your symptoms are very similar to mine, with the foot and leg pain especially at night. A couple of years ago I was prescribed 300 mg of gabapentin; later a 100 mg Rx was added so I could incrementally adjust. Currently I'm taking 500 mg at bedtime only. It does help relieve that night time burning pain. My neurologist also prescribed 25 mg of trazodone as a sleep aid. That combination gets me through the night but when the meds wear off (about 6 or 7 hours after I take them) , it's like a switch was flipped, the pain is back and it's time to get moving. I do hope you can find similar relief.

@lynfrommn can't take gabapentin but will ask dr about other one thanks

@waters

I have burning heel sensation at night--something that has come on me this past winter. Before that I was pain-free with this neuropathy. I do not get the burning heel every night though so I'd like to know why sometimes I am pain free--maybe weather? I do know that taking magnesium glycinate allows me to relax and go to sleep. No side effects either. Try some feet exercises too. I notice that if I get up and walk a bit upon getting the heel burn, the pain goes away. Also, less sugary food is helpful as sugar has inflammatory properties. There are many ways to go about tackling neuropathy.

@arcuri24 I can totally relate, and my heart goes out to you. Your last sentence reminded me of something I shared on this topic some time ago. A company by the name of Watkins makes a wide range of products used in the home, from cleaning products to pure extracts used in baking, to skin care and non-medicinal aids. I found, quite by accident, a spray called Pain-Relieving Liniment Spray which I figured I might as well try. It alleviated my foot/heel pain enough to be able to get a few hours of sleep at night. I remember wondering if I had some deep-seated psychological problem because my feet would be fine until about 10:00 p.m. every single night, and then all bets were off. Now, years later, I see a pain specialist who prescribes Pregabalin and Tramadol for me, and these provide wonderful relief. However, they are not natural like the Watkins spray. I'm sure there must be other similar products as the main active ingredient is peppermint extract. I still use it every so often. It seems that treatment for P.N. is like a 1000-piece puzzle where you have to find all the pieces that come together for your own case. And still, somehow, a piece has gone missing!
Magnesium helps me, as well. Prayers for you as you journey through what it takes to bring you relief from that awful burning heel pain.
~ Barb

@bjk3 thank you that is exactly the way I feel. Sad iv not found a doctor that will help. The neuropathy Dr said yes you have it and walked out. My dr tried gabapention did nothing. Son here i sit no sleep. One thing I have found is there beauty in the wee hours.

@bjk3

Thanks for your thoughtful response. I may try to look up this Pain Relieving Liniment Spray. My neuropathy has been amplified by my having a shin shave biopsy procedure. I believe the wound has not fully healed. The dermatologist who did this dismissed my pain when I went back for check up two weeks after the procedure. It is now 9 weeks later and I have pain in my shin. I do physical therapy. I saw a second dermatologist who wanted to give my a steroid injection but I refused it so she referred me to pain management where I was offered gabapentin or celebrex. What I wanted was some kind of imaging to see what is actually going on where the surgery took place. Perhaps there is nerve damage. My next doctor will be a physiatrist at NYU who helped me before. I don't understand why doctors will not do imaging. I get mammograms every year--had one today--everything is okay but why not do imaging if a wound has not totally healed and a person is in pain? What gives with our medical system? By the way, I am also taking ALA and Vitamins D, C and Zinc plus krill oil. It is sad that my neuropathy was so manageable but now I am in a different ballgame.

@waters Please go to whatever lengths you have to, to find someone who is willing to put their medical degree into practice. Ask for referrals and to the best of your ability make sure appointments and treatments are covered by your insurance (or Medicare, etc.). It is energy-consuming but advocating for yourself needs to be persistent, patient, and kind. Medical professionals are sought by all kinds of people, and the practitioners are most likely to welcome your case or provide a referral when their efforts are met by enthusiastic gratitude. Keep seeking! You will be rewarded!
And, yes, there definitely is beauty in the wee hours. Beautifully expressed!
~ Barb

@arcuri24 Was a reason offered for not wanting to do an image? I'm not a medical care provider but I wouldn't have connected dermatology with imaging. Glad you have at least 3 docs who have given your case some consideration. If none of them can offer what you need, keep asking for referrals or for them to offer what they think may be worth trying. Maybe it is "just" a matter of time that is needed for healing of shin tissue. I haven't had a shin procedure but I did develop some kind of shin rash or dermatitis on both shins and it is taking "forever" to completely heal. If you don't have an open wound and if it is painful, you might try using a Lidocaine patch like Salonpas . It won't speed the healing but I find it does keep minor tissue/muscle/ligament pain at bay. Sometimes, even, major pain! So glad you will be seeing a physiatrist at NYU. Prayers for direction and healing ~
Barb

The second dermatologist I saw felt a shot was what was needed as the pain from the healing process could go on for months. I was disappointed that the Pain Manager, an anesthesiologist, did not want do imaging. He, along with his intern assistant seemed to favor gabapentin or celebrex. Of course, this will not tell me what is causing the pain so I was disappointed. I am sorry that your shin is taking long to heal. I believe the long healing process both in your case and mine may be due to the location--shin is sensitive and there is not much padding there so blood circulation can be an issue, age, autoimmunity and I do not know where you live but cold weather and snow have been extreme this past winter in NYC. I did try Lidocaine patch and it revved up my neuropathy so I had to stop it. After talking to AI, and doing alot of self-examination, I now think that I might have a vascular issue which could be compounded by nutrient issues due to my celiac disease. I noticed that the banding on my knee sock left an impression on the leg with the biopsy and not on the "good" leg. I also notice that when I wake up and then go out with the dog for short walk in the morning I am okay. The pain mounts as the day goes on. I also get a little relief when I do calf stretches. I hope the physiatrist can evaluate me from this perspective. Perhaps I may need to see a Lymphatic Drainage Specialist. Meanwhile, I should be glad over my mammogram result--20 years cancer free. I did alot of research on how to approach that diagnosis and now I will do the same for my leg. It is horrible to feel helpless. Thanks for your prayers--I pray that you are in a good place and that your dermatitis will heal quickly.