@catro
I'm sorry that I didn't see your message sooner. Have things improved over the past couple of months?

I have similar symptoms, Catro. Similar in that as soon as I lie down or lean back in the recliner with my feet on an ottoman, they start in on burning pain. My daytime pain level is very unpredictable. My lowest pain is at 2, but it will go up to 8 fairly quickly. My feet and ankles hurt when I'm standing still, when I'm driving, and when I'm walking.

The pain is sometimes lessened by wearing loose socks. Other times I have to be barefoot because the socks (and anything else) cause pain by contact.

In bed, I have a pillow to keep between my legs so they don't touch each other, and another pillow under my feet. I have a blanket lifter to keep the bedding from touching my feet. I sleep on my side usually, though I have to lie on my back and prop up my head so I don't feel suffocated and have a panic attack. Sometimes I can rest my feet on the feather pillow, but sometimes I have to arrange my feet so only the heels are on the pillow and the rest of my feet hang off it. If that doesn't work I dangle them off the edge of the bed. Wherever they are, I can't let them touch each other. Wherever they make contact, there will be pain.

I use lidocaine cream on the burning areas, to numb the pain long enough to get to sleep, or sitting in my recliner, or driving. It helps, but it's very much temporary.

Are there certain things that start your pain? Can you find a position of comfort, even if it's just for a short time? Can you tolerate shoes? Have you found a certain shoe you can wear?

Each of us in these discussions about neuropathy are always on the lookout for new things to try - things that have helped others may or may not work for you or me.

I have sleep apnea and use a Bipap machine. It improves my sleep health enough that I don't wake up every night because of pain. Sleep's an important contributor to overall health. Before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea I snored a lot and stopped breathing, so I was chronically tired from sleep deprivation. What a change a CPAP machine made in my life. Sleep is good.

What things have helped you? If you could share those things with us, it could help a lot of people. I suppose you've read some of the things people have posted here. I hope that we can offer you some support and ideas.

Jim

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