Sponge Feet, Tingling and Burning: What can help me to get sleep?

Posted by dablues @dablues, Jul 2, 2021

I haven't a clue if that is what I have but when I lay down to sleep my feet and legs start to tingle, burn, pins & needles and my feet always feel like a sponge or rubber. I have neck and back problems and don't know if that can make this happen or if it is neuropathy. My feet started to be like that in 2019 and the symptoms lasted for 4 months, then went away and now it's back again. Neurologist testing which I had 4 tests done in 2019 didn't provide much info except degenerating disks. So is there anything I can take for this so I can sleep at night? I toss and turn to make the numbness go away. One thing the neurologist stated was I had carpal tunnel syndrome in my right arm and that is it. I notice my hands are weaker now. I exercise twice a day, 7 days a week and once in a while will skip a day or one of the exercises but not often. Also do back and neck exercises. My feet used to be cold all the time then I started to use toe alignment socks and now my feet are not cold but I still have the sponge feeling and it's worse laying down then standing up. I'm almost 80 so I don't know what it is. Doctors don't seem to have any solution except say it is neuroptathy and nothing more. No treatments, no suggestions, nothing.

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Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Jul 3, 2021

I agree, but I also just spend hours and hours just grooming and playing games with my horses. It is great exercise and builds that bond.

bcool123 | @bcool123 | Jul 3, 2021

What are toe alignment socks and where do you get them?

dablues | @dablues | Jul 4, 2021

In reply to @bcool123 "What are toe alignment socks and where do you get them?" + (show)

Toe alignment socks are to align your toes. Mine were bunched together due to wearing spike heels back in the 60's that had the pointed toes and it ruined my feet. I got mine here but you may be able to find a less expensive site. I got 2 pairs for the money. https://www.hammacher.com/home?source=BRANDSEM&cm_ven=HS&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Branded&cm_ite=Homepage&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5bidqaPJ8QIVmOazCh3J2ApxEAAYASAAEgKMCPD_BwE

dablues | @dablues | Jul 4, 2021

In reply to @jenniferhunter "@dablues I certainly can understand your frustration with pain and tingling keeping you awake at night...." + (show)

@jenniferhunter

@dablues I certainly can understand your frustration with pain and tingling keeping you awake at night. This could be related to your spine position when you lay down because all of that moves to accommodate a change in position. If you have some instability in your spine, the vertebrae can slip over each other a little bit and that might make a big difference to the nerve that exits the spine because the space they travel through is changed by the instability. Degenerating discs can also bulge or herniate into those spaces also putting pressure on nerves or there can be arthritis bone growth. Sometimes doctors take full spine x-rays as standing and also laying down to determine if this is happening. Have you tried changing position when you sleep? My guess is that it might be worse laying on your back because that often puts extra strain on the lower back.

Another thing to look at is hip flexors. If we sit too much, hip flexors get tight pulling our hips and legs forward which increases the back strain. There are conditions with overly tight muscles that mimic spine problems by causing similar pain symptoms. You might be having this along with your spine condition. Have you worked with a physical therapist? They could help stretch out the overly tight muscles and work on core strength to help support your spine. Posture is really important and good posture reduces pressure on your spine. From your description of your symptoms laying down, it seems like you may have both nerve irritation and possible circulation issues. One question I would ask is do these symptoms completely go away when you are sitting or standing? Is it only when you lay down and what position are you in at the time? Make sure you tell your doctor exactly what causes the symptoms. Blood clots are a risk for anyone who sits too much. My mom (who uses a wheelchair) has had blood clots in her legs and has to be on blood thinners. The rubber feeling you describe sounds like decreased circulation to me, but I'm not a doctor, but you should discuss this with your doctor. You may also want to consult a spine specialist who would evaluate the changes according to spine position.

Here are some links about pelvis alignment issues and physical therapy with myofascial release which is what my PT does with me. I am a spine surgery patient and have a cervical fusion. My surgeon told me the best way to prevent needing further spine surgery was to maintain my core strength and good posture. What helps me a lot is riding my horse, just at a walk which gets me to use all my back muscles as I sit up with good posture and compensate for the walking motion of the horse. That is how equine therapy works and there are therapeutic riding centers. They wouldn't just turn you loose on a horse, you would have someone leading the horse and possibly spotters along side. You would have to ask how they work. I do know from my experience with horses that it builds back strength and it is fun since I love horses. The key is sit up as straight as you can while on the horse. I don't know what is right for you, but you can discuss this with your doctor or physical therapist. If you wanted to simulate this without the horse, you can sit on a large therapy ball and move like you are riding a horse, but that is something to do with a physical therapist or helper because I don't know what is safe for you. There are also some inflatable cushions you can put on a chair and do this too.

This article is technical, but you can take this to your doctor and ask if this is affecting you.
https://mskneurology.com/identify-treat-lumbar-plexus-compression-syndrome-lpcs/
About myofascial release or MFR (watch the video of John Barnes treating a patient for a tight pelvis)
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/

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I am constantly changing positions all night long. Doesn't last for more than a minute or so. Thanks for the links will check them out.

dablues | @dablues | Jul 30, 2021

I am having problems with my fee feeling like sponges, pins and needles in my legs. The feet feel like that all the time. Had it before for 4 months, went away on it's own. Back again for the past few months. I also do have back and neck problems. I was scheduled by my Neurologist to have a MRI on Monday for the lumbar spine. Got a call that my pre-authorization was denied. The doctors office called to get this straightened out but they couldn't. When I called the company their statement was you had treatment a while back and since too much time has passed you need to start all over again. I asked them what they meant all over again. I didn't have anything else done when I was better so why would I go back for treatment if nothing was wrong?

My problem is at night when I try to sleep. No matter what position I'm in after about 1 to 2 hours I wake up with my burning in my feet and bottom of my legs, and numbness in arms, and hands. So I need to reposition myself to make the numbness go away. I don't know now what to do since I cannot have the MRI to see whether the back is the problem affecting my arms and legs.

I am scheduled for a nerve study again, which I had done a back in 2020 which they didn't find anything except said I had carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand. Now, I don't know if the insurance company will even let me have that study done. I cannot pay for these tests completely. I'm almost 80 and don't make that much money.

Any suggestions on what to do now since I cannot get anything done by anybody.

Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Jul 30, 2021

In reply to @dablues "I am having problems with my fee feeling like sponges, pins and needles in my legs...." + (show)

@dablues I am sure that is so frustrating and not sleeping because of being in pain is no good either. Are you on Medicare? If so, it might be worth a call to Medicare to find out why you are being denied and to also call your insurance if you have supplemental insurance and ask exactly what you need to do to seek diagnosis and treatment. When my mom who was in her 80's she had leg pain that she described as red hot pokers, she was sent to pain management for spine injections and had about 3 of them. She has also taken gabapentin to help with nerve pain, and hasn't needed a spine injection for several years. She is 91 now.

Do you think a phone call or two might help?

dablues | @dablues | Jul 30, 2021

In reply to @jenniferhunter "@dablues I am sure that is so frustrating and not sleeping because of being in pain..." + (show)

I had Medicare Primary, Empire Plan Secondary and MVP Third Party and had to get rid of ALL 3 because after 22 years of having to deal with insurance companies, billers, etc., it was making me too upset. Trying to get the bills paid with those 3 insurances was a nightmare, so I went to one insurance which was Cigna HMO, and Medicare is part of it. I'm done with insurance companies, billers, etc. Had enough. The other reason why I quit all three insurances is because the third party which is my husband's insurance was the only one that picked up the balance of my bills but he is 83 sickly, and if something happens to him first I would have had to pay the full shot to keep his insurance and my income wouldn't be enough to do this.

Medicare paid 80%. My secondary didn't pay anything unless I was half dead because I never made my deductible. Maybe once or twice in all the years living in GA did they pay anything. I did not realize when I moved to GA I had to have in network doctors and THAT was MY FAULT for not checking. I'm originally from Albany, NY and lived in several Cities besides Albany, before moving to GA.

In Georgia none of my doctors took my secondary Empire Plan. They did take my husband's Cigna plan so was fortunate at that time to get my bills paid.

I switched to CIGNA HMO in January and at that time it was the only one that would insure me. I'm in the process of trying to change again but doubt I can get it since some of the questions I answered which were truthful, evidently they didn't like and denied me. So be it.

No sense in my calling my HMO or Medicare part because I already know the answer. They said it was too long before I saw a doctor again. Well sorry, I didn't need to. It wasn't bothering me at the time. I need to now. I have to start all over. They can't seem to tell me what all over means.

My problem arose after I had the Shingrix Vaccine in the latter part of 2019 which gave me really bad side effects, of burning throughout the body, legs, tingling pins and needles, etc. and also major panic attacks. My legs did not work, could hardly walk, unsteady, etc. The only doctor who told me it was from the Shingrix vaccine was my therapy doctor, not the therapist. I knew it was from vaccine because it happened right after the second dose. This lasted 4 months then just disappeared. In between the 4 months I was told to see a urologist, plus I opted for therapy as My legs did not work ,

I had a complete workup from the urologist including brain scan, EMG, MRI Cervical. The only thing showed was carpal tunnel syndrome. As for the therapy, I still do back exercises at home, treadmill twice a day. Now the same thing came back except for the burning isn't throughout the body, but my feet do not work right, burning in feet and legs ONLY while sleeping and numbness in arms.

I am tired of trying to take care of myself and you have to be half dead before it appears you can be treated properly. I don't go to the doctors when NOT needed, but I do when needed and now I can't even get the test, and who knows, maybe I can't get the nerve test either.

I'm in the process of trying to get a better insurance but doubt it will go through since it hasn't been two years that has passed with the problems I had previously and why I only could get the insurance I have now but decided to go for it and see if they will insure me with a better company or I should say a better policy. I don't think they will since the two years are not up yet. I don't know where I'll be when the two years are up. I'm old now.

So if someone has any ideas if I should see some other type of doctor for this or not. Was thinking orthopedic but I'm not a doctor and don't want to waste my money or the insurance companies money. If no one has any input on what doctor to see other than neurologist would appreciate it. Other than that, I guess I'll have to see if I can heal myself, even though I doubt I can.

Amanda Roe | @amandajro | Aug 1, 2021

In reply to @dablues "I am having problems with my fee feeling like sponges, pins and needles in my legs...." + (show)

@dablues I am sorry this continue to affect you and also that you are having trouble with insurance covering an MRI.

You will notice that I have moved this more recent post into the original discussion you started on the same topic.

If a neurologist feels your symptoms are a result of back pain, it would seem reasonable for them to order that as a diagnostic test. Did your neurologist order it as such or was it put in as a request from you?

dablues | @dablues | Aug 2, 2021

In reply to @amandajro "@dablues I am sorry this continue to affect you and also that you are having trouble..." + (show)

The doctor ordered it. I didn't ask them to do anything. I just explained what was happening. So, at a loss now what to do. I called them but it was Friday and they didn't get back to me. Will call them again today which is Monday. I am not getting enough sleep because I'm moving all night long. I even bought a wedge leg exerciser to raise my legs at night to see if that would help. It doesn't. Always about 1-2 hours after I'm asleep it starts and wakes me up and this continues all night long. I have to keep moving position for it to stop, or stand up and it will stop. I think maybe that is why he thought to do the back. I do have neck and back problems. But, my feet feel so weird. That happened after my Shingrix shot in 2020 but it finally went away and it's back again. So, I don't know. Just wish I could find out.