Does laying down make your neuropathy worse?

That’s what I dislike about sleeping.
Neuropathy does get worse at night.
Due to the combination of pain and not feeling my hands and legs I end up with anxiety. Sometimes I can calm myself down sometimes I have to take something. When you are up moving around your body is busy meaning brain neurons. Your brain has other things it’s focused on slow down and the pain to me is worse. Your brain is no longer busy. I wish I could walk in my sleep and we both know that’s not going to happen. I have noticed sometimes sleeping with TED Hose on helps. I get a prescription from my doctor 20-30 compression and I buy the knee Highs. The only person that will see you is your spouse. A lot of men put them on flying long distances for DVT. (Deep Vein Thrombosis aka blood clots)I fly to and from Germany a lot a 10 hour flight from DFW.

I find it doesn't matter if I lay down, sit in a chair, stand, walk or anything, the degree of intensity does not change with my PN. it's constant and always there even sleeping. One small symptom of several that does change is my balance. I have some better days than others on balance, far and few between but never good balance.

Yes, I hurt more when lying down but when I absolutely MUST, I lie down on sofa or bed, sometimes fall into a quasi sleep but the whole time aware of the pain that seems to come in waves from toes to cranium. I lie there for generally no more than 25 minutes to about an hour or so. Then I literally FORCE myself to get up. I don't have a housekeeper, etc., so I need to get up to prepare a meal or at least find a deliberately-set-aside left over. After being upright for about 30 minutes, I do feel a bit better, and most of the pain has subsided (although not gone!). In the morning, same thing. If I've had an especially difficult night due to cramps/spasms in legs/feet/calves, and throbbing pain-spots (buttocks, back, arms, shoulders), I find that body pain will dissipate once I am upright, walking, and looking forward to my café con leche caliente.
Sitting still or lying down can make my body "chill" and then permits pain to set in, so I make sure to get up and DO something, like laundry, light vacuuming (hurts my hands/fingers). I'm referring to PAIN, whether neuropathic or fibromyalgic, which is not helped by just "being still." Walk around the house, do "laps" around the kitchen island, bring laundry upstairs or go to basement pantry. The point is to MOVE. I don't give in to pain unless it is intense (Pain Levels 6-7 to a 9 out of 10). Then I listen to my body telling me I have to take the time to do more, like apply heat or a pain balm, take Aleve or aspirin (the only things my primary and cardiologist approve, especially since I have gastric issues as well). Gentle stretches also help.

Each person has favorite things to employ, and these are some of what works for me. Living with constant pain (from various sources) can be very discouraging, distressing, and depressing. I've learned to modify activities or just "let them go" if they are not that important nor really add much value to what is now my life. That has brought a release from resentment for what I cannot do, and a sense of relief and more gratitude for what I accept and embrace.

@delia74 Good for you! My belief is to concentrate on what you can do and not what you can't do. And, it seems to me that you also do the same. You said get up "and do something"...to me, that is the key and to keep moving in some fashion is necessary. Like you and many others on this site, I live with back and knee pain each day. However, I have learned to cope with it and work within my abilities and try not to do things that increase the neuropathy. Ok, so I'm not on a trampoline anymore but I manage to do what I can. Glad to see you do the same. Be well, keep moving. Ed

Gracias, NJ Ed🌺.
You gave up the trampoline, and I gave up belly-dancing (a LONG time ago!).🤣
Seriously, I had moves in my youth that no way could be done today .
I thank my 75 yr old body for the all the things I USED to do: Middle Eastern dance, aerobics instructor for pre-teens, fast-paced walking (I do miss that), all the walking while chaperoning my students all over Spain and Portugal, and so much more. I treasure those memories.

As an aside, all of those activities (and exercise) paid off. After bone density and MRI testing, I was told that I have "...the bone density of a 25 yr old." Made me feel good! I had a horrific fall onto concrete floor (warehouse store negligence) and not one fracture. Serious issues like torn meniscus, tendon tears, and more, but orthopedists and radiologists indicated not one fracture, just one "bone bruise" in the knee.

Wishing you the best🌺 and days with less pain.

I found that bending both my knees and ankles while lying on my back helps decrease the nerve pain in my feet at night. My theory is that the bending slows the transmission of pain impulses to the brain.

I agree with Ed that lying down increases the burning and churning. Also, semi-sitting with knees up for book-reading doesn't bother me. But at night, I've just tried CBD cream for two nights and it seems to increase the heat and burning. I wake up every two-three hours a night with burning, and have to take a tylenol, or nerve depressant ("Nerve Savior" or "Nerve Control 911" or Gabapentin. Rather than nap lying down, I sit up with my head on the back of the couch, and I sleep better with no burning.
Barb

Reading all of these pain issues wondering why I read no mention of Gabapentin for serious pain relief. Taking 500mg 3X daily without pain or minimal if present. Definitely some memory issues I deal with rather than pain.

@fbw57
Not everyone can tolerate pain meds. There are MANY to which I've had horrid reactions, and gabapentin is just one of them. ONE dose made what I'd been feeling seem like a cake walk compared to what I had to endure until it "washed out" of my system. You are fortunate that it's worked for you with tolerable side effects.👍🏼

Interesting thing. My neuropathy pain gets worse in the evening and more when I go to bed. I have noticed in my readings that a lot of people say they experience pain getting worse in the evening. So I don't know if it's lying down or something about our change in activity as the day progresses.I would like to hear from someone who has a night job. Their circadian rhythm is different.