Night Time Discomfort

Have you tried compression stockings that go over the knee? When you are up and moving around, there is better blood flow and pressure on nerves. When you lie down, the pressure is off and tissues expand which may irritate nerves.

I was diagnosed with sfn 6 years ago, and for about a year now, my symptoms are exactly the same as yours . Sometimes I need help to sleep with CBD/THC, or melatonin, or magnesium formulated for sleep.
For about two months my left foot is completely numb, scary. First five years wasn't so bad. Must be the progression of neuropathy.

@pah17, What you describe with how your legs feel at night is pretty much the same for me. Are you by chance a side sleeper? My legs have kind of a heavy or funny feeling when I lay down at night in bed. I do wear compression socks during the day to keep the swelling down in my legs as I also have lymphedema. My right leg is a little worse but both legs feel squeezed during the day while I'm wearing the compression socks but they don't hurt. It does feel better as soon as I take the socks off but then when I lay down I have trouble getting comfortable. I have found using a small travel pillow between my legs just above the knees seems to help some, especially when sleeping on my sides. I'm not sure there is anything that is pretty typical about the progression of neuropathy due to a lot of different possible causes and each of us being a little different.

Do you have any swelling of your legs during the day?

John, I used to do that before I got so restless at night. Between the tossing and turning and having to re-adjust the pillow, I stopped.

I have recently found using a good Magnesium cream on my legs helps reduce the pain and helps me sleep. Ancient Minerals magnesium lotion works well for me.

Your situation is not uncommon, at least that's what my doctor told me.

You're active during the day, the pain is there but your brain is focused on other activities, Combine that with the effects of Gabapentin and the pain isn't as bad. Your brain is focuesed on very little as you start to fall asleep, that's when the brain concentrates more on the pain and tells you there may be a problem.

I have some extremely painful days and many more painful nights. My doctor recommended vitamin B injections twice a month, it's a game changer when it works, other people have told me does nothing for them.

It's a difficult road but somehow we all must learn to cope with it. I rarely use pain killers because they hide the sensation of pain and that reduces your tolerate to pain. I took Ambien for a long time, it's not a painkiller, it's a sleep aide that knocks you out. I finally admitted to myself that being knocked out wasn't a solution.

Try taking one of your Gabapentins half and hour before bedtime, it may help. I wish you the best.

I my case Lidocaine patches applied to the bottom of my feet help a lot. I had to experiment with different brands to find the right stickiness - not too sticky but also not coming off at night. Additionally, I wear socks which help most nights. Sometimes they bother me in the middle of the night and I have to take them off. Extended Pain Relief Numbing Patches from TIDL are my favorite Lidocaine patches right now. Normally I cut the patches in half to save some money, but when I really need help - I can still run - I apply a whole patch on each foot and the relief lasts into the morning when I am out for my run.

Additionally, during the day, Naboso Neuropathy or Activation insoles help me a lot. Also their Foot Recovery socks. The nerve activating texture in the socks and on the insoles overwrites the hypersensitivity caused by my PN.