socks and neuropathy please read

Hello, faybe (@faybe)

Welcome to the neuropathy forum! What you describe –– "I feel like I have socks on … " –– is (surprisingly enough) an oftheard description of what neuropathy can feel like. It's not a feeling I experience, but I wanted to say hello and assure you you'll be receiving lots of responses. I'm sure you'll also receive many suggestions for how to get relief. I thought I'd jump in and at least say Welcome! so that you know your question has been heard.

I wish you great success in finding relief from your neuropathy!
Ray (@ray666)

Hi Fay @faybe, My feet feel like they are being squeezed all of the time but that's because they are as I have to wear compression socks for another condition I have in addition to my neuropathy, lymphedema. Fortunate that I don't have any pain but do have the numbness. Like Ray @ray666 mentioned, you are definitely not alone with the feeling. I did a search of Connect for "tight socks feeling" and thought you might like to scan through the discussions and comments made by other members on similar symptoms with their neuropathy. Here's the link with the search results - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=tight%20socks%20feeling.

@faybe
I have a rare genetic neuropathy and my hands and feet are involved in my issues with lots of numbness in both. Like you, I get the feeling my socks are soooo tight I cant stand it, but if I take them off it changes nothing and I have the same sensation. Other times it feels like I have a duct tape on the bottom of my feet. Random stabbing pains too. I think no matter what type of neuropathy you have, if it affects your feet you’re going to have unpleasant strange sensations. I’ve had issues with my neuropathy for 50 years. I feel for you as it’s frustrating and annoying. I do my best to ignore it. I don’t have much feeling in my fingers so it’s so frustrating trying to turn pages of a book. Just can’t feel the pages. Best of luck to you.

I also have the same feeling of too tight socks. Had pain but it has gone away for a couple months now. The tight sock feeling is really annoying but better than pain. Use Life-flo magnesium lotion in the a.m. and at night. When really uncomfortable use Ananda Topical Salve - both seem to relax my feet and can sleep.

I have likened it to duct tape on my feet

Yes, I also have the feeling of wearing calf length socks, when I am not wearing any socks at all, especially at night. I have to wear compression sleeves during the day due to venous insufficiency, and when I take those off, this starts.

Yup. First symptom I had was feeling as if my toes were wrapped in paper. Gradually moved up toward my ankles, and felt as if the layer of tissue immediately under the skin (but not the skin itself) was pulled too tight. Unfortunately, I decided to see if I could wait it out in hopes it might just go away, since it wasn't actively painful, and I was focused on other medical issues at the time. The delay was not ideal, although to be fair, it took about six months to finally get the correct (fairly rare) diagnosis once I finally started getting serious, so I'm not sure how much it would really have mattered if I'd gotten on top of it right away.

Do you know what type of peripheral neuropathy you have?

Thank you so much. How did you get your pain to go away? was it the lotion? God Bless you and I pray you get better.

no don't know. haven't been to neuro Doctor yet. But you explained it perfect. What kind of help did you get and did it help you? praying for you.

My neuropathy is mainly from my ankles to my knees, and the feeling to me is like a large over-inflated blood pressure cuff. I guess that may be somewhat similar to socks on the feet.