In three of my toes on my right foot I have "altered sensation." I heard it best described by a neurologist online who equate it to feeling like your socks are bunched up. When it first started, I was constantly checking for this just that...my socks being bunched up between my toes.

Sometimes when I'm flaring it spreads to above my ankle, and it feels like my whole foot is wrapped in plastic wrap...or something like that.

At no point do I lose feeling in them. I can pass a pin prick test. If anything, I feel more than I should versus less.

i dont understand how you can have numbness yet full feeling. i have severe numbness in both feet and legs up to the knee.I cant feel anything in the pin prick test. my hands are going numb also but not as bad yet. numbness is decreased sensation. by the way numbness is classified as pain.

So I wouldn't be correct in calling what I am feeling as numbness.. Perhaps altered sensation like Janie's said would be more accurate

i think that dysesthesia is the term for what you are experiencing.

Amazing! Both of these(in red) are exactly how I first described my numbness to my doctor.

Of course, my PN is "idiopathic"...:shrug: I originally theorized that Cryoglobulinemia was the culprit. But, I've cleared my Hep C infection, and thus the possible source of the Cryoglobulinemia, but the numbness persists.

Sometimes they feel a little less numb than at other times, but it is always there
I've had this symptom now for at least 6 months now.. I've been taking many supplements which seem to have helped with the burning ( fingers crossed knock on wood) so I'm hoping this issue might eventually resolve, or at least not worsen..

..

I recall seeing this previously referred to on this forum and elsewhere as "folded sock syndrome." I get that when wearing shoes, and sometimes the sensation that the toes of my socks are wet. When barefoot it feels like a sticky note is stuck to the underside of my toes.

I think altered sensation is a better way of describing it - my husband has the "sock balled up in his shoe" sensation a lot and says it feels like walking on lumps.

His PN is also in his hands and he has trouble with cups, bowls, plates - they feel like they are slipping out of his hands, although they aren't. Makes for a few "accidents" because he then overcompensates and tips them anyway

The joys of neuropathy!

Linda

I often explain to people I have full body "numbness" but it's not totally numb. Certain areas are more numb than others in a rather patchy pattern. A pinprick cannot be felt on my back right shoulder but can be felt on my left. But my feet which cause the most problems with pain if used too much, can feel the pinpricks. But just above my ankle on both legs really cannot feel the pinprick at all. At the same time I have not lost hot/cold sensation, but it has diminished a bit.

My neurologist says this is normal in sfn. I think, but am not sure that my sensitivities to the pinprick test do vary from time to time.
When asked by a non medical person to describe my condition I say I have paresthesia. Which I then must define, and usually just call it numbness and pins and needles.

While I have whole body altered sensation/numbness - it's just impossible to quantify the percent/degree. When it started 2 years ago it was maybe 10-15% - maybe now it's 20-30%. Who knows? There is no yardstick to measure with. It's very difficult and frustrating to figure out. Especially since going from zero to 10% numbness was a frightening game changer, but going from 10% to 20% isn't that scary as one tends to acclimate. It would be nice just to know where it ends.

Sorry, that started to turn into a vent.

Many feel as you do. Progression is not unusual. You are correct tho; - one does tends to acclimate.


Gerry