Nightly Neuropathy Pain
 

Why does neuropathy pain become so intense once you go to bed at night? I feel the pain starting around 8pm and by the time I get ready for bed, it hurts so bad that I obviously can't sleep and become so agitated that I almost loose my mind. I try to watch TV or work a puzzle book, but have no concentration due to the pain. Does anyone have the same trouble and if so, please share what you do.

I take 2 vicidon's and 2 xanax and sometimes get relief.

Thanks,
dimples1945

Often--
 

--this seems to be due to the lack of conflicting sensations competing with the pain that are more prevalent during the activity of the day. Pain signals are actually the slowest-travelling signals in the nervous system, so that can be interfered with or out-competed by other sensations, but when these oter sensations are in short supply . . .

If you're having actual nerve pain, BTW, there are lots of other things you can try that are generally more effective than what you reported taking--have you ever had any trials of anti-epileptic meds (i.e., Neurtontin/gabapentin, Lyrica/pregabalin, Topomax) or anti-depressants (such as Elavil)?

Sorry, I failed to mention that I currently take 3600mg of Gabapentin and have for several years. I was also taking 60mg of Cymbalta but for cost reasons, now take 75mg of Venlafaxine. I felt that perhaps the Gabapentin was not doing its job, therefore I cut down on the dose and had even worse pain. So it was helping. When I increased the dose back to 3600mg I still have more pain, than I did before I decreased the dose. I decreased the dose trying to get off as many meds as I could because I am in Stage 3 Renal Failure and Nephyologist is concerned that I take too many meds.

I go back to the Neurologist who diagnosed me with neuropathy in both feet (also have it in my hands and arms) in two weeks. I will be asking for something in addition to the Gabapentin such as Lyrica. Something has to work!!! I know I am not alone in this.

Last night the pain was so intense, that I had a panic attack. Couldn't be still and couldn't catch my breath! I have had panic attacks before, but they haven't been associated with neuropathy.

You comment that ...if I am having actual nerve pain... does it sound like it could be something else to you? Or are you questioning my pain? Sorry I didn't understand your comment.:confused:

Thanks,
dimples1945:)

No--
 

--it's just that before you mentioned the gabapentin and Cymbalta, it sounded like you had been prescribed meds that arenot typically prescribed first for nerve pain but more often for other conditions. (Opiates are sometimes used for nerve pain but usually in conjunction with anti-epileptics and anti-depressants).

What kind of testing have you had to try to find a cause for this? And--do you get copies of those test results so you can track them and have them for future reference? A lot of people use the Liza Jane spreadsheets, which were created for that purpose:

www.lizajane.org

And I would definitely suggest you come visit the peripheral neuropathy section here at Neurotalk if you haven't already:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/fo...sprune=-1&f=20

No I have not been getting copies of labs/tests. Stupid me!:(
My insurance is changing the 1st and I have 6 doctor appts. the next two weeks. I will def be asking for all info.

Have had nerve conduction study done on arms and legs. I am not diabetic and docs have said they don't know why I have neuropathy.

Thanks so much for the info on 'Liza Jane'. Printing them all of right now. And I will visit the peripheral neuropathy forum.

Thank you so much,
dimples1945

Doctor prescribed Requip (for RLS) and Elavil. Has made all the difference in the world. Thank goodness!:wink:

I'm glad to read that you're feelling so much better. :-)

I wanted to add that nerve pain can be from low vitamin B12. I experienced pretty intense nerve pain for years prior to having a lot of B12 replacement.

Recently I hurt my back and had a lot of pain for a month. Now I find that I have some of the old nerve pain back in my thighs, which I attribute to the stress of the back pain.

I have been using a lot of vitamin B12 lozenges, and am surprised that wasn't enough to keep the intense burning pain in my thighs from coming back. It must be that the stress of the back pain somehow leached out my B12 stores that were keeping away the burning pain in my thighs.

Which boils down to: If you have nerve pain, vitamin B12 can help, and if you have a LOT of pain, the amount of B12 needed is increased.

Or--
 

--that compression issues in the back were impinging on nerves that track down the legs/thighs and producing symptoms.

If one has kept up one's B12 ingestion, it is highly unlikely that this new pain/sensory disruption is from depletion of B12 stores, but more likley from biomechanical issues.

Not to say that B12 isn't important for neuroprotection and rebuilding, but it's not the only issue in nerve conditions, and sometimes not the primary one.

My doctor's suggested adding magnesium to my meds. They said its known
for helping with pain.

I also have to take iron, because its low.

Donna:grouphug:

Yup, that's what my neurologist always said, or thereabouts.

But the fact is that B12 ingestion if always the same is not capable of keeping B12 levels where they should be if there are additional stresses or additional pain.

I say that from experience.

:)