Not sure what is happening to me when trying to sleep, perhaps some kind of intense diabetic neuropathy ?

[Zammo]

I have numb toes and lack of feeling in the feet. I have a nerve feeling in feet, tingling, burning, etc. So definitely likely diabetic neuropathy but what is scaring the hell out of me is when I lie down to sleep, regardless of time of day or night (so main sleep or a nap), within seconds of shutting my eyes to try and drift off my feet will go insane with electrical tingling and burning beyond anything else, absolutely awful, 10x worse, and my toes become even more numb and my feet feel like they will snap if flexing. This has happened every night for the last 8 nights, I got symptoms of DN 2 weeks ago. I immediately wake up even though I never really fall asleep.

I only manage to stay asleep when not slept at all for 2 or 3 nights, and even then it is about 4 hours. I am exhausted. I want to know what is going on and how do I fix it, I know DN can't be reversed, but something must be going on with my brain in those seconds of trying to fall to sleep. I can go from mild buzzing and burning with relatively easy to flex feet, to intense tingling so strong I feel my feet have been electrified at the highest setting, all within 5 seconds, just because I closed my eyes to try and drift off.

What is likely happening here ?

So to reiterate.......

1. Lies down in bed, regular annoying tingling and burning
2. Shuts eyes to drift off
3. Within 5 seconds, instant mega tingling and burning of feet, feet become much more stiff, entire soles burning like they are in a fire
4. Wake up (although never really asleep as it was 5 seconds), sensation eases off, stay laying there
5. Shuts eyes to drift off again
6. Within 5 seconds, instant mega tingling and burning of feet.............and so on, repeat

 

[Lakeslover]

Hi @Zammo,

I saw in your other post that your doctor thinks this is likely to be due to back pain.

If there is a trapped nerve or similar in your spine it is more than likely that lying down could increase the pain. Try sleeping in different positions and see if that helps.

 

[Zammo]

Hi @Zammo,

I saw in your other post that your doctor thinks this is likely to be due to back pain.

If there is a trapped nerve or similar in your spine it is more than likely that lying down could increase the pain. Try sleeping in different positions and see if that helps.

Thanks, but sadly different positions don't help, I have tried every position known to man, also it only happens when drifting off to sleep, not just lying down. I honestly think the doctor assuming it is my back is just wishful thinking. I would have thought my high out of control diabetes for a few years would be more a sign to a doctor than some backache I had a long time ago. His only reason for saying he doesn't think it DN is because it came on very sudden, but it could easily have been slowly happening without me feeling it until finally the nerves broke.

Sorry if I ramble, just running on empty right now and terrified beyond belief this is forever.

 

[Lakeslover]

I understand you are scared, and you will be until you get some kind of resolution.

Your doctor is right it would be unusual for neuropathy to come on this quickly, and I also think unlikely for it to be connected to going to sleep.

Have you been doing the exercises the doctor gave you? You could also go back to the doctor and ask him to prescribe some painkillers to see if they help.

 

[grantg]

hugs not nice when tired wanting to sleep and scared to goto sleep. Probably sounds a little silly, but have you tried some of the physio exercises you were given just beforehand alongside tried both warm/cold showers/baths? Another thing which is a lot harder to do than say is to try perhaps keep mind a little occupied counting sheep / stars or whatever else takes your fancy such as listening to some relaxing music or have a documentary or something on as background noise that could assist slightly by ensuring mind is at least slightly occupied to try take your mind off the sensation. I goto sleep with tv on to try take mind off back/hip pain. Have had tingling and burning sensations for years caused mostly by spondylothesis awaiting decompression&lumber fusion surgery (and plucking up enough courage to actually go through with it, recently refused as too short notice (2 days and had holiday booked with family day of op) ).

Hopefully the Dr can prescribe something to assist, ensure to let them know the mental impact its having not just the physical side of things.