Problems with feet and legs

[bikerbrian]

Hi all, Haven't been on here for a while, but I need to ask about a problem i have with my legs and feet. I always have my annual foot check, and have had problems with the nurse finding a pulse in my feet for the last two or three visits, as it has been hard to find without the little sound gadget they use. Nothing much had been said about it, even though I have questioned it. The pain when walking got so bad that I was eventually booked in for consultancy, then a CT scan In July , and have just had a letter from the hospital to see the consultant at the end of October. Surely the nurse should have picked up this when my pulse wasn't very obvious. The consultant said that i had left it long enough for the problem to be quite advanced and I should have had it looked at sooner. Anyone having or had the same problem?

 

[ally1]

Sorry to hear about your legs and feet. I have fairly recently been diagnosed with severe neuropathy in both feet and now have numbness going up my left leg, more noticeably when walking. A couple of times I have fallen because my left leg gives way. Also have pain in my leg leg.
Not once had the DN nurse checked my feet and to be honest, at the time I did, t know that was supposed to happen.
Around April I insisted to see the DN nurse because my numb feet was scaring me. After a battle I saw a new DN nurse at the surgery and referred me to a podiatrist who diagnosed the neuropathy. After that first first, all the podiatrist does, is very quickly scan over my feet just with her eyes. Last appt literally was just 2 minutes.
At the moment I am in battle with my gp surgery so nothing is being done.
I even enquiries about seeing a diabetic consultant privately, Lo and behold, am still waiting after 3 months to get back to me re appt and that's with me wanting to pay

 

[bikerbrian]

Thanks for your reply Ally1, I don't have any numbness, just pain when I walk any distance, and it's only in my right shin. I can do exercise with no problem, except on the treadmill. It's very annoying, but I'm hoping that the hospital will come up with something to sort it out, but it's two months away!

 

[Pipp]

Thanks for your reply Ally1, I don't have any numbness, just pain when I walk any distance, and it's only in my right shin. I can do exercise with no problem, except on the treadmill. It's very annoying, but I'm hoping that the hospital will come up with something to sort it out, but it's two months away!

Hi @bikerbrian
So the pain is just in your shin when you walk, or when on the treadmill?

Not wishing to pre-empt anything the consultant might tell you, or make a definite diagnosis, but starting with the obvious.... Have you had your shoes that you use for exercise / walking checked? A gait analysis by a physiotherapist or podiatrist could provide a solution to the shin pain by advising on correct footwear. I have known people with similar symptoms to have a condition, shin splints, which was easily sorted with the correct shoes.

https://www.verywell.com/how-to-prevent-and-treat-shin-splints-3432863

Of course, you still need to have your consultant opinion if there is a problem finding the pulse in your feet.

 

[bikerbrian]

Hi Pipp, I wear good quality shoes ( mostly Doc Martins) and shin splints were discounted by the specialist. I can't do more than a couple of minutes on my treadmill without having to stop the let the pain subside, but I can go on the exercise bike till I fall off through boredom! No pain at all! The techie who did my scan said the veins didn't look too bad, and he wouldn't have said that unless they weren't! ( could lose his job if he was wrong) so just have to see what the results say.

 

[Pipp]

Ah, boring as it might seem, perhaps the exercise bike would be best until you know more.
Hope you find a solution and some relief from the pain soon.

 

[bikerbrian]

Thank you Pipp, I just play an interesting movie and forget what I'm doing! At least it's a form of exercise

 

[bluejeans98]

I had some relief taking alpha lipoic acid tablets for 3 months. Taking 3x100mg in the morning and 3 in the afternoon. Along with high dose vitamin D3. Currently having pains in feet again.Knocking drink on the head and diet for now, if no better will be back on the ALPHA tabs and vitamin D spray.

 

[Dr_Anders]

Hi @bikerbrian have you thought about seeing a private podiatrist? They will be able to check your nerve function and circulation and also give advice on any biomechanical problems. If you are in the UK make sure they are registered with the Health Care and Professions Council.

 

[bluejeans98]

Back on alpha lipoic acid 5 days. Along dlux3000 vitamin D. And Aldi multi vitamins. Massive difference already. Pain gone from 10 to 2. And no pain killers either.

 

[nomoredonuts]

Thank you Pipp, I just play an interesting movie and forget what I'm doing! At least it's a form of exercise

I don't know if I'm teaching you to suck eggs here @bikerbrian but I've been using a recumbent cycle since last year, whenever the weather won't let me walk. I put a stool in front with a laptop on it and play "cycling videos" such as this one :

It makes the time pass quite enjoyably, while I pretend I'm in the peloton (?) zooming round Mallorca. I prefer that to watching films!