Lower leg

[general0]

What can cause the lower part of my legs to feel so tired to where it hurt to walk?

[namnam46]

First I want to apologize for not answering your post sooner, but the last 2 weeks my 10 year old autistic Granddaughter was home as her Summer School and she uses the computer a lot and it's very difficult for me to get time on it as our lap-top "died" on us a few months ago.  :(

Oh Leah!!  You are right it is "pure hogwash" that they should fit where they are supposed to when you don't "over-stretch" them.  I've never heard of such a thing before in my life!!!  I've had to wear the surgical hose 3 different times in my life because of my hip surgeries and I know that they come in different lengths and sizes.  The Lady that sold them to you should have fit them on you and showed you how they were to be put on.  That way you would have no questions or problems when it came to wearing them.

I'm so sorry that your Husband had to leave early and couldn't help you with them.  I, also, know how difficult they are to put on by yourself.  I had to use a reacher to hold them and to pull them on with as I wasn't allowed to bend down far enough to put them on my feet because my new hip joint could "pop" out if I bent down that far.  I wish you had someone else that you could call on to help when your Husband has to leave early. :(  

I'm so sorry that it's so difficult for you to get into the "teaching hospital" near you as they are wonderful when it comes to diagnosing and treating the difficult medical problems such as the one that you have!!  Is there any way that you can get on a waiting list and just bide your time until you can get in to see them?  I know that there is a Doctor out there that will take the time to talk with you and explain everything to you about your condition that know one else seems willing or is able to explain to you as of yet.

I, truly, hope that you will keep searching for that one Specialist that will take the time with you that you both need and deserve to help you and be sure that you understand everything that you need to know about it.  I'm just so sorry that no one will take the time that you need to be able to answer your questions.  You deserve better!!!  PLEASE don't give up on getting the answers!!  You need to continue your search.  Many times, as we've said on here, it can take 4 or 5 or even more different Doctor's until you find the one that cares and understands how important it is to a patient to know what is happening to you and will take the time that is needed to help you.

I will be on line now to help you when you need it as will others on here as well.  :)

Please let me know how you are doing as I think of you daily and am very concerned about you!!

Sending you warm ((((HUGS))))............Sherry  :)

[general0]

    I called and talked to a lady where I bought the hose.  She sid to fit them more around the leg and they would come to where they should be.  She said that I was over stretching them.  Hog wash!!!  I tried what she said.  Yes, I got them to go to where they should be.  However, they wrinkle around my leg and ankle.  The doctor never offered much, so I don't call them back.  The teaching hospital here is a pain to get into.  I just give up.  It was 109 degrees here yesterday.  I had to take the hose off early.  Thiught I would die from the heat.  It was 84 degrees in my house, and my air conditioner was working as hard as it could.  I was also told that it would take time for my legs to feel better.  They hurt without the hose, and the same with them.  My husban did not get up in time this morning to help me get them on.  He had to leave early to go to his eye appointment.

     I am tired of fighting to get an answer.  I just feel so very tired.

Thanks so much.
general0 or Leah

[namnam46]

Leah, I'm so sorry that I couldn't get to this yesterday, but my SIL was checking for viruses and upgrading all the systems on the computer that I use.  :(  Fortunately, no viruses plus the upgrades are totally awesome and everything is running much faster than before.  Therefore, I must admit it was all worthwhile.  :)

Now for what you are having to go through with your leg is absolutely horrifying!!  Your support hose should be the correct length.  The lady that measured you should have done a better job of it or should have been more careful when picking the correct size for you.  They should fit you perfectly.  They make all different lengths to accommodate different people's height as well as weight.

Were you able to check with your Doctor to let him know what was happening with the Support Stockings?  Did you ask about them being too long and you having to roll them over on themselves?  Because you had to do that may have added to the "tightness" problem that you had with them.  It certainly made them much more uncomfortable for you and tighter than they would have been had they fit you correctly.

I hope and pray that you won't give up looking for answers to your questions.  There is a Doctor out there that can give you an answer that you can understand.  By chance, is there a big "teaching" hospital around you  anywhere that you can ask to be referred to a Doctor in that facility?  They have wonderful reputations for finding out what's going on with people and sometimes can come up with solutions to the problems that other Doctor's can't come up with.  It's worth a try at least. :)

As you know, you are still in my Thoughts and Prayers!!!

I'll be looking for your continued updates............Sherry  :)

[namnam46]

Leah, I'm having a lot of pain right now with my back and I will post a much more in depth post tomorrow, but for right now you need to be very careful that these do not hurt your legs!!

On Monday you need to call your Doctor first thing and tell him about these hose and ask him what you should do.  I know that I've had problems with them being the correct length for me also, before but he needs to know what you are faced with in this situation!!

As I said, I will be answering your earlier post in a more lengthy fashion tomorrow.  Just know that I'm here and will be answering it tomorrow!!!

I'm keeping you in my Thoughts and Prayers and I'm here for you..........Sherry:)

[general0]

  I bought a pair of compression hose yesterday afternoon.  My husband helped me put them on this morning.  The lady that waited on me measured my legs and ankles.  She picked me the right size and I paid for them and went home.  There was one problem.  They were to long.  I folded them back to where they should have come to.  By this evening they had cut deep into my legs to where they felt bruised.  They hurt to the touch.  I noticed that my legs did not feel better while I wore them.  They still felt tired and was painful when I tried to walk.  I don't know if this will take time to work it's magic or not.  I will wear them since the doctor told me that I must.  I hope that in time they will feel better.

general0 or Leah

[general0]

    I want to thank you two for the time and concern you have given to me.  I am sorry that I did not write to you yesterday.  I hope that you understand.

    I went to the doctor yesterday to get a second opinion hopeing that I would be given new information about how he could help me with my legs.  This did not happen.  He says that he wishes that he could tell me about some surgery that he could do for me to help the valves in my legs, however there are none.  He confirmed what the other doctor said.  He told me to wear the compression hosery up to my knees.  This should help with the pain.  He also said that RIGHT NOW I should not have any concerns.  I was concerned that even with me wearing these it can worsen, throw off blood clots, I could loose my legs, or my life.  He did not address that.

    It is really hard to loose weight when it hurts to even walk.  I just hope that these knee highs will do the trick so that I can walk without the pain.  I will be getting a pair when my husband gets paid.  This morning I am having to fight my feelings about all of this.  

    My friend just had another surgery yesterday.  He is in alot of pain.  He will have another surgery tomorrow which should last 11 or 12 hours.  It will be the worse one yet.  I hope that it will be his last.  This hospital in Houston has been wonderful to him and his family.  They continue to fight infection.  He also has a blister on his heel that the doctors do not like it being there.  They have learnrd of others that they have done the same thing on as they are doing my friend which worked wonderfully.  Please keep him in your prayers.

general0 or Leah

[general0]

  Believe me that sometimes I just stay away from the computer too.  I pray that this doctor will be able to help me even if it is how to keep off bloodclots or having this to progress.  I really need someone to be honest with me and give me the information that I need.  I do pray that there is something they can do.  Believe me, I do pray for this young man.  I will keep you informed about him.  I'm sure that he has a long way to go yet.  He is such a nice young man.  Will talk to you Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.

Thanks.
general0 or Leah
  

[namnam46]

Leah,

I can hardly wait until I hear from you about your appointment!!  I'm hoping that you will have your answers finally!!

I'm sorry that I'm just now getting back to you, I've been off the computer for a few days.  :(  

Believe me, I've included your Friend in Houston in my Prayers!!!  How sad that such a wonderful man was injured in such a terrible way!!!  I hope and Pray that they are able to save his leg and that he will be able to return to work.  At least to a desk job with the Police Department.  Bless his heart!!   Please keep me updated on his progress, too. :)

Looking forward to hearing from you soon, at least on Tuesday........Sherry  :)

[general0]

  Doctors office called and changed my appointment until 3:30 on Tuesday.  Something happened  and they needed to change it.  I was just so happy that they could see me as soon as even that.  There are so very few vein Spec. in this town.  Just pray that there is something that he can do, not just send me home with knee high compression hosery.

Please pray for my friend down in Houston.  He is going through so much with his leg.  He is the cop that the lady hit and ran over three times.

Thanks,
general0 or Leah

[general0]

I do have an appointment for tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 for a second opinion.  I am not buying the compression stockings as advised from lady at medical supply until I see this new doctor.  She says all the compression hose will do is to keep down the swelling.  I'll let you know what this one says when I get home.   Thanks!


general0 or Leah

[general0]

  Thanks for your quick reply and support.  I'm not giving up.  I feel like the lady on the cancer commmercial.  "You have a certain amount of time to live and there is not anything I can do for you."  Wow!  He was telling me to get the stockings and there was nothing he could do for me,  The Friday before that he told me it was my valves and he could help me.  I had to go into his personal office and ask could it get worse even though I wear stockings.  I knew the answer since I read it for myself.  He shows me a picture of a set of legs of what they would get like if I don't,  I asked him about getting clots anyway.  I knew the answer was yes to both questions.  He confirmed it, but offered no way to prevent it.  I cried for the rest of the day.

  After looking at a friend of mine, who is a cop, I feel that I should not conplain.  He was hit while on a sidewalk three times by some woman.  All she got was a ticket.  He is going through five surgeries on his leg and could loose it.  She ran over him three times.  They just cut out alot of bone and tissue and put in a cement rod.  He has been through so much with this one leg.  He now has marsa also.  He was just doing his job.  Now his family lives on his workman's comp.  So why am I crying about my legs?  We can always look around and see someone worse off than we are.

  Thanks for being my sounding board.

general0 or Leah

[namnam46]

Leah, you need to go and get a 2nd opinion immediately!!!  Don't put up with this as a final answer.  I'm not saying that there is another solution but there is a doctor out there that will explain your Ultra Sound to you the correct way, and will answer all of your questions!!

If it were me I'd start with my regular Doctor and go from there.  I'm appalled at the way you were treated today!!  No one should be treated in that way.  When we go to a Specialist, we are all frightened, especially when we don't understand what is going on and we are in constant pain.  I still can't believe how you were treated!!!

Please don't give up!!!!!  Get those answers!!!  You know that we will be here for you.  None of us are going anywhere!!  We will give you the backing and all the support that you need.  We'll be looking for your updates!!

I'm sending you Warm ((((HUGS))))............Sherry  :)

[general0]

Went to the doctor Monday.  He ran the ultra sound .  There were no blood clots.  Everything was fine except for my valves.  He told me to wear compression hose on my lower legs for the rest of my life and walked out.  I went into his office and asked him if this can get worse even wearing the hose.  He says yes, but showed me a picture of how they would get if I don't.  He did not explain anything to me.  I went home and researched it myself.  It could get to the point that blood clots form, or I could loose my legs. He offered me nothing as to how I could prevent this, no exercises, diet ot anything.  Today, I recieved a report from my regular doctor.  It said that there are normal arterial waveforms and doppler evaluation present throughout both lower extremeties except for the anterior tibial artery bilaterally, which shoes monophasic blood flow.  ABI's were not performed.  No stenosis is noted.  What all this means, I do not know.  I put my feet up as much as I can above my heart, exercise while up, and do what I think is best.  All I do know that there is pain.  I feel almost as confused now as when I went into his office the first time.  I am really feeling depressd.  He told me Friday that he could help me.  Now he says that is all he can do is give me a prescription for stockings.

Wow!  Thanks for your concern.

Leah

[general0]

Thanks so much.  Will talk back to you after I go do this test and see him again.
general0 or Leah

[namnam46]

Leah - Half the battle is finding a Doctor that you like and trust and you've managed to do that!!!  Good for you.  :)

My Dear, we all understand what you are felling about your "whole body" falling apart.  I seriously wish I had words of wisdom to give you about your legs and feet swelling each night.  I can't think of anything worse than that feeling when your body swells and you feel as if your skin is going to "burst" open.  I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can add to any of what you said about it.  The feeling of tightness that your swollen skin causes is beyond anything one can say.  It makes me feel like a balloon that's been blown up to the maximum and is going to Pop!!!  You feel like when it does Pop, that you will "fly around the room" and never stop!!

I'll be anxiously waiting to see what your Doctor says about your condition.  I'm hoping you will finally get the answers that you need!!

I'm thinking of you...........Sherry  :)

[general0]

      I went to the vein spec. today.  He said that my problem were valves in my legs.  I go back Monday at 11 am and they will run the right kind of ultra sound, then go see him and he will tell me the plan of action.  He says he can help me.  I somtimes feel like my whole body is falling apart.  I go to bed every night with legs and feet swollen.  I wake up with my lowe back hurting.  He did look at that knot on my leg.  What he called it, I don't remember.  As far as the knee I am sure I would have to see an orthro doc.  I will know more Monday from this doctor.  I'll let you know.  At least I am getting answers.  He is really a nice older man.  I like him.  Thanks again,
general0 or Leah

[namnam46]

Oh Leah!  I'm sorry that they messed up on you.  This has happened a couple of times lately on here, I've noticed.  :(  

At least you will see him tomorrow and you can get all of this straightened out and get the correct one done.

Thank you so much for keeping us posted on what's going on with you. Are you knees, legs and feet any better when it comes to the swelling, than they were back on the 9th of the month?

I hope that they have improved some.  I think of you each night when I go to bed and wonder if you are having a "good" night with no swelling or a "bad" night with a lot of swelling.  

I'll be looking for your update tomorrow after your appointment. I'm sure that Tuck will be checking it out also!!

Good Luck tomorrow..........Sherry  :)

[general0]

   I had a phone call from the nurse of the doctor that I see tomorrow.  She said that the test that my doctor ordered was the wrong one.  He ordered a doppler and they want a lateral, I think that is what she said.  The test that I took was a ultra sound, but the wrong one.  After I see him tomorrow, he will let me know what I need for sure.

Just letting you know the news as I get it.  Thanks so much.
general0 or Leah

[general0]

My doctor did not say what he thought might be caysing my knee to be so tight. I doubt if he knows.  He ordered the CT scan so I do not know if it will include my knee or not.  I will ask Dr. about it when I go after the scan.  I believe it has something to do with the knee replacement itself.  It has felt that way since I had the surgery.  It feels just like a wide rubber band is around my knee tightly.

Thank you.  My feet are so swollen and legs tonight that I can hardly walk.  I am going to bed and hope that they will be down in the morning so that I can go to church.  I did have a beautiful day today with my grand daughter for her birthday party.

general0 or Leah

[namnam46]

YAY!!!!  I'm so very happy that he's going to take care of you and find out what's happening!!

Does he think that this is what is causing the knee to be so tight???  Be sure that they check that problem out too, if they think that's caused by something else.

We will be waiting anxiously for your scan and the next appointment in 10 days!!

We're very happy to be able to be of help to you.  Thank you for your kind words, we appreciate it.  :)

I hope that you are as pain free as possible until your appointments.........Sherry  :)

[general0]

  I went to my doctor today.  He believes that my problem is varicose veins.  He is sending me for a CT scan and then I see another doctor that specializes in veins.  They are checking my circulation.  He said that this new doctor may give me support stockings to wear.  This is where I am now.  The CT scan is on the 15th and the doctor appointment is on the 18th.  I go back to my doctor in two months.  He made these appointments for me.

Thanks so much for your prayers and concers plus all the time you have spent with me.

general0

[general0]

Thanks so much.

general0

[namnam46]

I'm really glad that you are going to your Doctor as he knows everything about your symptoms, as well as your Health History and seems to be a really caring Doctor.  I'm sure that he is concerned about what you are going through and will send you in the right direction to get the answers and the help that you need.  It's definitely "no fun" when you've had surgery and it 's not feeling the way that it should.  I know it's been at least 113 or 14 years since your surgery, but it never should have given you this type of problems for all of these years.  They should have been there for you from the beginning to try to find out what was going on with the TKR.  

As I said, my 2nd THR was done incorrectly and was loose from the day of the surgery and I walked on it for over 4 years and it would go "in and out" of place at will.  I would have to lay flat on my back for the Hip to go back into place.  Like I said before, I'm not saying that yours was done incorrectly but you need to get some answers and quickly so that you don't have to be in this type of discomfort any longer.  

We will be anxiously waiting to hear what the next step is for you in your quest for answers about your pain!!

I truly believe that we are as anxious about your appointment on Friday as you are!!!  :)

We'll be here waiting to hear from you...........Sherry  :)

[general0]

     I want to thank both of you so much for your time, concerns, and prayers.  They really meam alot to me to know that there is someone out there that does not even know me that can be this concerned about my health and welfare.  Thank you.

I did not see the doctor that they made an appointment with since I did not know who he is and he does not know me.  I have gone to my doctor for years and consider him to be one of the very best.  I trust him alot.  I do not have chest pains. The only shortness of breath that I have is from my ashma.  I do elevate my legs as much as I can.  Believe me when I say I feel that I rest them alot.  It is hard for me to get around. My doctors nurse does know my symptoms and has informed my doctor by prhone.  He does want to se4e me Friday morning when he gets back in town.  The other doctor's office knows the symptoms also.  They went to my doctors nurse and had her call me right away.  I just feel better going to someome that knows me.  If my doctor can not answer my questions, he will send me in the right direction and even get the appointment for me.  Again, than you so much.  Both of you really touch my heart.  You have spent so much time on me.

Yours truely,
general0