Numb feet question

[Eyesnlegs]

Hi All,

We established on here sometime ago that many of us suffer cold hands and feet so this question is a little more involved than that.

Since my leg problems, last year, I have had tingling, buzzing, pain in my feet on and off but more so in the left foot which was the one I had the worst problems with.

Well now that foot has started getting so cold and numb that parts of it turn white and then painful. Not just the toes which I have always had trouble with but sometimes the heel (very painful) and today it was also the ball of my foot.

I warmed a wheat bag in the microwave and sat with my foot on it to try and warm it and get the feeling back into it – but to no avail. After 4 hours its now looking a better colour but the usual pins and needles are much worse.

Has anyone had anything like this – is it MS related or is it just something else to pop in the diary?

Thanks for any shared experiences.

Pat

[Eyesnlegs]

Thanks to both for your answers I have been convinced for some time that I needed to pursue this course but my GP would not sanction a trip to an osteopath until I had seen the ortho and I knew that the orth would find issues with the other knee as I have had arthritis for 12 years in that one.

I intend to push this now with GP, ortho and neuro as last year when I had the problems with my legs my depression was such that I could not fight my corner I was far too low and none recognised that and I was too scared to tell them that as I thought they woudl label me again as they had in the past as a neurotic middle-aged woman!

Thanks again you have encouraged me to chase this.

Patx

[rendean]

Just finished 9 weeks of PT with a very intelligent and caring thrapist. She was told to treat and eval left leg weakness but went on to identify weak right hip flexors, worse than left , defect in visual-octomotor reflex(? cant' track well with left eye and have intermittent nystagumus in that eye), determined triggers for falls, taught me balance therapy and identified areas of numbness in my feet and legs with nylon monofilament test.

Long story short, there may be many factors related to the numb feet. Have a good physio check it  out . My mine has a keen interest in neuro issues and was a godsend.

Your symptoms still sound like Raynauds' and you do not need a lupus dx to have raynuads phenomon. It can be a "stand -alone' dx.


Good luck and let us know what you find out.
Ren

[wishforchange]

Quick one.

Hip inverting let, foot pain?  I think you have AN answer here.  May not be the whole story, but the picture and the symptoms it.  Dismissive GP?  Just didn't want to acknowledge what didn't understand methinks.  Get a referral to a physiotherapist at least.  They know all about this issue.  Is a fairly common problem.

Sorry to hear about your MS, but don't feel you have to attribute every symptom to it.  Plenty of people have inward turning legs who don't have MS.  Sounds to me the musculo-skeletal route may be the way to go.   Maybe have another chat with that workmate?

Good to know you are keeping an open mind

wish

[Eyesnlegs]

Thanks so much for your answers and the depth of them.

I used to get Raynauds in my fingers some 20+ years ago when I used to smoke, but I have only had it happen occasionally to my toes until this recent development. I did have all the tests for lupus and the rest of the infection related stuff 5 years ago when I was given a possible MS dx, then last dec. I was dx with mild MS the feet have only become a real problem in the last few weeks.

The gait stuff is interesting since an associate at work is a chiropractor and after following me into a workshop once when I had my leg problems last November he told me that my one hip rolled inwards. We turned it into a joke when I told him he should not be looking :-) but when I suggested this to my GP it was dismissed and I was sent off to the ortho who discovered an issue in the right knee.

This was all the stranger since my sister has RRMS and has had to have PT and an orthoptic for a hip that rolls inwards which manifested as a knee problem.

But my GP sent me off to the ortho and there hangs another tale!

I am just recovering still from a knee arthroscopy on the right knee but this is the left one that caused all my problems last year.

I am waiting for the knee to heal for my next appt. with the neuro as I have challenged his dx of mild MS but he did tell me on the phone the other day that my spinal MRI was 'normal'. Check out my journal for details of this.

I do not have any diabetes problems its all been checked recently - so I am not sure what this is - the fact that they go white made me think Raynauds as they then go purple and hurt when the blood flow returns but the tingling and pains have been pretty constant the last few weeks.

Some of the things you have suggested I don't know about so I am off to investigate those.

Certainly given me food for thought - but I am still wondering about the gait issues since I have not been able to walk normally since last August!

Thanks both for your brilliant replies.

(((hugs)))
Pat
x

[wishforchange]

Hi,

Not knowing all is hard to tell, but is could be raynaud's.  This is whe the blood supply is stopped to your feet in your case causing these symptoms, but may be other things too.  Think about ALL your symtpoms.  For example Raynauds is connected with Systemic Lupus, which plays havoc with all areas of the body.  Worth getting checked out for this.

Go to a GOOD LUPUS CENTRE.  Would tell you where I go in UK but like to keep anonymous.  Make sure that along with standard lupus antibody testing they test for something called Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome, which is known generally as either Hughes Syndrome or Sticky Blood.  Is one of the great MS mimics and is really important to know if you have this.  Make sure your bloods look for IGM antibodies along with the standard ANA, ESR etc.

Is this related in any way to an infection, or have you had food poisoning before this started?

How is your balance?  Have you noticed any change in your gait or pains in your knees or hips.  This may be a spinal problem. If a disc is herniated (sticking) out, can cause referred pain and numbness along the nerve pathway.  It is the pain in your heel and sole of foot that makes me think of this.

Are you flat footed?  If you notice you are, is this new?  Again this could mean your legs are twisting inwards to compensate for a spinal or hip deformity.

I always advise this.  Find a registered school of osteopathy or chiropractic, I prefer osteopathy, and talk to them.  The tutors are terrific.  They will share their timre freely with you and discuss your problems.  If you want an affordable assessment they can book you in to see a student, who is grateful for you helping them qualify (but you still have to pay a little).  The student is entirely supervised by a tutor, such that you are getting even better attention than from a private practitioner.  Same goes with accupuncture if you want to try that.  

I have numb feet.  I have recently diagnosed anti-phospholipid syndrome and undifferentiated lupus.  I am awaiting an MS neurologist appointment next month.  Numb feet are more than just a nuisance.  I have seen people with gangrene from this, so you need to get it checked.  I was myself very recently run over by a speeding car.  my leg was so numb the car went over it and I felt nothing but the pressure.  The bone is broken.  Had there not been witnesses I would have just gone on, walking on a broken leg.  My hands are as bad.  Interesting thing is I used to have Raynaudes but not any more, but clearly the numbness has returned.

One more thing forgot to ask, the classic, are you diabetic?  Always worth getting your blood sugar level checked.  Just noted your age, definitely worth it.

Some ideas to chew on....

wish

[rendean]

Do you have Raynaud's disease or phenomenon? I do and my hands and feet turn paper white , sometimes blue and then bright red and warm as the circulation returns to normal. It is due to vasospasms of the blood vessels. I can get symptoms in my hands and feet when my regular body temp drops, i.e. on a cold winter day or my office at work is too cold. It is also set off when touching something cold such as ice cubes.

When I have an episode, the area that is white is numb. When I touch the fingers which the opposite hand it feels as if I'm touching someone else's fingers , if that makes sense.

I'm not if this is what you are describing or not.

Ren