could it be meds?

[Emily53]

Hi everyone, does anyone take Copaxone or Gabapentin for MS? I am blessed with the same purple feet, but after putting my legs up for a bit, the color turns back to a more normal color. All blood tests are normal, had an ultrasound to check for circulation, that too turned out normal. So now I'm questioning if it could be a reaction to medications...started on Gabapentin over a year ago and have noticed the purple feet getting worse since.
Any ideas or thoughts on this??
Emily53

[Emily53]

Yes it does seem to point in that direction to me too. I did talk to my doctor who consulted a vascular surgeon. He confirms it is not an artery problem, but could be a vein issue and recommends wearing compression stockings to help the problem. Interestingly enough, they say it is not MS related. But to me having less mobility, I can see where this could maybe bring something like this on = MS is the bottom line I would think.
Oh well, hopefully the stockings help and I can quit dwelling on it.

[Khiba]

I take Gabapentin and it does cause my feet and legs to swell some, especially in hot weather but my feet don't get purple just a bit pink.

If your feet are turning purple it could be related to having autoimmune disorder in general, especially if your circulation all came back normal.

[Emily53]

Okay thanks I understand. Maybe it is the nature of the beast and maybe there will be an answer one day. Thanks again for your input!
Have a great weekend and take care!
Emily

[Ojibajo]

Let me clarify, I don't think it is necessarily Lupus. I was just saying that people like so many of us on here who have autoimmune disease like MS or Lupus can often have Raynaulds Phenomenon as one of their symptoms.

I actually summer from this. My hands, feet, nose, and ears. (especially my feet, and nose) almost always seem to be freezing even if the rest of me is really warm or sweaty like in the summer. I don't notice that they turn blue, but I have a darker completion so it would be harder to see unless my extremities became EXTREMELY blue, which they never have.

[Emily53]

And thank you for your input too. Raynauds or Lupus..will check into both, but Raynauds sounds like the lesser of the two evils!

Emily

[Emily53]

Thanks for your input about the Gabapentin. I take 900mg a day and it really does help to feel more comfortable, so hope it is not this particular med. maybe it is just something else a person has to live with, if the doctors can't get to the bottom of it. Well, purple feet or not, the day must go on.
have a good one!
Emily

[Ojibajo]

Do your feet also get/feel very cold? It almost sounds like Raynauld's phenomenon. I could be wrong, but I don't think that it is uncommon in people with MS or other auto immune disorders like Lupus.

[kwarendorf]

Hi Emily -

I take 3600mg Gabapentin every day and don't have any discoloration anywhere. If I read this correctly the discoloration started before the gabapentin, but got worse after? That would point me away from the gabapentin as the root cause.

Kyle